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(All rights reserved.) 
 
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 INCORPORATED 18«7. 
 
 TRANSACTIONS. 
 
 W, B.— This Society, hk it, body, doex not hold itself resiionaible for the facta and opinions 
 stated in any of its publioations. 
 
 THE PKOFKSSIONAL STATUS. 
 
 A pleii for a close Corporation. 
 
 By Alas Macdougau., M. (an. Soc. C. E. 
 
 To bo read Friday, 22nd April, 1892. 
 
 When Tolfiji-d founded tho Inntitution of Civil Engineers the 
 future of ciiffiiieeiing was being developed in a manner no one 
 at that date coulii foi-esoo. It has been a hupjiy event in tho life 
 of the pi'ofoHsion that there was in that day a band of men wlio 
 were so dooply intoi'csted in seientitio advanconiont. Engineer- 
 ing was to enter upon its greatest discoveries, and to those who 
 were meinbevs of the profession in that day were to come honors 
 and rewards much more enduring than those earned by them 
 during thinr honoralilc and ubc!ii' eareei's. To the engineer was 
 soon to be iissigned one of the foremost places in science. Among 
 the brilliant names which have distinguished every decade of 
 this contury in Ihewoild of science, the engineer has been found 
 holding his own place. Wo are naturally disposed to turn to our 
 '■ home " land as we thinif over the great achievements of science, 
 the romance of its long historic existence clings to our imagin- 
 ation, and engaged iis we are here, in the very stern battle of the 
 realities of life we forget what has been done on tho American 
 ( 'ontinont. When the world grows n little oldei-. and men have 
 grown richci' and can atl'ord to ttike loisur<! to study tho history 
 of advancement in this contuiy, Canaditin iuid American I'jngi- 
 neors will not fail to b.ivo places awarded to them as conspic- 
 uous as those held i)y their professiontil brethren in liritain. 
 
 Ah soon its Stephenson had won his groat biittle of the Steam 
 lingine, a new life opened to the engineer, which has supplied 
 him for over fiO years with fresh Holds of conquest, and new 
 materials and t()rccs of nature to devclope and turn to useful pur- 
 l)oses. Kacli stej) in this forward movement was accompanied 
 by !i necessai'y chiingc in tho practise of the profession. The old 
 time system of long apprenticeships, chiefly of a practical caar- 
 acter. yielded to shorter terms, and theory gradually came for- 
 ward, the why and tho wherefore had to l)e found out, the 
 composition of new materials had lo be experimented upon and 
 lessons learnt therefrom. 
 
 Thti Institution of Civil Kngineors.it is gratifying to remem- 
 ber, kept itself well al)roa8t with the times, and has always 
 opened its doors to the 3 oungest nu mbers of the profession. A 
 desire sprung up tor better education about 20 years ago, in which 
 the Institution took a prominent part; from the date of its very 
 extensive and valuable research into tho question, technical en- 
 gineering education improved in great strides. Yet in spite of 
 all the improvement there was a great deal of keeping to the old 
 habits; the S3'steni of iipprenticeships in offices and workshops is 
 almost to-day tho recognized path by which the piofession is to 
 be entered ; tlio nearly univorstil idea is, an engineer should be a 
 practical man, higher education does not receive its due merits. 
 
 Since the publication, in 1870, by tho Institution, of the report 
 on engineering odiicaiion, ii nuirked iinproveinent has taken place 
 in tlio morale of the prolessiou, mental t^ualidcations are more 
 
highly vahied, a place haH boon found for a thoorotical onginoor ; 
 men in tlio ru«h of daily life unable to koop up the roadinj,' of 
 younger dayw gladly turn to their more theoretical confrere from 
 whom they obtain the data on which they base their groat 
 achievoniontH, which form many of tho miii'velH of Bcienco. 
 
 The report, ov manual an it might be called, of tho luHtitution 
 on engineering education, did not offer practical suggOHtions, it 
 was a statement of professional practice in a great many coun- 
 tries, from which one gathered that in Franco alone, at that day, 
 was there any approach to a close profession, tho j)osition of the 
 engineer being somewhat akin to the Provinci'd Land Surveyor, 
 in so far that he had to obtain government authority to practise. 
 Following on this re|)ort, increased activity in engineering educa- 
 tion has followed, schools and colleges wore founded, existing 
 corporations which had on their foumlation chairs of engineering 
 took pains to resuscitate them ; in others, they were foundtl 
 either by the fiiculty or private benefaction. 
 
 In the decade following this publication by thoIuKtilution, one 
 noticed tho growth of a feeling that something more was required, 
 than the college training or liegreo of Civil l-inginuer to bo ob- 
 tained from College or University ; the movement never took 
 any more active form than a good deal of jiewspaper correspond- 
 ence, which nevertheless has had its ell'eot. 
 
 In 18T8 the present writer presented an original communica- 
 tion to the Institution of Civil l']ngineers entitled " The Degree 
 of Civil Engineer," (Foot note, Proc. Inst. C. K., Vol. LV, p. 
 200,) in which ho advanced tho arguments he now lays before tho 
 Canadian Society op Civil Enqineers. Tho princijjles he then 
 advocated, he adheres to more strongly as they have been 
 strengthened by the experience of the period which has passed. 
 The dearly cherished hope of seeing the profession in the Domi- 
 nion, as well as elsewhere, placed in the most honourable position 
 among learned bodies, societies and ])rofe8sions, has been partly 
 realized by the formation of our Society, the success oi' which 
 is the best evidence of its being required ; a further stej) is re- 
 quired, however; tho profession is like a man standing on tho 
 brink of a river afraid to take a header into tho stream in which 
 his companions are sporting. 
 
