Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University Department of Civil and Environmental Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications Engineering 5-1-1946 The iC vil Engineer Lewis K. Downing Howard University Follow this and additional works at: http://dh.howard.edu/civileng_fac Part of the Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Downing, Lewis K., "The ivC il Engineer" (1946). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications. Paper 1. http://dh.howard.edu/civileng_fac/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reprinted from the BETA KAPPA CHI BULLETIN Vo-1. 4, No. 2, May, 1946 The Civil Engineer Lewis K.B yDowning ' Dean, School of Engineering and Architecture Howard University, Washington, D. C. Engineering has been defined as “the benefit of man. The team work of physi­ art and science of controlling and direct­ cists, chemists, bacteriologists, other ing the materials and power sources in scientists and engineers brought the nature for the use and convenience of atomic bomb to a reality and opened the human race!”. The scientist discovers up an entirely new and unlimited area the laws of nature—the Engineer takes of technological advancement. To Major- the discoveries of the scientist and con­ General Leslie R. Groves, a Civil Engi­ verts them into useful channels for the neer, was entrusted the coordination and Class in Materials Testing Department of Civil Engineering at Howard University, Washington, D. C. implementation of all activities in the survey of public lands, control of ero­ development of the atomic bomb pro­ sion, irrigation; teaching, research, con­ ject. sulting service, and regional planning Early engineering was basically mil­ are among the private governmental itary in purpose and in fact. Great and industrial opportunities in the life’s works of engineering come down to us work of the Civil Engineer. from the early days of the Roman Em­ Included among prominent Negroes in pire. Huge aqueducts radiated from the field of Civil Engineering are: Arch­ Rome to points of military operation ibald A. Alexander, builder of the many miles away. These assured the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Sewage necessary water supply for the armies. Treatment Plant, Tidal Basin Bridge, Via Appia, a great military highway District of Columbia and other engi­ constructed of large blocks of stone four neering projects; Charles S. Duke, feet deep and placed by prisoners of Structural Engineer, Analyst, Federal war for the passage of troops and char­ Public Housing Administration; Samuel iots and men 2,000 years ago was used R. Cheevers, Highway11 Engineer and by American troops to enter Rome in Engineering Contractor; Cornelius L. World War II. Julius Caesar was a Henderson, Structural Engineer, Can­ highway engineer. adian Bridge Company; William F Military engineering re-converted to Thornton, Civil Engineer, President, Na­ peace-time civilian use became known tional Technical Association; and Arch­ as Civil Engineering now considered ibald F. Glover, Civil Engineer, Depart­ the mother of all modern professional ment of Public Works, New York City. engineering. All main divisions or branches of the engineering profession Preparation for the profession of Civil have their origin in Civil Engineering. Engineering calls for a thorough back­ The design, construction, and opera­ ground in College Mathematics, Physics, tion of dams, water supply systems, Chemistry, Biology and the Humanities water power plants, tunnels, bridges, along with discipline in the professional highways, waterways, air fields, sani­ courses allied to and in the field of Civil tary systems, and public utilities; the Engineering..