The Drift Of Things

Engineers' Centennial THIS summer, in Chicago, will be celebrated the "Centennial of Engineering" and half a hundred engineering societies will have meetings of one kind or another in the two weeks following Labor Day. It is really the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Centennial of Engineering is merely a convenient label to put on the celebration of 100 years of engineering progress in this country since the ASCE was founded. Engineering, of course, is much older than is thus indicated-thousands of years older. But Americans have a penchant for dramatizing progress by celebrating assumed anniversaries. Four years ago a special 30 stamp was issued on which a Brahma chicken was prominently displayed, with the legend, "1848-1948. Centennial of the American Poultry Industry." We feel reasonably sure that the first dozen eggs was sold considerably earlier than that. Until a hundred or so years ago engineers were generally classified as either military or civil. Apparently a group of civil engineers met for the first time in Augusta, Ga. but no records were kept and the first meeting of which we have definite knowledge was at Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore, Feb. 11, 1839. Forty engineers were present and they decided to form a society. Among the aims of these engineers was "the greatest amount of useful effect at the smallest cost," which is as good a slogan for the engineer of today as it was 113 years ago. It was mentioned that the existence and prosperity of the society depended in no small degree on "the personal conduct and exertions" of the members. "Talents and respectability are preferable to numbers ... from too easy and promiscuous ad mission, unavoidable, and not infrequently incurable, inconveniences perplex most societies."