Ibe Bail IFlebraskan
Vol. X. No. 71
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, LINCOLN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1911.
Price 5 Cents.
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ENGINEERS ARE UNDERPAID
DR. WADDELL, DEAN COOLEY AND
DR. ARNOLD SPEAK.
OPENING DEDICATORY CEREMONIES
POINT OUT MANY FACTS TO THE
ENGINEERS.
Two Speakers -Talk Up -a Considera
tion of the Corporations, and
the Work of the Future.
Engineer.
The opening ceremonies in the dedi
cation of tho new mechanical engi
neering laboratories of the university
wore held Wednesday morning at
10:30. A large number of visiting en
gineers arrived Monday evening and
TueBday morning, and accompanied
by members of the university faculty
spent the early morning hours Inspect
ing tho campus and the university
buildings.
Special addresses by three of the
visiting engineers was the featuro of
the morning program, at which Dr.
John A. L. Waddejl of Kansas City,
Dean M. B. Cooley of the University
of Michigan and Bion J. Arnold of
Chicago spolco briefly.
Dr. Waddell, who was Introduced by
Dean Richards as one of tho most
eminent of the civil engineers of the
world, and the man who has con
nected Nebraska Wltirtlf6"eaSt. "His
subject was, "Tho Present Status of,
tho Engineering Profession and How
It May Bo Improved." Dr. Waddell
said in part:
"Whore would civilization stand
wero it not for the engineer's brainB
and untiring energy? In four ways
the engineer of today is handicapped.
First, by insufficient pay; second,
they are not protected by law against
unscrupulous employers; third, there
is no rulo by which tho profession Is
governed in public opinion; and last
ly, tho engineers do not have the
proper standing with tho public.
"Dealing with these things In their
order, wo find that the engineers of
today, are not paid in many Instances
as well as tho common mason. He is
protected by an organization formed
to regulate wages and care for his
support. There Is nothing to relate
the profession of engineering to the
public, and public opinion does not
give these men enough respect.
"To correct this evil an organiza
tion, of which I am not allowed to
give full information about, has been
organized, with the following scope:
To-broaden-nnd dignify tho profession,
to bring tho profession of engineering
Into high respect, and to Instruct the
publicin"tho importance of-the engi
neers. From this organization great
results aro expected -when us organi
zation is complete. The requirements
for membership are very exacting and
because of this only tho men of tho
highest standing will be entitled to
membership."
Dr. Cooley's Address.
Dean M. E. Cooleyi of the Univer
sity! of Michigan chose for his sub
ject, "Tho Public Service Corporation
and ItB Eolation to the Public." Dean
Cooley said that the attention of this
problem had been before the public
for Bomo time and that the engineer
had a largo part in solving it. He said
in part: ,
"I have Itfirestlgated public utilities,
and I have found many tangible rea-
ons-whythey-flhould-be-investigatedr
THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS
TO AID WORTHY STUDENTS
Three thousand dollars is tho to
tal amount of three gifts yesterday
made to the University of Nebras-
Jca At a luncheon. Jield Wednes
day noon at the New Llndoll hotel,
three gifts of one thousand dollars
each were received from friends of
the university. The threo donors
are: Mr. John R. Webster of Om
aha, Dr. J. A. L. Waddell of Kan
sas City and Regent W. G. Whit
more of Valley, Neb. None of the
gifts were anticipated by tho toast
master, the chancellor or any of
tho faculty men. They came as a
complete surprise to all.
A number of excellent toasts had
been given and Dean C. R. Rich
ards had Just called on Chancellor
Avery to close tho program, when
Mr. John R. Webster of Omaha
arose to address tho tortstmaster.
Mr. Webster said that ho wanted
to beg for a minute of time; that
it was really har dfor him to break
In on tho program In this way, but
that he had something on hlB mind
which ho wanted to unload.
Ho told the eighty men assem
bled that he had given a sum of a
thousand dollars, a few years ago
to an-astern-BoUool-aniLthajLii
had been used as a loan fund for
worthy students. He said that the
fund had been added to from tlnle
to timo by tho Interest becoming
principal, and that today It Is a
growing fund doing a good work.
Ho stated that ho wanted to give
a like sum to tho University of Ne
braska, with the same end In view,
that of helping worthy students
who would otherwise not bo nblo
to complete their courses.
This announcement from Mr.
Webster caused -agoodly round or
applause and also hoiiio cheering.
Before the excitement had subsid
ed. Mr. W. G. Whltmore, ono of tho
regents of tho university, Bald that
he would duplicate tho offer of Mr.
Webster. This offer of tho bccoiuI
thousand was quickly followed by
a third thousand given by Dr. J.
A. Ij. Waddell of Kansas City.
Tho enthusiasm was by this
and when Chancellor Avory Anally
time running at a pretty high clip,
sToke, ho pronounced tho last threo
the best and most profltnblo toasts
of tho program. In behalf of tho
university, and by tho authority
vested In him by tho board of ro
gentB, ho nccopted tho threo thou
sand, dollars which had been of
fered. The chancellor and tho
board of regents will bo In charge
of tho fund.
Tho luncheon was planned com
plimentary to tho men who woro
yesterday tho gues?8 of tho univer
sity at tho engineering building
dedication exccisos. Besides tho
threo men above mentioned there
wero " Beveral other out-of-town
guests at the luncheon. Dean W.
F. M. Gobs of tho University of Illi
nois, Dean M. E. Cooley of tho Uni
versity of Michigan, Mr. Blon J.
Arnold of Chicago and others wero
guests of honor. Prof. Laurence
Fosslor and Doan C. R. Richards
wero the committee In charge.
About eighty men wero present.
