SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 123 



On the other hand, the value of these trained forces to the 

 industrial and commercial interests of the country cannot be 

 overestimated. There could be no continuous development or 

 progress without these trained men and, though the graduates 

 of these schools are still young, their influence upon methods, 

 practice, and operation is already an important factor in our 

 country's development. 



A further result of this breeding of trained engineers is to 

 educate the public to a better appreciation of the value of the 

 application of scientific study and methods to all business and 

 industrial operations. The development of this understanding 

 is altogether significant. A few years since, any young man 

 who based an application for a business position on the fact that 

 he was a college graduate would probably have been treated 

 with contumely. Now all of this has been changed, and it is 

 the ordinary experience of engineering schools that all of the 

 members of their graduating classes are sought for professional 

 positions before they have received their diplomas. This broader 

 appreciation of the value of trained men and of the application 

 of scientific methods means true progress in our industrial and 

 commercial development. It means better public utilities; 

 higher factors of safety and health; and cleaner, saner, and 

 safer living for the whole people. 



Still further, and quite aside from the professional and techni- 

 cal influence of the graduates of these schools, I regard it as not 

 presumptuous to claim for them a citizenship of high quality. 

 I claim that no other training is likely to breed so genuine a 

 contempt for shams and hatred of dishonesty as the engineering 

 training, and that no other class of men are so likely to stand for 

 right principles in the administration of public offices as well as 

 for private honor and honesty. Of course there will be excep- 

 tions to this rule, but if there is anything in dealing with the 

 immutable laws of nature; anything in the engineer's concep- 

 tion of accuracy likely to develop respect for law and sincerity 



