What the future offers to a young man choosing the profession of mechanical engi neering depends very much upon the ability of the man himself. The broad scope of the pro fession, already referred to, furnishes ample indication that there is a wide field of work for him. That there are positions awaiting the young engineer may be seen by examining the catalogues of prominent technical colleges, which record the names of graduates and their occupations. For example, in one of these catalogues the class graduated last had a total of 44 men in the department of mechanical engineering. Of this number only three are put down without employment, and one of the three is in reality employed, being a graduate student. Of the 41 holding positions, 18 are en gaged in various engineering occupations con nected with the manufacture of machinery, three are employed in textile mills, eight are en gaged in steel works, three are connected with railroads and the remaining nine are variously occupied in engineering pursuits. If the young engineer becomes connected with an industrial business of sufficient size and importance to warrant the steady employment of a mechanical engineer, and he shows the necessary ability, the prospect is that he will in time push forward to a position of responsibility which will command a good salary and satisfy any ordinary ambition. If his desire is to establish an engineering busi ness of his own, he can make the emoluments greater than in a salaried position, provided he is able to secure the necessary clientage, and conduct such a business to advantage. If this is his choice, the most promising course for him to pursue is to first enter the office of a success ful engineer, and spend a few years in learning the business. Then, if he has the acquaintance and aptitude necessary for attracting business for himself, he can set up his own establish ment, and by careful attention to the execution of his work strive for the success he seeks. In
mechanical engineering, as in other professions, large emoluments await the men who rise to the top, for these are the engineers who are called upon by individuals and corporations for con sultation.
The profession of mechanical engineer• ing offers as many attractions to those en tering it as any other profession, for in this, as in others, there is always room for those who excel, and no professional man meets with suc cess unless his work commands it.
Bibliography.—Barr, 'Pumping Billings, 'Ventilating and Heating) ; Clark, (The Steam Engine' ; Clark, Gas Engine' ; Donkin, 'Gas, Oil and Air Engines' (1896) ; Durley, (Kinematics of Machines) ; Forney, (Catechism of the Grimshaw, (Steam Engine Catechism' ; Hiscox, 'Gas, Gasoline and Oil Engines' (1898) ; Hutton, 'Steam Boiler Construction' ; Isherwood, perimental Researches in Steam Engineering); Johnson, (The Strength of ; Ken nedy, Mechanics of Kerr, and Power Transmission' ; Meyer, Power Plants) ; Thurston, Mate rials of Engineering' ; Weisbach, Mechanics) (1:•:9) ; Zeuner, (A Treatise on Valve Gears) (1884) ; American Society Mechanical Engineers ; Kent, (Mechan ical Engineers' Pocket Book' • Thurston, Manual of the Steam Enginei; Peabody and Miller, Boilers' ; Porter, Richards Steam Engine Gustave, (The Ele ments of Mechanism) ; Lanza, 'Applied Me ; Hutton, 'The Mechanical Engineer ing of Power Plants' • Unwin, 'The Elements of Machine Design' ; Monroe, Heating and Ventilation' ; Baldwin, (Steam Heating for Buildings) ; Carpenter, 'A Textbook of Ex perimental Engineering.)