The young man and civil engineering by Swain George Fillmore 1857-

Author:Swain, George Fillmore, 1857- [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Civil engineering
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan company
Published: 1922-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V

CHARACTERISTICS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AS A PROFESSION

Evert profession or occupation has features which might be termed unfavorable, and others which might be termed favorable; yet what one person might consider favorable, another might think unfavorable. It is a question of personal adaptation. If a young man is distinctly adapted for a certain ^profession, it may have no disadvantages for him. But few young men are distinctly fitted for but one occupation. Most men would succeed equally well in any one of a number, if their training and discipline were directed toward the one chosen. Every occupation has charctctetistic^y and, therefore, instead of having one chapter on the advantages of Civil Engineering as a profession, and another on its disadvantages, the present chapter will discuss the Characteristics of Civil Engineering as a Profession. Each reader may then decide which are to him advantages and which disadvantages.

First among the attractions of Civil Engineering

may be placed the opportunity that'it offers of doing

constructive and enduring work. If, as has been

claimed in this book, engineering in its broadest sense

is the main element in advancing civilization^ it is ob-

152 THE YOUNO MAS AND CIVIL ENOINEEBINO

making more of themselves than you will ever make of yourself. Above all, learn intellectual modesty even while sure of your ground, and remember that when you graduate your education will have been only begun.

CHAPTER V

CHARA.CTERISTICS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AS A PROFESSION

Evert profession or occupation has features which might be termed unfavorable, and others which might be termed favorable; yet what one person might consider favorable, another might think unfavorable. It is a question of personal adaptation. If a young man is distinctly adapted for a certain profession, it may have no disadvantages for him. But few young men are distinctly fitted for but one occupation. Most men would succeed equally well in any one of a number, if their training and discipline were directed toward the one chosen. Every occupation has charctcteristics, and, therefore, instead of having one chapter on the advantages of Civil Engineering as a profession, and another on its disadvantages, the present chapter will discuss the Characteristics of Civil Engineering as a Profession. Each reader may then decide which are to him advantages and which disadvantages.

First among the attractions of Civil Engineering

may be placed the opportunity that'it offers of doing

constructive and enduring work. If, as has been

claimed in this book, engineering in its broadest sense

is the main element in advancing civilization, it is ob-

154 THE YOUNG MAS AMD CIYIL ENGENEESINO

TioiiB that the aigineer who biulds a railroad, furnishes a city with water, develops by irrigation a tract of land previously useless, constructs a port or a canal for handling the connnerce of the world, or completes or aids in completing any other large and useful engineering work,' is a direct agent in doing good to his fellow-men. The engineer can look upon his completed work with pride and satisfaction, and can see before his eyes the fruits of his labor. His work is a permanent monument to his skill and diligence; it does not disappear as soon as it is done and paid for.

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