 British opinion has come up to a certain point, and beyond 
 that it h'ls always been afraid to move. There are certain good 
 conservative rules which govern practice in great George Street, 
 one of which is apprenticeships. The profession has been built 
 upon this system; it is easy to understand that any infringement 
 or proposition for a radical departure would have to be long con- 
 sidered, and fought for step by step. This change is taking 
 place gradually, and almost year by year in every engineering 
 society, the ])rofessional status comes up for consideration ; men 
 are generally very closely agreed on the necessities, many know 
 in their own hearts what is requiral and how it can be accom- 
 plished, but they are all afraid to mention such a radical subject, 
 or as it were to plunge into the stream towards which they are 
 looking on whose banks thoy are standing. 
 
 During the period l«78-82, the position of tho profession 
 created a good deal of interest, nn extensive correspondence was 
 carried on in the professional papers in Britain, architects as 
 well as engineers seemed to long for some distinctive recognition. 
 The term of apprenticeship in an oflace with the addition of 
 architect or civil engineer to tho end of tho name diil not satisfy 
 the desires of the younger men, they hungered after something 
 more practical ; frequent expressions can bo lound in the profes- 
 sional papers of that date suggesting and even calling for exami- 
 nations of candidates, and the issue of a degree or diploma to 
 carry some professional weight with it. Though the movement 
 was contined to the younger men, it was fairly representative, 
 and cannot have been in vain : an indication of this may be 
 taken by the action of the Institution which began to awaken 
 about this time, In the ;innuul report of the Institiition for 1881, 
 (Foot note Proc. Inst. C. E. vol. LXVllI, p. 10) tho admi.ssion 
 of students is referred to. 
 
" It has been BUggestod that only thone candidates Hhould be 
 " accepted who have received a Huitablo preliminary etiucation ; 
 " to bo shown eitlior by their having jiassed certain prescribed 
 •' examinations at recognized Collegiate institutions to be 
 " approved from lime to time ; or else by prcHonting themselves 
 "for examination by examiners to be appointed by the council, 
 " and piwHJng mucIi examinations satisfactorily. Ponding a 
 "decision on this point, candidates o-re nov required to furnish 
 "satisfactory evidence Ihiit they are by education qualified to 
 " enjoy the privileges they seek." 
 
 A graceful token of continued interest in the welfare of Tel- 
 ford's work, was nliewn in 188L', when the widow of Mr. Henry 
 Robinson Palmer, Telford's Chief Aassistant and a Vice-President 
 of the Institution, bequeathed a sum of money to found a scholar- 
 ship at Cambridge tenable by the son of a civil engineer, the 
 holder to bo nomi,uited by the Council of the Institution. (Proc. 
 Inst. C. E. vol. LXXI, p. 227.) 
 
 From this year (1881) u noticeable change appears in the 
 policy of the Insiiluliou, each annual report deals with the ques- 
 tion of entrance qualitications of candidates, (which includes 
 students) entorcos the necessities of the candidates being well 
 known by the proposers and )u every sense " tit and proper" 
 persons to belong to the Institution. The lines are gradually 
 drawn tighter over the entrance of student* each year, the en- 
 trance requirement is now as nearly martriculation as it can be 
 without examination. 
 
 In 188i) a series of " regulutions of the Council as to the pre- 
 liminary education of candidates seeking admission as students" 
 was issued, which sets forth that " on and after the 1st of June of 
 that year students shall produce evidence of " a competent knowl- 
 edge of the subjects of general education .specirted in the follow- 
 ing list." The list which forms the pamphlet, gives also alistof 
 Universities, public educational establishments which include 
 B|jecial preparation for the engineering profession, and public ex- 
 amining liodies and examinations recognized by the Council. 
 The report for that year announces the republication in extended 
 form of the mdmoire issued in 1870 entitled " The education and 
 status of Civil Engineers in the United Kingdom and foreign 
 countries." (Proc. Inst. C. R„ Vol. Clf, p. 197). 
 
 This list was published in .September, 1891, and is extensively 
 circulated; it gives a full list of the various educational bodies in 
 the Empire v/hich the Institution is prepared to recognize, as 
 giving i.'t and proper training to engineering students, quotes at 
 some length fiom addresses by many of the eminent engineers 
 who li'-ive tilled the presidential chair and others, from 1865 to 
 1886; but makes no advance toward encouraging the students to 
 hope for a degree similar to that conferred in law, medicine, arts 
 
 or theology. 
 
 The institution has gone as far as restrictions and all other 
 methods short uf actual martriculation or entrance examination 
 can be carried. In 1886 it announces in a foot note, in the annual 
 report of Ccmncil, " The use of the simple letters C.li," is express- 
 ly discountenanced by the Institution as not founded on any 
 qualification and as lieing calculated to mislea'l (Proc. Inst. C.K., 
 Vol, LXXXU, p. 168), and three years afterwards defines its 
 position as follows (Proo. Inst. G.Vl, Vol. Cll., p. 193). 
 
