Article March 13, 1909 Issue

ENGINEERING PROBLEMS

DAVENPORT BROMFIELD.

Every one is interested in the problems that confront the civil engineer, and no one problem is more interesting than that of highway or road construction. When a railroad company has decided to construct road from one point to another, a competent engineer goes over the country and makes what is called a reconnaissance survey of the locality. After this has been done parties are placed in the field to survey or lay out upon the ground the best line upon which to construct the railroad.

Naturally the best line is that which is the least expensive in construction and the least expensive to maintain. The problem of the engineer, therefore, is to find the best route at the least expense to his employers. The best route is that which when constructed is the most direct and most nearly level in grade. A railroad built in a perfectly straight line and on a perfectly level grade would be an ideal road from the standpoint of the company operating it. In order to construct a road which will approach this ideal as nearly as possible, the engineer has to take levels all along the line of the proposed road, and prepare a profile map, one which shows exactly all the topography,—the valleys and mountains which he proposes to cross. After completing this profile, he studies out how much he can afford to fill up the valleys and cut down the mountains, in order to approach as nearly as possible to a perfectly straight and level line,—a task which calls for frequent reference to his text-book. He is also governed in this work by the amount of funds at his disposal, for one can readily see that a perfectly straight and level road could be constructed anywhere, if the funds were unlimited.

This work of the civil engineer is most interesting and fascinating, for while it involves the solution of many problems, the overcoming of innumerable obstacles, there is always the perfectly straight and level road in thought, the ideal road, to approach which is his constant endeavor. In this fact his work relates itself to that of the Christian Scientist. In the text-book of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 6I), "Every valley of sin must be exalted, and every mountain of selfishness be brought low, that the highway of our God may be prepared in Science." Every earnest student of Christian Science is as an engineer constructing a road. Through divine Love he has unlimited means to supply all his needs. He goes forth scientifically equipped with his text-book, makes his reconnaissance, takes his levels, maps out his course, raises the valleys and lowers the mountains, and if he is constantly guided in all his calculations by Principle, he will finally rejoice in a perfect road, as when Truth said, of old, "I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

THE VALUE OF PERSISTENCE