Science and Citizenship 



rapidly developing, there are many evidences to 

 show. These evidences are vividly depicted in the 

 sociological writings of Mr. H. G. Wells, who more 

 than any one else perhaps in the English-speaking 

 world has seen, or at least expressed for us in lite- 

 rature, the incipient changes in city development 

 which are being effected by these new Secular 

 orders of applied physical science. 



The new type of engineer is tending more and 

 more to assume control of the communications of 

 our cities, their factories and workshops, the great 

 public works of water supply, lighting, drainage, 

 &c. And thus gradually determining for us the 

 material conditions of life, the new engineer ac- 

 quires social status and prestige. And in pursuance 

 of the well-known sociological law, that those who 

 have social power tend also to get civil and political 

 power, we are bound to assume that the engineer 

 types, as they are already tending to control civic 

 policy, will sooner or later seek to control national 

 and even world policy. And that these higher 

 aspirations are already well on the way towards 

 achievement is seen in the influence now being 

 exercised by the railway kings of America, not only 

 in their own country but also in world politics. 

 With the advantages brought about by the activities 

 of these new Secular orders, there are of course 

 corresponding disadvantages. The conception of a 

 city held by the railway engineer is, we have already 

 seen, not that of a city at all, but that of a town. 

 And this limitation applies throughout the whole 

 sphere of thought and action belonging to this 



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