 " There is no object in limiting its members, as is the custom 
 in some exclusive bodies; for the institution always "has opened 
 —and it is hoped will always open— its doors to all professional 
 men who have an honest title to be entered on the register; but 
 il ref'i'ains from augmenting its numbers by the admission of per- 
 sons who are merely attracted to it for their own advantage ; and 
 the Council above all things, desires to make it understood that 
 membership in the Institution is a real guarantee of professional 
 standing, and (as far as possible) also of the personal character 
 of those on whom it is conferretl." 
 
 The Institution of Civil Engineers of Irohtnd, t.'w, has turned 
 its attention to this question. In his annual address as President 
 in 1887, Mr. John (irilfiths gives the professional status 
 
 8 
 
a prominonl place. (Proc. InHt. C.K., Ireland, Vol. XIX, p. 
 37 et seq). Ilo quoteHOolonol Hiir>?oyno tlioir tii-Hl I'ro«i(iont, 
 who saiil at Ihoir lifHt ineolinj,' in 18;ir) 
 
 " You are well award that in wpite of the eft'ortH of tnun}' alilo 
 and eminent men the piofoHwion liai boon at a Inw I'lib in Iroliind. 
 Persons without odunition or mIuII havo boon liociuuntly iniploy- 
 e<l in operations of imporlanco, and tho cunHOiiuoncc has been, an 
 might havi' been anticipated, bad or injudieioiiH works, wasteful 
 or fruitless oxpondituro. It will be your cU'orl to prevent the 
 recurrence of these evils and you are now ailoi)iing tlu' measure 
 best calculated to enable you to do so with utt'ect, by organizing 
 a society for your owa improvement." 
 Mr. Griffiths then continues : 
 
 "In Ireland there are special inducements for unqualified per- 
 sons to call themselves Civil Eugineors, and the letters ' C. E.' 
 after a man's name are of themselves sufficient justification for 
 grave suspicion as to professional qualiticatiotis. * * t; 
 
 " It is difficult to understand why a man's quulitication for the 
 title of C. K. should not bo determined by the profession to which 
 he aspires to belong as in tho case of law and medicine. AVe are 
 too much disposed in this ago of competitive examinations to 
 hand over to examining bodies, :i function wliich, I believe, 
 should bo administered by the ])roles^ion itself through some 
 accredited organization of its own. For want of this both our 
 own and the Indian Governments have been obliged to re.sort to 
 the selection of men for their works hy means of examinations, 
 which tend to j)laco those appointments in the hands of inexperi- 
 enced men, fresh i'rom their colleges, and ])ractically exclude 
 those who are in the practice of their profession. That appears 
 to me an undesirable state of affairs and not conducive to public 
 good or the credit of the profession. 
 
 " What I wish particularly to urge is that no such training can 
 take the place of actual experience on works, and that degrees 
 and certificates, however creditable as pruofs of a yoinm- man's 
 diligence, atford no pi'oof of his cai)ncity as an engineer. Till 
 engaged on work it is impossible to say whether ho possesses 
 administrative or constructive ability or those most essential at- 
 tributes of an engineer, common sense, power of observation and 
 tact in the management of men. 1 freely admit that most of these 
 are natural gifts, which may be possessed by a young man who 
 has had no practical trailing, but it is not till he comes in daily 
 contact with actual work and workingmon, thai it can be proved 
 he does possess them." 
 
 Referring to Government appointments, Mr. Griffiths does not 
 think a man should be admitted to examination unless he could 
 show practical professioiuil training, in which case the examina- 
 tions would be restricted to purely professional subjects, due 
 credit being given for exi)erienco on works of magnitude. 
 "With professional men of eminence US examiners, I believesuch 
 a course would be jucductive of much good, and place at their 
 country's service experienced men, in place of the crammed re- 
 cruits who havo to learn their profession, if they ever do learn it, 
 at the expense of tho nation." 
 
 Mr. L. E. Cooley in his presidential address to tho Western 
 Society of Engineers touches up the profession after the follow- 
 ing manner, — Eng'ring Record, Vol. XXIIl, p. 208: — 
 
 "The early engineer of this country was a species of scientific 
 or skilled tramp, with a precarious tenure of position measured 
 by the work in ])rogress. lie furnished his em])loycr with the 
 skill of his trade without (|uestioning public policy or the best 
 solution, in other words, the engineer was a tool who assumed his 
 employer to be responsible. The conscientious engineer was 
 always industriously working himself out of a job, was in the 
 position of the man who saws vigorously at the limb on which he 
 sits. 
 
 " Much of this character the pi-ofossion retains to-day, but the 
 growth of professional spirit and th'' enlightenment of the 
 employer is working a change. The engineer is assuming more 
 the position of counsellor, is more the executive factor in the 
 
ooniluct of Iiir^o oporatioriH, in rotainod moro iw nii ndvlHoron the 
 utalV of iriduHtnul oiilori.riMiH. All thin K'voh Htubility, mntorial 
 rowunJt) iind itidopendonco, gives the ongiiioor u tixed abiding 
 place and makoH him ii factor in the lonununity in which he 
 livt'H, iiimlilo8 liini to develop the Mocial ((iialitioH wiiicii ho neodn 
 and loads to that precniincnio onjoyoii by our |)iofnMsion in older 
 landM. 
 
