THE 



LAW AFFECTING ENGINEEBS 



CHAPTEE I 



THE STATUS OF AN ENGINEER 



1. Engineer defined ... 



2. The engineering profession 

 compared with other 

 learned professions 



3. Who is a consulting engineer 



4. Engineer owning patents ... 



5. Suggested rules of profes- 

 sional etiquette 



6. Civil engineers 



7. Eesident engineers 



8. Powers of a resident engi- 

 neer 



1. Engineer defined. Etymologically, the word " engineer " 

 is probably an immediate adaptation of the French 

 "Ingenieur," or the Italian " Ingegne"re." As it is a general 

 term which bears a variety of meanings, persons who have 

 devoted themselves to particular branches of the profession 

 are wont to choose a more definitive title. Thus we have 

 the terms "civil engineer" ; "mechanical engineer" ; "elec- 

 trical engineer"; "mining engineer"; "marine engineer"; 

 and " railway engineer." Last, but not least, we are accus- 

 tomed to hear the phrase " consulting engineer." In what 

 particular branch of the profession he holds himself out for 

 consultation does not always appear. Nor is it necessary 

 that he shall have any particular experience in the art of 

 consulting or advising in consultation. Any man can assume 

 this imposing title ; and there is no disciplinary body to 

 whom the persons who consult him can complain if they find 

 out that he has no qualification either as an engineer or as 

 a consultant. 



Seeing then that anyone can call himself " engineer " or 

 " consulting engineer," it is manifest that no universal 

 standard of conduct can be laid down to apply to all who 



L.A.E. B 



