detail work and it is the young fellow, generally, who is intrusted with most of the research work requiring a knowledge of mathematics; work of a nature to seriously tax the patience of an older man. With the passing of years the work of the engineer becomes more executive and his knowledge of mathematics less sure. The fact that few eminent engineers can pass a satisfactory examination in elementary mathematics and would flunk badly in the higher branches is no argument against the value of a thorough training in mathematics. It may be that the reason the men achieve marked success who acquire an understanding knowledge of mathematics is that they are instinctive engineers and so took the mathematical instruction intelligently as a necessary part of the preparation for their life work.
Mathematics enable a man to investigate scientifically many things which might otherwise wait years for experimental proof. The rapid growth in the use of reinforced concrete as a structural material is an evidence of this. The invention of reinforced concrete was not due to an engineer. A gardener used wire netting embedded in concrete in the construction of some large jars and an engineer saw the possibilities in such material. He possessed a sound knowledge of mathematics and mechanics and developed some theoretical formulas to explain the action of the internal stresses and to arrive at the correct