 •' What arc the duiioM of the onginocr aw a citizen, and what 
 in to bo Ilia futiiro relation to the machine of civilization '( 
 
 •'The onf^iiioer iw ii man of too much breadtli, is too cosmo- 
 politan to organize imythiiig in tiio nature of a jirofoHsional 
 trailoH union, to go oven aw far as ban the doctor, the 
 proiiclier or the liiwyor ; but in bin iWHociation unwritten laws of 
 otbicH will cryr<tultizc tho profonhion, will broaden its intoro8t» 
 and syn>|)atbies, he will become a tactor which is recogni/,od for 
 the general good of the community, und with pulilic regard he 
 may achieve tnone biglior iiml)itiouH which are for the welfare of 
 tho Htato. 
 
 " I regret HomotimeH that tho engineer is not more assertive 
 of hi." p-'erogativoH among men, and console myHolf with the 
 reflection (hat his broad comprehension of " forces and materials," 
 tho ever varjing phtiomerui flowing from fixed principles, the 
 inscrutable law which he rocogiuzos behind all, makes him 
 modest, makes liim tolerant of the egotism and the potty strifes 
 of men, tiu^ arrogance of whoso pursostring is tho patent of 
 nobility." 
 
 Hnoineeeino Status by Deoreb. 
 
 On this continent where there are many schools of engineering, 
 the graduate seems destined to have scant justice meted out to 
 bis talents and mental acquirements. There are many engineers 
 of standirg, whoso experience ought to enable thom to place a 
 fitting vidue on a jiroperly >oilego drained engineer. Several 
 technical and professional journals have given attention to this 
 subject; one of, if not the most powerful and influential journal, 
 EiKjineerhuj News, had an editorial article heiided Professional 
 DEdtEES QBANTED BY CoLI.EOES, (Vol. XXII, p. 252, Sept. Uth. 
 1889). It sets forth its views as follows ; '' Wo know of no prin- 
 ciple of ethics which makes a lie any moro respectable for being 
 solemnly engrossed on parchment and certitied to by a President 
 and faculty ; and tho plain truth of the matter is that tho 
 certifying that boys who have been foui' years at school are 
 "civil engineers," or mechanical engineers," or engineers of 
 mines " or " sanitary engineers" is a lie out of the whole cloth, 
 and known to be such by those who certify to it. If so, it is a 
 demoralizing and injurious practice which ought to be stoj)ped. 
 The excuse for it, is ol Course, that there is no actual deception; 
 that it is well understood that the degree actually means nc 
 more than tluil its holder has given four years to studying the 
 given prolession, anil tliat tlie same objections hold to tho time- 
 honoured " M. I)." for jjliysicians. 
 
 " But granting the degree to be a projier one for our miscalled 
 ■ doctors,' it does not follow that it is a proper one for any kind 
 of engineering students. 
 
 "Engineering is a pra>;tical profession. Tho student cannot 
 learn it, by however long study at school, as ho can astronomy, 
 surveying, painting, eliemistry, or (with suflacient ho.si)ital prac- 
 tice) medicine; ho must have experience in the actual practice 
 of his profe.s.don. Therefore the whole tribe of '0.l•^' degrees are in- 
 trinsically and especially im|)roper, failing some years of practw"-. 
 We hope wo shall become in time sufficiently civilized to i.L .ish 
 them." 
 
 There is now presented to the reader a consensus of opinion 
 from boih worlds, — ihooldand the new, — which can be accepted 
 as coming from the higlRst sources, wherein is found a generally 
 expressed belief that the professional status has to be raised out 
 of a quu.ij;miro in which il has been found. How to do so is the 
 problem, the solution ol which lias called forth considerable 
 divergence of opinion and evidenced an unexpressed desire for 
 something the various bodies long for but are afraid to suggest. 
 
Tho InHlitution of Civil KnuinotT, rulnon Its Htainlttid by iniikiiiK 
 
 tho entry qUttliHoiition iiH ri},'iti as posHililo; il iiiins iil iin|.ioviti« 
 
 the eiluciitidiml HiatUHot its lowoni Kimlo (tlio Htmlchl) in wliicli 
 
 very foinmoiulublo miu'cohn Ihih Ir'dii altiiinoil, ii proviilon lor itn 
 
 youiigusl inuinborH with lIuiUKlutiil Holitiliiilu, by oiicoiirttf,nii;; 
 
 thorn to ri'iul pupern, hoiiio of wbk'li uroMiiiiolimo.s louml wmtby 
 
 of boirig piiblisho»l in itw procou.liiiK», iindby giving' rowuidn of 
 
 u Biibfttuntiiil iiiituru for ori>,'inul coiummiiciilioim pri)piiiv<l by 
 
 Blirlouts. Oiico (ill 1881) it miK'f;u^loil Hmt MmlontH siiould lio 
 
 examined by cxumiiiorB uppoiiUotl by tho (.'ouncil, before boiiif,' 
 
