A paper presented at the 25th annual con-vention of the American Instituite of ElectricalEngineers, Atlantic City, N. J., June 29,1908.

Copyright 1908. By A.I.E.E.

THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERINGPRESIDENT S ADDRESS

BY HENRY GORDON STOTT

Eighty years ago Thomas Tredgold defined engineering as-"The art of directing the great sources of power in nature for theuse and convenience of man." Progress in engineering has beengreater in the eighty years which have elapsed since this defini-tion was made than in the previous period of 4500 years beginningwith the first great, tangible piece of engineering, the pyramidCheops.The question naturally arises: does this definition hold good

to-day? Is it broad enough? If not, how can we better definethe engineer's sphere of activity ? If we accept Tredgold'sdefinition as our standard, will we reach the position in societywhich belongs to us by right of education, achievement, andhighly developed power of logical deduction from facts observedand investigated?

Engineers may be divided into two gene-al classes: first, thosewho, believe that the engineer should be restricted to a specificvocation, such as elcctrical, steam, hydraulic, pneumatic, orsanitary engineering, etc; second, those who wish to see him takehis place not only as an engineer but also as a public-spiritedcitizen and leader.The great amount of specialization which obtains in electrical

engineering to-day is instanced in the subdivisions now found,such as telegraphy, submarine telegraphy, telephony, wirelesstelegraphy, railway signaling, uinderground cable engineering,high-tension transmission, electric lighting, electric railways,alternating-current generator designing, direct-current generatordesigning, railway motor designing, converter designing, trans-.,

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460 STOTT: EV7OLUTION OF ENGINEERING [June 29

former designing, railway, lighting, telegraph, and telephoneswitchboard engineering, etc.The score or more of divisions of electrical engineeringwhich

exist to-day are the necessary outcome of the consolidations ofmanufacturing and other interests into a few large concerns:they are the natural economic results of competition. As theseconsolidations have undoubtedly resulted in greater efficiencyand, therefore, in reduced cost of production, there is every reasonto expect a continuance of this evolution from the simple factorymanufacturing only one article, to the complex one which manu-factures many things. In such a factory it is mranifest that assoon as any one article is called for in sufficient quantities torequire the entire time of the man in charge, a new departmentwill be formed and another subdivision of engineering created.In exactly the same way we will find consulting engineers whospecialize on cables only, others on illumination, etc., and on anypursuit which is of sufficient importance to claim undividedattention. This process of segregation is evidently one of in-finite application in all pursuits, tending strongly to an evernarrower development of the individual, but at the same timeincreasing his efficiency to a maximum in his own particularspecialty. This increase in efficiency, however, will cease if theengineer becomes so highly specialized as to ignore the necessityof keeping in touch with the entire sphere covered by his com-pany, as 'he evolution of each branch must be synchronizedw th that of all.The other class, to which the term " second has been arbi-

trarily assigned merely to indicate its numerical inferiority,embraces all those who have broadened their field through self-education, experience, opportunity, and natural adaptabilityfor administrative work. The term self-education is usedadvisedly, as both classes are assumed to start with the sametechnical training, and as a matter of actual fact the secondclass almost invariably evolves from the specialists.The engineer who is called upon to report on a projected rail-

road, for example, must also be a student of political economyin order to give proper weight to the various economnic prob-lems which must be first studied before he reports upon the ad-visability of even making a survey. He should be thoroughlyfamiliar with the general organization of the state governmentsthrough whose territory the road may run, as well as have ageneral knowledge of their laws affecting corporations, franchises,

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etc. In order efficiently to carry out his work, it will be necessaryfor him to come in contact with various officers of the stateand city governments, so that he should be a man of generaland broad culture, capable of meeting anyone with credit tohimself and the company he represents. Lastly, if he is per-sonally acquainted with some of the more important state orcity officials, or the members of the legislatu e, his work may begreatly facilitated and his services be just so much more valuableto his employer.

Tredgold's definition of engineering evidently did not con-template this enlargement of the engineer's sphere, and it isonly by a natural process of evolution that some have reachedthis stage.The second class is necessarily a restricted one, as, whilst the

legitimate field of work of the engineer is extremely broad andalmost unlimited, yet as a rule he has apparently decided tokeep in the background and only come to the front when called.The result of this policy is that when the opportunity comes,the engineer is taken at his own valuation and passed over forothers who, whilst not suffering from modesty, are lacking inengineering education and experience, and therefore are forcedto call in engineers (to act in a subordinate position) to supplythe incumbent's deficiency in the qualifications necessary for theoffice.A good illustration of this policy is furnished in the appoint-

ments made on two state public service commissions, in whichthe ten offices are filled by gentlemen whose occupations hadbeen as follows; six lawyers, two manufacturers, one politicaloffice-holder, and one engineer. These commissioners have con-trol of all matters pertaining to public service corporations; andas their functions are of an inquisitorial and critical characteron subjects which are almost exclusively of an engineering nature,it is quite evident that their lack of engineering knowledge mustbe a severe handicap, not only to them but much more so tothe state that employs them, and lastly, but not least, to thecompany or corporation suffering from their well-meant butmisdirected efforts.What is the cause of this anomalous situation. Is it entirely

the fault of the executive, who makes these appointments?Has not the whole body of engineers some share in the blame?We have seen that there is to-day an inherent tendency tospecialization in engineering, and that by far the greater num-

