TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 793 



century, the dealli-rato exceeded the birth-rate, and the numbers were only kept 

 up by constant immigrations ; whereas now, in spite of the vast increase of the 

 population and the progressive absorption of the adjacent country into the ever- 

 widening circle of houses, the number of births exceed the deaths by nearly nine 

 hundred a week. 



In engineering, as in pure science, it is impossible to stand still ; and engineers 

 require to be ever learning, ever seeking, to appreciate more fully the laws of nature 

 and the revelations of science, ever endeavouring to perfect their methods by the 

 light of fresh discoverirs, and ever striving to make past experience and a wider 

 knowledge stepping-stones to greater achievements. Engineers have a noble 

 vocation, and should aim at attaining a lofty ideal ; and, in the spirit of the cele- 

 brated scientific discoverers of the past, such as Galileo, Newton, La Place, 

 Cavendish, Lyell, and Faraday, should regard their profession, not so much as an 

 opportunity of gaining a pecuniary reward, as a means of advancing knowledge, 

 health, and prosperity. 



The remarkable triumphs of engineering have been due to the patient and long- 

 continued researches of successive generations of mathematicians, physicists, and 

 other scientific investigators ; and it is by the utilisation of these stores of know- 

 ledge and experience that engineers have acquired renown. A higher tribute of 

 gratitude should perhaps be paid to the noble band of scientific investigators who, 

 in pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, have rendered possible the achievements 

 of engineering, than to those who have made use of their discoveries for the 

 attainment of practical benefits ; but they must both be regarded as co-workers in 

 the promotion of the welfare of mankind. The advancement of science develops 

 the intellectual faculties of nations, and enlarges their range ; whilst the resulting 

 progress in engineering increases their material comforts and prosperity. If men 

 of science, by closer intercourse with engineers, could realise more fully the 

 practical capabilities of their researches, and engineers, by a more complete scientific 

 training, could gain a clearer insight into the scientific aspect of their profession, 

 both might be able to co-operate more thoroughly in developing the resources of 

 nature, and in furthering the intellectual and material progress of the human race. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Light Raihcays as an Assistance to Agriculture. 

 By Major-Genekal Webber, C.B., K.E., M.Inst.C.E. 



The great impetus given to a possible extension of light railways in the United 

 Kingdom through the assembly of representatives of various interests connected 

 ■with the subject by the Board of Trade in December last has not borne any 

 fruit. 



To this committee Lieut.-Colonel Addison, R.E., and Mr. Stovin Warburton, 

 our Consul at Rochelle, both made admirable reports on the subject of light rail- 

 ways, the one dealing with Belgium, the other with Western France. 



The so-called li(/ht raihcays of Ireland, constructed under Government and 

 baronial guarantees, have no analogy either in their engineering or working with 

 the lines with which the author seeks to familiarise the Section. 



One of the most useful lessons to be learnt from the examples described, both 

 home and foreign, is the ease and safety with which light railways can be worked 

 alongside and on public roads, both in the country and through the towns, even 

 when they are crowded as Ipswich is on a busy day. 



The author's object in bringing the question before what it is hoped may be a 

 Suffolk audience fully acquainted with agriculture is to get up discussion on how 

 far what is practicable will really be remunerative on the capital to be expended, 

 and will lessen the cost of transport between producer and consumer. 



It has been assumed that in a county such as Suffolk there is use for 200 miles 

 of such light railway, with the suggestion that this length Avould be distributed in 

 twenty directions, each line having an average length of 10 miles. 