 miinittodi tho rovoliitioaary principle oinlodicd in such a pm- 
 
 powal seoms to havo frighlunod tboii- conoorvativo idwii; it is 
 
 iihandonod, no liirthor roforunco is made to it. Somo ycar> ullor 
 
 a little HoflMjap Ihiowiiout to tho profoHsiuii, in a llattorinu; lorm 
 
 of words ; the Institution opens its doors lo all who aro honosily 
 
 entitled to bocnlorodon tborej^istcr, il rofraiii- lioni au^tcnontinf,' 
 
 its momborship lisl by admitting persons who doiro to b.long to 
 
 it lor their own advantage 'id above all things '' dosirus to inako 
 
 it understood that momber^liip in tho Inslitiuion is a real guar- 
 
 anieoof profo>sional standing, and (.as fur as possible) also of tho 
 
 personal ehaructor of those on whom it is conferred." 
 
 Tho president ot tho Irish Society of Civil Hnginoeis in his ad- 
 uress, loads one to hope bo lavoured tho mental culture of the 
 ongincor; however, he fails lamentably, and sinks into tho over- 
 lasting slough of tho " Practical engineer." '■ I'raclical' let him 
 be by all means, but "practical" he must bo, only through tho 
 door of thorough education, his fouiululion must bo thorough 
 theoretical ki.owlodge of bis subject, his structure practice, and 
 tho bond oxporience. 
 
 Tho president of tho Wostorn Society of Civil Kngineors hits 
 tho tmil straight on tho head, ho need not have said " the emiy 
 engineer was a species of scientitie or skilled tramp, ' ho could 
 easily have* apiiliod the expression to the present day. His 
 opening is charming, tho whole address well worth study, tho 
 conclusion a very neatly turned compliment, i is argument can 
 be summed up by using s.mio of his own words " too much 
 breadth and too cosmopolitan." There is too much of tho 
 "tramp" about this writer, cosmopolitanism is a very good 
 quality but it lacks imtiono' \ Prolfssional union has nothing 
 of the trades union about . loser union will have u healthy 
 lasting ott'oct on tho piofo--sion. It is the extreme breadth and 
 cosmopolitan character of the men engaged in tho i)rofossion 
 which makes us a set of tramps. There is hardly t.n engineer 
 in tho Dominion who will not rush into prini, gladly, to give 
 professional advice, or impart for nculiiiig, with a little judicious 
 self advertising, opinions which ought to bo paid for. The puKlii' 
 know this thoroughly and make good use of it. Tho e.^ipri'ssion 
 " professional tramp '' is one which suits i he situation admirably. 
 The Professional journal quoted mildly sneers throughout its 
 whole article at the assumption of a degree by any man and 
 especially by an engineer. It is not necessary to follow the 
 article through tho whole of tho argument, it concludes by say- 
 ing " engineeiing is a practical prolo.ssion " that the "student 
 must havo experience in the actual puiclice of his profession" 
 and that " 0. E. degrooB are intrinsically and especially im- 
 proper failing some years of practice." How absfrd ii is for 
 men who are themselves university men, who owe their position 
 to their higher education, to write in tho aliovo strain ; when 
 they coir menced their editorial career, were they an}- less en- 
 titled to bo called '-editors " because they had not had many 
 years of experience ? 
 
 So long as the designation ■ C. E." is derived from college, and 
 the holder bases all his claims and rights to that alone, neglect- 
 ing to extend his experience by practice, then the degree is 
 '•especially improper." In what place can tmo lind such a young 
 man, what is the universal experience ? Is it not that too degree 
 is tho greatest incentive to acquiromonl of practical knowledge / 
 Tho pr(;sont wi'iter knows not of a single case in which the 
 college bred lad has failed to follow up theory by practice, and 
 
 ti 
 
 
in hin pxpoiioiico tlio KindiiutK pickn ii|> Kin prnctionl Icnnwlndf^e 
 i|ui('kui' iitiil ill more pnu-liiul I'oriii lliitii tliu mtirol^ " pructiont 
 onxiiioor." 
 
 PRnrcgainNAL Apathy. 
 
 Tho wliolo iiim of lochni^^al tvliK'ttUon liitH boun miNMod liy the 
 pr(>t'i'sr<ioii, thoHo will) woi'o in a pnHilinii to rociii;tii/i> iU nilvuii- 
 tiif((i.-i iiiipt'iir to liiivo il' bonildly liiimluil tliuiiiNolvoM to it in the 
 wii'ly iliiyNi a |)i'(<iu(lic'ii hu-* lieon tiirinod vvliidi ^Ivus u liirocl 
 contnuiietion in piiiotii'iil lito, (o till tliu writloii iirid pulilinliod 
 cxpi'iwNiiinN of intoi'i'Ht in llio udvuncomont of odiirution und 
 tuchiiiritl linoM, 
 
