ADDKESS. 23 



ling in the air — whether this solution be effected by enabling the self- 

 suspended balloon to be propelled and directed, or perhaps, better still, by 

 enabling not only the propulsion to be effected and the direction to be 

 controlled, but by enabling the suspension in the air itself to be attained 

 by mechanical means ? 



Take other functions of the Civil Engineer — functions which, after 

 all, are of the most important character, for they contribute directly to 

 the prevention of disease, and thereby not only prolong life, but do that 

 which is probably more important — afford to the population a healthier 

 life while lived. 



In one town, about which I have full means of knowing, the report 

 has just been made that in the year following the completion of a 

 comprehensive system of sewerage, the deaths from zymotic diseases 

 had fallen from a total of 740 per annum to a total of 372 — practi- 

 cally one half. Has the engineer no inward satisfaction who knows such 

 results as these have accrued from his work ? 



Again, consider the magnitude and completeness of the water supply 

 of a large town, especially a town that has to depend upon the storing-up 

 of rain water : the prevision which takes into account, not merely the 

 variation of the different seasons of the year, but the variation of one 

 year from another ; that, having collated all the stored-up information, 

 determines what must be the magnitude of the reservoirs to allow for 

 at least three consecutive dry years, such as may happen ; and that finds 

 the sites where these huge reservoirs may be safely built. 



All these — and many other illustrations which I could put before you 

 if time allowed — appear to me to afford conclusive evidence that, whether 

 it be in the erection of the lighthouse on the lonely rock at sea ; whether 

 it be in the crossing of rivers or seas, or arms of seas, by bridges or by 

 tunnels ; whether it be the cleansing of our towns from that which is foul ; 

 whether it be the supply of pure water to every dwelling, or the distribu- 

 tion of light or of motive power ; or whether it be in the production of 

 the mighty ocean steamer, or in the spanning of valleys, the piercing of 

 mountains, and affording the firm, secure road for the express train ; or 

 whether it be the encircling of the world with telegraphs — the work of 

 the Civil Engineer is not of the earth earthy, is not naechanical to the 

 exclusion of science, is not unintellectual ; but is of a most beneficent 

 nature, is consistent with true poetical feeling, and is worthy of the 

 highest order of intellect. 



