130 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 



other of the special branches of engineering. I would urge that with 

 the very short terms existing at our universities, in some cases only three 

 terms of eight weeks each, it is unreasonable to expect a student to take 

 an honours degree in three years if this covers all branches of engineering 

 science. The alternative now being considered of meeting the difficulty 

 by taking four years for an honours degree is, I think, open to grave 

 objection, as it is delaying too long the date at which a young engineer is 

 available to take up his first professional appointment and in fact become 

 an earner. 



Coming back to my original subject, can we say which branch of 

 engineering has most directly been associated with modern civilization ? 

 I do not find that any one branch can claim the premier position. It 

 depends, of course, very much on what we regard as the greatest essentials 

 in life, and I presume we must admit that the greatest happiness of the 

 greatest number must be taken as the true gauge. In this case some of 

 the luxuries and comforts of modern travel do not hold a primary position, 

 much as we appreciate them. Such questions as purity and sufficiency 

 of water supply for large cities coupled with a scientific system of drainage, 

 are the first essentials of health and comfort, especially in areas with 

 large populations. 



I will now turn to the different branches of engineering and illustrate 

 as far as I can the benefits which these branches of engineering have 

 introduced into the civilization of our present age. In doing so I would 

 refer to the definition of engineering given in the Royal Charter of the 

 Institution of Civil Engineers on its incorporation in 1828. The centenary 

 of the institution has just been celebrated, and all engineers must be 

 grateful to the Principal of Edinburgh University, Sir Alfred Ewing, for 

 the carefully thought out review of engineering progress in the last century, 

 which formed the subject of the James Forrest address at the centenary 

 meeting in June. The charter describes engineering as ' a mechanical 

 science dealing with the art of directing the great sources of power in 

 nature for the use and convenience of man.' The term ' civil engineering ' 

 is a comprehensive one embracing all branches of the profession, other 

 than military engineering, but I propose to apply the words ' civil 

 engineering ' in this address as dealing specially with drainage and 

 irrigation works, harbours, docks, reservoirs, &c., dealing with railways 

 under the heading of transport. 



The various branches of engineering I propose to allude to shortly in 

 detail are as follows : — 



Civil Engineering, as defined above. 



Transport. 



Shipbuilding, including Marine Engineering. 



Mechanical Engineering. 



Mining Engineering. 



Electrical Engineering. 



Civil Engineering. 



The point which appears to me to stand out prominently in this 

 branch of the profession is the fact that the structures to be dealt with 

 are in many cases of an enormously costly nature, and have to be carried 