 TlioiK in u 1 ornnrkuldo conflict at proMont, botwooii tlio puiiiio 
 utid tlio |)f(if«^sion. Till' t'oi'niiir ru('0),nii-.(' tlio nncossity otiniprovod 
 oiiiicittion ; ill liio iiiii>t opoii lianli'l inaiiiiur, liy pulilic und 
 private l)onofaclion«, oiii^inoorinj; "Mluration \h beiiij? advuncod ; 
 tlio profo^wion uocfpts all tlio i/y\'U i^iviMi to it, and plmeH tho 
 hoHt mon olitiriialilc in llioso cliaii'H, and thoii fuiU in itn duly. 
 It fttl'octH to 1)0 doi'ply si'iisililo of (lio advanta;;oM conlVi'iod on itn 
 youn^or mcmliorK ihrou^rh lliin t;onoi'oiis action ot tho public, 
 takes all it can KOt, and hodulously avoids giving any return. 
 \V|ii>n it is linked to accopt tho coilo^^'o j^radua'c, 'n oxtond tho 
 right hand of fullo\VHlii|i to him and admit him into tho Hphuro 
 in which hin lilo should now ho cast, tho profoMMiun drops him, 
 hocaiiNO ho hai hud " no praolical oxporicncc," und sinks into its 
 doprossiiii,'ly lotharyic condition of iidniiration and doiiiand for 
 tho " Practical man." Whatever may have been tho triumpliH 
 of the profession in other linos, its rocoji;nition of tho hif^her 
 education of ils youiifj;er iiicmliois, cannot bo classed among. 
 
 Tho |)i'oscnt Idisscr alltr condition cannot exist much loiigor, 
 the |)ul)lic will waken uji to their rights and will dumund of the 
 profession asuitr.iile acknowleilgmeiit of their .-.orvices and iiitov- 
 ost ; large sums have been expeiidid in endowing and eqiii|»ping 
 Hchools of engineering by tlio goveriiincnts of tho Dominion and 
 the Hoveval provincoa and |)rivato benofactions. Tho graduates 
 of these are a credit to the institutions from which Ihey oinorge, 
 the writer clieoiliilly bears testimony to his appreciation of the 
 training given at some ol' lie collogcs, the young men ho has 
 employed Iiavoall turned out well. The courses of instruction 
 are being onlargcd, tho miignificont beneliictions of one gentle- 
 man will soon ])laco in .Montreal one of tho most fully and per- 
 fectly equipped enginoering schools and laboratories to be found 
 anywhere. 
 
 Resi'omsibility of the Profession. 
 
 The fruits uf all of these colleges — graduates — have to be aclc- 
 nowlodged somewhere, the lit place is in the, profcdsion, the 
 proper mode is by a .society of men in that profession, who being 
 incorporated and legally eliariered, have conferred on them, the 
 necessary powers to carry on those graduates by making them 
 conform to certain standards, which w<inld place them at given 
 gradations in tho Society, each of which would bo equivalent to 
 a degree^ und have a commercial value. The degree thus ob- 
 tained would be the " practical" evidence tho jjrol'ession is 
 groping for. if anybody will calmly cotisiiler the future of 
 enginoering, with a view to making a forecast of probabilities, 
 he will soon convince himself thai the engineer of the future 
 will lio aliogether a thinking man ; rule of thumb is being ra- 
 pitlly banished, the new forces we are called upon to deal with, 
 require the liighest nieiital culture and educatinii : these will go 
 hand in hand with observation, and in spite of his "degree" the 
 engineer of tiu' ne.xl generation will in no sense fall short of his 
 progenitors as A i-iwoTio.vi, man. 
 
 The writer formed his opiniouti about tho ultimate aim of all 
 ciigineeiing societies, 15 years ago, ho has not had occasion to 
 cliange thorn ; ilie unexprossed desire, one may almost say — will, 
 of the profession is towards higher attaiiiraonts in its members, 
 and llio locogiiiLion of them by a piojierly coiislituloJ profes- 
 sional body. Universities and colleges may grant degrees in 
 
urlH m-.licino or Uw. tho hol.lor of u .l.'Ki.^o ol.taiim no prohw- 
 Hion'iil ft.lv.intn«.- until ho i« H.linltto.1 to piolo^^ioniil Htun.l.nu' \>y 
 n .•ori.omto l.o,|y, -Inlv ,,imlilU..l unM untitlml to .lo ho. Tho l.'ol- 
 ing hu^KTown ii.i.i.lly in ih.- Dominion in Ihoh.Kt llvo yoii. ,4 ,hi.l 
 profen onnl Htiuulin ; mnnt ho loconni/o.'. .m.l a .iiuilitl.ut.on oh- 
 tttintxl whoifhy a man'-* KM.nilinK <'ii. ho ...lahiinho.l. Tho aichi 
 toe's of tho I'lovin.os oi t^uihoc nw\ Onliiiio huvo oi«unii80.l. in 
 British t'oiumhiu 11 movomont lor or>;ur.i/.ulion i* on toot; tho 
 
