July 1G, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



77 



"What then are the practicable char- 

 acteristics which we can specify for our 

 graduate ? 



He may be a competent instrument man 

 in all ordinary sui'veying operations, fitted 

 to become a surveyor after due experience. 



He may be a careful and accurate drafts- 

 man immediately available in the office, but 

 not content to remain a mere draftsman 

 many years. 



If he is an exceptional man, with the 

 right personal equation, he may be an ac- 

 ceptable inspector on works, but this usu- 

 ally requires some previous expei'ienee with 

 men and affairs. 



As a possible assistant to a city engineer 

 he may have to act in either or all of these 

 capacities during the first season. 



He may be competent to take subordinate 

 responsibilities as mechanical or electrical 

 engineer or foreman. 



In railroad work he must usually begin 

 low down, but he is qualified to win rapid 

 promotion. 



"Whether in these or other openings, if he 

 is wise, he will consider himself only a be- 

 ginner, an humble learner, ready to take 

 lessons from foremen and laborers, on prac- 

 tical details. He will avoid manifesting 

 self-conceit, and "restrain his little knowl- 

 edge" until it is wanted; else he may get a 

 snub from his chief which he will remem- 

 ber for a lifetime. 



It is another platitude that many tech- 

 nical graduates find their way into other 

 pursuits for which their studies have in- 

 directly fitted them— such as contracting, 

 executive positions, scientific agriculture, 

 etc. ; otherwise the number of institutions 

 and graduates would be excessive. We may 

 say, then, that adaptation often is and 

 always should be a distinguishing charac- 

 teristic of the competent graduate. At 

 times when opportunities are not ready to 

 hand, he ought to know how to "size up" 

 the situation and go to work to make one. 



He may have to conduct a campaign, by 

 interviewing, public speaking and writing, 

 to educate possible clients or the public, as 

 to the value or necessity of some public 

 improvement or private enterprise. For 

 the engineer always labors under the odium 

 of one who spends other people's money. 

 Happy is he if he is where such matters 

 are decided iipon their merits. Too often 

 he will be opposed by political influence or 

 private spite. He needs sound judgment, 

 tact and determination to disarm opposi- 

 tion and push his work wisely. 



Some months ago a graduate of eight 

 j^ears' standing wrote to the speaker that 

 he was manager of water-works, etc., in a 

 certain town in a state south of the Ohio; 

 that he had made the surveys and esti- 

 mates, organized the company, sold this 

 stock, built a 25-million-gallon reservoir, 

 with pumping station and electric lighting 

 station as an adjunct, and had a $50,000 

 plant "running finely." 



Our term "characteristic" indicates the 

 most important quality of all — character. 

 Some cynic has said that education is but a 

 varnish or polish; "you silver scour a 

 pewter dish, it will be pewter still. ' ' This 

 half-truth is so far true that our human 

 result must depend largely upon the ante- 

 cedent conditions of inherited traits or dis- 

 position, and family training of the stu- 

 dent. The constant action and reaction 

 between student and instructors during 

 four or five years has directed and con- 

 trolled the professional growth. Given the 

 right moral qualities in the man, there has 

 been corresponding growth in character, 

 producing integrity — wholeness. The na- 

 ture and methods of engineering studies 

 and practise promote this. In these threat- 

 ening times of extravagance and corrup- 

 tion incorruptible honesty in purpose and 

 action is urgently needed. If our graduate 

 has courage to resist the tempter, even 

 though he may lose present gain, he will 