462 SPTOTI: -EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERIANG [June 29

ber of our members are becoming experts in one or two subjectsonly, and that comparatively few attempt to keep in touch withthe more general aspects of engineering. This condition iscaused not so much by a lack of willingness as by lack of timeand opportunity.

This centrifugal force acting on our profession has fortunatelya nearly equal centripetal one which is found in such societiesas the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, by which allcan once more be brought back to a common centre on the com-mon ground so clearly described in our Constitution, which saysthat the object of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers

shall be the advancement of the theory and practice of Elec-trical Engineering and of the Allied Arts and Sciences."The conference held in Washington, D. C., last month, which

was called by President Roosevelt to consider what steps shouldbe taken to conserve our natural resources, was preceded by aseries of conferences held by the presidents of the four nationalengineering societies, at which a series of broad resolutions weredrafted and afterwards presented at the conference as represent-ing the opinions of 20,000 American Engineers.* The Com-mittee on Resolutions presented a very able report to the con-ference, embodying practically everything we had recommended,with one exception, as that particular item had already been,covered in a bill introduced into Congress. The resolutionswere unanimously adopted.

Several important deductions may be made from this incident.First, united recommendations after careful investigations offacts by engineers, on any public question involving engineeringproblems, will be not only courteously received but welcomedand highly appreciated by our state and federal governments.Secondly, the facts presented at this conference were of such afar-reaching and important nature that every member of thisInstitute should feel it is his duty carefully to study theable papers presented, and to further in every way possible thepolicy of preserving our natural resources. In this we all canunite, no matter whether we are specialists or general engineers.Thirdly, cooperation on the part of the four national engineeringsocieties is absolutely essential to success in any movement ofthis kind; and, as a corollary, success is certain if we cooperate.Fourthly, if engineers are to take the place in society whichbelongs to them by right of education and training, they must

* PROCEEDINGS A. I. E. E., June 1908, -Section I, p. 5.

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take an active part in matters of general policy or civic interest,no matter how remote these matters may seem from Tredgold'sdefinition of engineering.

After nine of the ten commnissioners' names previously referredto wve can find the significant words, bracketed," active in ]poli-tics. Is there no lesson for engineers here? Is it not theircivic duty to the state and nation to take a more active part inpublic affairs, giving of their special knowledge freely, as maybe required of them, at the same time insisting upon the samehigh ideals of faithful, honest, and loyal performance of dutiesin public life as they have been accustomed to in their every-daywork as engineers?

These suggestions are clearly outside the scope of this Instituteas set forth in its Constitution, and in all probability would bepronounced heretical in any of our engineering societies, so thatto carry them out it may become necessary to organize a newsociety in which membership would be limited to members ofthe four national engineering societies, and whose object wouldfrankly be to use all legitimate political methods to influencelegislation on matters affecting engineering; for example, such ascarrying out the recommendations of the Conference on Preserva-tion of Natural Resources, or the application of the principles ofpolitical economy to the laws affecting public utility commis-sions, etc.An enormous amount of work must be done in order to induce

our state and national legislatures to pass the necessary legislationin regard to preservation of our natural resources. No body ofmen is so peculiarly qualified to advise on these matters as thatcomposed of engineers. Such a society could with propriety takeup the consideration of many problems of which the public nowhears only one side, and that usually the demagogue's, simply be-cause the engineer has maintained an attitude of reserve. Hissilence is frequently mistaken for either assent or guilty knowl-edge, when in nine cases out of ten he remains silent either froma mistaken policy, dictated possibly by his employer, or be-cause he considers it undignified to reply to criticism.

Belonging to a society whose object it is to guide and instructpublic opinion in engineering matters, this feeling would soondisappear, and the benefit of cooperation among engineers inthis respect would make this society's influence felt in every cityand state in the country. Our large corporations and manufac-turers are realizing as never before the benefit of publicity de-

464 STOTT: EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING Uune 29

partments, not only for advertising purposes, but for the purposeof disarming adverse criticism by a calm statement of facts.

In conclusion, let us remember that if we wish to progress andassume our proper place in the world, we must be aggressive andnot passive in allegiance to our engineering societies; that theday is long past for hiding our light under a bushel, and thatinstead of Tredgold's definition of engineering, the followingmore correctly expresses the position of the engineer to-day:

Engineering-The art of organizing and directing men, andof controlling the forces and materials of nature for the benefitof the human race.