 Pr.iv- u.iiil Land Suivevoiv* of the I'loviiK Onliiiio huvo hu<l 
 
 lncr»...H. .1 |)owor Knmtcd to thorn l>y U)«iHhition iin.l Ihoy uio now 
 emlouvouiinK to ;,'ol a .'hailor to u'ahh.thoni a«aho.ly to licon«o 
 thoir pmi'lilioniTc. inNtoad of \mun Vwou-^rd \>y Hi'' (Jovornrnont. 
 Tho fornuition of tt cUwo pi-ofosHiiin will not ho injurious to tho 
 onKinoorin« intoro«ts or to th.< puhiie-. It in h,)t yot 25 yoarH 
 »\m-" tho medical profosHion in tho I'roviiicoof Ontario, ohurnod 
 ucharlor; no iniury han imnon to tl.o pnhlii- tn.m tho formation 
 of thiH inU) a ptofossion, it wonhl t'lUo only a low nHnutos to 
 Huti«fy any sioptic thai tho niovomont has l.oon of tho K'l-oat.ml 
 bonotit to' ovoryhody. Tho i^ovoral piovimi-s have each thoir 
 law socio'io(4, tl-oy uro .ill ehwo corporations. Who ovor heard of 
 in.porlii.« loadinj,Mo.ins«l Irom tho lIiiitodStalOH to pload a cuiiso 
 in liny Canuilian court, who hart Kullurod in any way from thin 
 arniiiKiMnont ? Can anyone way llial tho ■•uu>o of jiiNlicc is hadly 
 sorvod Docauso tho memhors ..f tho Canadian Imr <lo not piwtico 
 in tho IJriitod Stales c.mrls? Doos puhlic health siitVer hocauso 
 American iihyHiuians .lo ii.it have hranch otHces in Canada? 
 Who can say that tho«e diiUinctivo c >rdons have provoked bad 
 teeliiiK l><.'twi u the i -"odivo professions in each of thyso 
 two countries r On the contrary wo know that tho very host 
 and fritndly lelationt* exint bolwecn these pi'..fcf.sions. TL- 
 formation of these iir..foHsiot.M int.i such dose corporation", has 
 ;,een attended with the very loHt results to every one, of in- 
 estimable henetit in el-vatiiiK the moal.' of il.e (.••aclilioners, the 
 movement has rcHulted in ineulcuhible lienetit to the public. 
 
 DiiTv oi. THE Society. 
 
 It licH fairly within tho limits of the C.inadia.n SoriETV .ik 
 Civil Engineers to consider what obli^'atiolls fall upon it m 
 connection with the future .if the younjJter mon-burs. It is abun 
 danlly proven from the forottoin^' iii'icumoiit that the w.M>,'ht of 
 opinion is Ufiainst the bare dofiree, which gianled by u .tolle;,'e ..r 
 university ..infers no ackn.iwle.l^'iHl iir.ifessional stanilin--. Th.' 
 writer lo.jks on this as a matter of regret, the possessioi; of a de- 
 gree is evi.lonce of education and lrain=.i.i,' in special lin.'s of 
 knowledf,'o. Tho medical Htmient .ibtaiiin his liKhl of entry into 
 his profcssi.m throM-h his dc^iie.', toobic.iii which, he has passe.l 
 there.iuiredstanilards laid down by the .■orporati.m or coriiorate 
 boily into which h.' is to bo admifle.l ; the examinations to which 
 ho has been subjected boinj,' cond'uite.l liy thai body. His value 
 as a iiraclioner rests upon himself as tau;;ht in tlu- s.diool .if ex- 
 perience. The same course applies to they.mnu en^'iaeer, the 
 majority .if tho jirofessi.m l.iok with kindly luelings .m the 
 iM'iiduate, the day is]iassed in which he is classed as a ninc.inpoo|i, 
 and Ills theoretical training discouiite.l. 
 
 There uro now .so many sch.i.ils of enu;ineerinLi; in the Doinbiion 
 supported out of public an.l private funds, it will .-ooii be incum- 
 bont on the profession t.i take C(,n;nizan.-e of ih.ir work, and .lo- 
 clare in a more niarke.l manner than has yet b. en attempteil that 
 tho .legreos of these schools under certain conditions give tho 
 bolder tiie full (lualitied entry int.i the pr.ilcsssion thr.Mi^'h tho 
 door of the ('AN.\m.\.v Socii. f of Civil H.N'iineers. 
 
 Why delay any lon;;ei' in acknowledging tho titnoss .if thorough 
 education as the bases .il' engineering pioticioncy ? Ifold out the 
 right hand of fi icndship to the student and tell him that the 
 gateway of his future life is .ipoii l.i him by tho diplonia.s of tho 
 t'uuadiaii Society of Civil Knginccr.s. granted to him iifler bo has 
 pasised such standards and appeared before such oxaminors us 
 the Society shall detwmino. 
 
 8 
 
ThiH |Mopo«itiori may ^l rile tho nvernno mind, thoro will b« 
 |p|<«nty ui iilijiiciiiin ;i'i«!ii, uml imni' or» ol'tfitkb on all nUim will 
 |>niclairn tliiit tho Hdcicty Iiiih iKilhiii^r to do with udiication —tut 
 Iho iimtitiilion told Ihu wiiiof it wuh noi itn imIuc .nionul l.ody — 
 loiill ..fwhi.li ilu- wiilur ImnoMJy ono uimwoi', the wliolo di ill of 
 imr Socicly and all cMKitifKriiig .SociulioM Ih oiliiruliMiml. Wo 
 wrilo iMipuiH, wo di«fiiHH, (ho whol« objoct In iiiunlul iMprovo- 
 inoiit. 
 
