174 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 
I think I have shown adequately the debt which transport, as well 
as other branches of our profession, owes to the study of ‘ ordered know- 
ledge.’ That in the future this will be even more marked than at present, 
one can say without fear of contradiction. Not only so, but there must 
be more and more interdependence between science and engineering. 
More and more as we adyance—as we are doing so rapidly—in the 
knowledge of natural phenomena will the necessity of the practical 
application of this knowledge on a large scale become necessary to 
confirm it and to bring out fresh features. One trusts that our Associa- 
tion, which has done so much in this direction in the past, may continue 
increasingly useful in the branch of its work which brings together those 
whose work is purely scientific with those who are applying that know- 
ledge to the direct service of man. Although the old idea of antagonism 
between the two has disappeared, we cannot but feel that in spite of the 
advance of recent years the extent to which the engineer depends on 
the scientist for knowledge, and the scientist depends upon the engineer 
for the practical application of the knowledge he has gathered, is not 
realised as fully as it should be by either. The terms scientific and 
practical should be synonymous. ; 
One would like to feel that the meeting of our Association was more 
generally used as the occasion on which the scientist ‘and the engineer 
would meet in larger numbers. I know that the scientist is often an 
engineer, and that the engineer has nowadays to be a scientist with a 
broad outlook, but the personal contact of the two which this meeting 
offers gives an opportunity the results of which would be incalculable if 
that opportunity were fully grasped. If one might use an illustration 
which I trust will not offend my scientific friends, scientific knowledge 
is a tool of infinite possibilities, and this knowledge is possessed by sa 
many who attend here. The practical engineer is always attracted by 
tools. There is no better method of ascertaining what new and im- 
proved tools of this type are available than by coming here. Beyond all 
this, personal acquaintance is of greater and more permanent value 
from every point of view than a paper acquaintance. 
I would like, in closing, to make an appeal for a freer disclosure of 
results obtained in practical working. This can only be done by taking 
care in noting the behaviour of apparatus, material, &c., in use, and 
placing the results freely at the disposal of the man of science and of 
the manufacturers. At the present day there is no lack of those who 
are trained observers, and [ believe one of the troubles often encountered 
by manufacturers who are applying some new method is the difficulty 
of getting dependable figures of performance. With transport companies 
this should not be a difficult matter, for one great advantage they have 
now is that there is no trade necessity to hide their results in any way. 
It is one small way in which they can repay the great debt they owe to 
science, which has allowed them to complete so satisfactorily their task. 
As Kipling has so rightly and concisely stated: 
‘ Tt is their care that the wheels run truly, it is their care 
to embark and entrain, 
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by 
land and main.’ 