THREE DEGREES CONFERRED
EMINENT ENQINEER8 HONORED
LA8T EVENING.
NEW BUILDING IS DEDICATED
DEAN GOSS DELIVERS DEDICA
TORY ADDRESS.
Tho corporation officer will admit that
their troubles are of their own mak
ing. That they had forgotten that
public utilities were servants of tho
public. Because of this tho public was
put In tho position of a servant, and
while they are slow to rlso in anger,
when they do so they wero a mighty
force.
"However, the blame of tho present
trouble cannot bo all laid to tho cor
poration. We are a growing nation.
Tho possession of wealth at times
seems to be our goal. Thus we our
selves have neglected the corporation.
"Tho public, however, Is easily In
Juenced. A few may make trouble
These few may be the men seeking
favor. Shall wo drop our ballots for
tho support of tho politicians who stir
tip Trouble nlelm thirpubllcand-tho
.public utilities corporations?
"The corporation is a servant of
tho people. It it assumes a differ
ent position it is not fulfilling tho duty
which is laid down by its franchise.
To acgonirnish this a campaign of ed
ucation should bo started. To gain
this, history, sociology and similar
topics must become part of tho en
gineer's curriculum."
Dr. Arnold Speaks. t
Dr. Blon J. Arnold of Chicago was
the last speaker on the morning pro
gram. Dr. Arnold Is a graduate of tho
University of Nebraska, receiving his
B. Sc. degree in 1884, his M. Sc. in
1887, and his E. E. degree in 1897. Dr.
Arnold spoke briefly, and said in part:
"Stand oiflne policy of truthful
ness, Thlsis my advice. At the nres-
out timo now enterprises require cap
ital. Following up tho thought which
Dean Coojoy has outlined, I wish to
go farther into tho subject. To tho
engineer tho duty falls of going far
ther Into a problem and getting down
to tho real foundation of all matters.
"When a corporation is started, and
capital must bo secured, If risk is
groat, then tho Interest will naturally
be high. Now when tho basis of the
stock of tho corporation Is Investigat
ed many things must bo taken Into
consideration. There aro preliminary
or developing expeTises In tho building
of a railroad. But many of theso
things cannot be Shown in a material
way. Tho company 'purchased loco
motives, tleB, scrapers and similar
things. These can bo represented in a
materiaLjvay5vJiea .the. basIsfor- stock
value is Investigated, but tho money
which was expended for attorney's
fees, discount for the sale of bonds,
and similar deceloplng expenses can
not bo shown. To show that these
things are possible and deal with
minor agairs like this must bo taken
Into the consideration of tho future
engineer. ,
"To remedy o'y.er capitalization I
would say that wo forgot tho -past,
and let tho future bring forth (ho re
sults. Over capitalization cannot go
on. Engineering itself is a calling re
quiring continual thought. Tho call
ing of tho engineer Bhould be recog
nized as ono of tho highest. It makes
men think accurately, speak exactly,
and, gives them ability along lines
which no other calling can bring."
Governor Aldrlch? President Allen -of
the Board of Regents and Chan
cellor Avery Make 8hbrt
Addresses.
WednoBday evening marked tho ded
ication of tho new mechanical en
gineering laboratories. Tho opening
speeches in tho morning and tho fac
ulty elub luncheon at noon was fol
lowed by tho formal coremonles In
tho ovenlng.
An enormous crowd assembled to
listen to tho words of tho Bpoakors of
tho evening and to wltnoBB tho con
ferring of tho honorary degrees upon
threo of tho moBt eminent enginoorB
in tho United States.
Program Opened.
Tho formal program was opened by
three short addresses. Govornor Ald
rlch was tho HrBt speaker, roprosent
ing tho state. In n few words ho out
lined tho way in which tho honor of
tho state was upheld by tho univer
sity. President Charles Allen of the
board of regents followed with a phort
luMross; find Chancellor Avory fol
lowed this address with tho closing
talk of the preliminary exercises.
Dean Goss.
The principal Bpeaker of the evening
waB Dean -William F. M. Goss of tho
college of engineering of tho Univer
sity of Illinois. Ho dlscuBBed many
matters of interest to tho engineering
world and pointed out as tho speak
ers of tho morning tho importance of
tho engineers' work.
Ho compllmonted tho University of
Nebraska and tho state on tho now
engineering laboratories, and praised
tho work of tho men who had been
graduatod from this institution, as well
as the efforts of the men of tho faculty
who wero In a way responsible for tho
results obtained by the students.
Degrees Conferred.
Following tho dedicatory address
honorary degrees woro conferred upon
Dr. John Alexander Low Waddell of
Kansas City, Dr. Blon Joseph Arnold
of Chicago, and Dean Mortimer Elwyn
Cooley of the college of engineering
of tho University of Michigan.
Of theso men Dr. Arnold Is tho only
Nebraska graduate. Ho received tho
degree of B. Sc. In 1884. In 1887 ho
was granted his M. Sc. degree, and
this was followed in 1897 by the degree
oris; E. Dr. Arnold is a contributor
to scientific literature, a university
lecturer, and an electric traction ox
pert. He is'consultlng engineer on tho
New York subways and chief engineer
in tho reconstruction of the Chicago
street railways. He is tho inventor of
tho magnetic clutch, of storage batter
ies for traction work, and of slnglo
phase railway construction. Dr. Ar
nold is a fellow of tiro American asso
ciation for tho Advancement of Science
and past president of the 'American In
stitute of Electrical Engineers and of
tho Western Society of Engineers. Ho
Is a member of tho American Society
of Civil Engineers and of the Socjety
for thp Promotion of Engineering Ed
ucation. He was awarded medals and
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