 'I'l.o Soi'ioly haM j^ivun oviduiiee of it» intorunt in oiii- youngor 
 nuMiiLoiH, l.ynd.nitliiiK thoni to tho locoKnl/.od «iiidoor Hi.iiidinj?, 
 and ^JvtM liiitlior prooC of ihU>iUN( l..> txMun Ihuni to hold 
 HtiidfiitN' niocliii:rs uml read papoiv, Hotno olwliici. iiuvo alrijuiy 
 liooii tiiiiiiil woidiy (if a ^,Unw in our procoedinKB. 
 
 Tho Sdcii'ty nood havo no 'ear of itn Ntundin^ hi'in^ alloc tod, if 
 it HMNunu-j tho poNilion and poworH of hiicIi hod on hh thy niudioal 
 or lo;{ul |pi.iloHMioi,,oi' the Ohiii.h, Nnn.* ..f thoMO Hiiifcr fion. 
 J, 'anting digivtiN. A roiiiaikublo domoimtration -' tho writoi-'H 
 ttrKu;nont In »ho foeling which will nhoitly Hhow ittiolf ninong tho 
 land HiirvoyofH of Onlario, to taUc llio whole control of thoir 
 pV'.foNNion into ihoii own handH. A charlor lo thiH olloct is now 
 ( '.'ohruury 1H9l') bclbro the Local Lixisluturo of that Province. 
 
 UuDioMPiun Tactics. 
 
 Tho writer haw good groiiiulH for nuying I hat thoro in a Mtrong 
 fooling ii. tho profoMsion, for cloMor union, if a poll were triod tho 
 fttvourulilo oxproHnion of opinion would bo .surpriHing. Nothing 
 can bo inoio un^atiHfaotory than the proHont piofortnionul Hiatus, 
 in no clanw ot nian I'aiimg IhemMolvOM a I'l'ofos.sion of loarnod nion 
 JH thoro (*o little cf nolf-rospoct, dignity and entonto cordialo. 
 i-hyMicianw aro geno.ully crodit'jd with having Iosh brotherly love 
 towurdH oufh otbor than i>' .'.or prolbttNion; ntill wuh it all 
 one member dooH not try to out into hiH neighbour's i)rttctico, 
 take pati 'ntw away fron, him i.r ort'or to porfo.-n oporation« at a 
 lower rale. HarriwtarM or Hoiicitors do not light lor fliontH nor 
 do Counwol lender to taUo brietk lor tho pleasure of cutting out a 
 neighbour. What dooM thr ongineerdo? Wh > can deny that 
 there Ih abo.it aH mueh wire jiulling and log rollijig among 
 ongineerM as among tho vendors of |)atent articles; eorporations 
 all know it and make full une of it ; they either make engineers 
 hid directly against each other, got advice for nothing through 
 the public prcf;H or net them to work directly and indirectly t(J 
 cut down each other's fees. As the profession stands to day, it 
 is almost a trade; men advertise themselves either in the jiublic 
 press, or by circular, or by flooding tho country with copies of 
 every report they wrilo, they have themselves interviewed and 
 described as 'eminent," " well known,'' " experts," £:c., and yet 
 condcscenil to practices to which those very wordf renrobate. 
 The Inhtitution of Civil Engineers says that " niembei^hip in the 
 institution is a real guai.uileo of professional standing and (so 
 far as possible) also of the personal character of those on whom 
 it is conferred," membershi]) in our .Society also, as well as tho 
 kindred one in the U..ited .States, should be taUen to have a like 
 influenco and value which should exert a much more elwi*'-,.- 
 tone and etl'ect on the members than it a|)pears to tlo. 
 
 Tho jirofessioii in tho British lOmpire is certainly influenced 
 by the [nstituliiM), moinboiship in it carries weight all over the 
 Hmpiro and on the Continent of Eurojie. The writer notices 
 with satisfaction that of late years Canadian engineers have felt 
 the benefit of connection with llm hu'itution. Next to the Ins- 
 titution, tho American .Society has claimed an! fill attracts 
 many Canadian Engineers ; tho iiualiticutions tor this Society 
 are of sucii an irder as to give its members a standing similar to 
 that of the Institution. The effect of moinbeiship in one or 
 both of these societies has not bad the improving and high moral 
 tone on the Canadian membcis it seems to have on members 
 resident in the United States and elsewb.ere, so far as tho writer's 
 experience extends. Tlieix is too much adveriisiiig, patting, 
 still hunting and conduct which connection with one of these 
 BOoletieH alone should loud a man to abhor, how much more then 
 
 9 
 
should his self respect rise if he belongs tc more than one ? The 
 medical profenHion in Ontario set ii very good exampl*^ when thoy 
 wisely and properly decided against advertising; thoy do n >t 
 even allow the insertion of a professional card in any newspaper. 
 
 In the legal profension, the system of advertising exists to a 
 limited extent, chiefly in the form of professional cnrds. In the 
 practice of both these professions, one finds no tenders asked for 
 surgical operations or family practice, nor do learned Counsel 
 cut fees or swagger over their cases won. 
 
 The Canadian Society of Civil Engineers has had a remark- 
 able record since its organization ; it is making itself felt in the 
 land; membership in it is being acknowledged as the rank of an 
 engineer's standing; the outside world has given it a place 
 among learned bodies ; it now lies with the members to extend 
 that influence, and to raise the tone of the profession to the 
 standard it is entitled to as the foremost of all the leicned and 
 scientific professions in thp world. 
 
 I 
 
 10