ENGINEERING 1 



The teaching of the fundamental sciences of mathe- 

 matics, mechanics, physics and chemistry, as well as the 

 application of these sciences to the solution of engineer- 

 ing problems, calls for clear thinking and for rational 

 and logical mental processes. Should we not then turn 

 to France, the land of clear thinking par excellence, for 

 illuminating and inspiring instruction in sciences, both 

 pure and applied? The French mind, to which obscurity 

 is as abhorrent as vacuum is to nature, is peculiarly 

 fitted to grasp and to teach the physical laws of nature 

 and their application, and France has given to the world 

 a rich galaxy of eminent scientific thinkers and dis- 

 coverers. 



It will suffice for our purpose to name a few of the great 

 French engineers whose achievements have made them 

 famous. Such are Ferdinand DE LESSEPS, the builder 

 of the Suez Canal; EIFFEL, who conceived and constructed 

 the tower that bears his name; PERRONNET, PONCELET, 

 HENNEBIQUE and MESNAGER, civil engineers of world- 

 wide reputation; SAUVAGE and COUCHE in railroad en- 

 gineering; Sadi CARNOT, the discoverer of some of the most 

 fundamental laws of thermodynamics; fitienne LENOIR; 

 Beau DE ROCHAS and Fernand FOREST, who by their 

 pioneer work in the development of the internal combus- 

 tion engine prepared the way for the automobile and the 



1 [Drafting Committee: IRA N. HOLLIS, Worcester Polytechnic In- 

 stitute; HENRY M. HOWE, Columbia University; ALEX. C. HUMPHREYS, 

 Stevens Institute of Technology; ALBERT SAUVEUR, Harvard Univer- 

 sity. ED.] 



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