Columbia University School of Engineering - Yearbook (New York, NY)

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PROFESSOR THQMAS HENRY HARRINGTON, C.E.,'89 FOR FORTY YEARS GUIDE, COUNSELLOR AND FRIEND TO COLUMEL-X MEN A Presented to The U1'zive1'sity, April, 1934, by the COLUIVIBIA ENGINEERING SCPIOOLS ALUIUNI AS'5OCl:1TIO.V Portrait by Michael DeSantis

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The 1934 COLUMBIA ENGINEER Your entrance into the School of Engineering in September, 1931, after havingspent three years or more in collegiate training, came at a time when the Countrv was face to face with problems dealing with a financial depression world wide. Many parents. already hachniade great sacrilice to.enable their sons and daughters to pursue collegiatelstudies. Morepxinanyltinies more severe. was to be the calls upon some of them for financial aid if you weregtol enter: the professional school and meet all the expenses incident to three years' additional study at this University. Your decision to carry on your educational program under -such circumstances required not only great courage but it showed exceed- ingly good judgment. These are values of first importance. Moreover, you made your decision and your choice of a school voluntarily. That act emphasizes your own power of initiative. This also is one of the great values of life and the step then taken by you has lead onward and upward to this coming commencement. During your course of study emphasis has been directed by the Instructors in this school to the fundamentals of Engineering Science. You have been taught how to interpret nature, to find the truth, to know HOXIV and XVHY, to read the observations of others with understanding, to verify or disprove by your own research the conclusions andfindings of other I116l1lS minds. Such are the processes of education. I-Iereafter you will supplement this knowledge by that to be gained more expensively in the school of experience. The laboratory, the library and the lield have served you as centers for this intensive study. A working knowledge of how to use these resources is a powerful and valuable attainment. This you have achieved. Ability to observe accurately, to think intelligently and to interpret correctly is indispensable to -a successful engineer. To know the scientific why and how was necessary for your advancement. To anticipate the need of and to formulate a plan for 'fdirecting the forces of nature to the greater benefit of man is evidence of vision and is the special function of the engineer. Let this be your aim. By their works ye shall know them shall apply with telling significance to all that the engineer does. A ' -:-. But you may ask, How is success to be measured? Ultimately by the degree of happiness that shall be attained through ability to render more efficient service and from a feeling or realization of one's own indispensability in or towards the achievement of some chosen objective. A true and upright character is the most honorable and priceless reward ever attainable. All your efforts must lead to a better understanding of the real purpose and the real meaning of life, above everything else, to a better knowledge of yourself and of your relation to your fellow man. Let each one approach his task with confidence that honest work well done will receive deserved recognition, with resolute self control, with earnestness and with enthusiasm. Be master of yourself, show interest in your work and loyalty to your associates. Xhlatch for opportunity to be of greater service and be prepared to accept more responsibility whenever the call comes. Let not disappointments discourage you. Out of such happenings character is developed. Be faithful, honest and generous in your estimate of the merit and ability of others. In the words of the great philosopher, Work today as if you would live forever: Live today as if you were to die tomorrow. fCU'l1ff1l1lEd 011 page 48D TESTING IUAGHINE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY Tllirty-fain'

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The 1934 COLUMBIA ENGINEER MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AND FACULTY Nicoiai, Razzzz, Pegram, fI6f7f7EIIhGIllIE7', Riicozzda, Goldmmz, Alter, Hz'rke3', FIaf,'z'1L, Sllydlllll, Potter, Illarquard, lflfcisallallflc, HIId8bl'Gl1df, Rosetta, BIIIIIIEVJ, Malzgels, lllozzifolf, Albrecht, Lvbauzzsky, Sclzzzl, Ley, Sznifli, Shriro, Ca.rt1'ga11, Bessie, Fowler, I-Iuels, Petersezz, Geoghegazz, von. PILUITIIIGIIII, LVIISUII, Rosezz, ICIlld67'77lHIl', BCl'kIIOZlf, Hicks, BU1l7Il6'ISfE1', Eridnzcm, Parr, Karelifs, D1'lfCIIEl'. uitanharhigatiun ur jfussiligatiunn T 1-1EoDoRE BlxUME1sTER, IE. NE ESTIMABLE ENGINEER has said. Standardization is the first step toward fossilizationf' The fixing of railroad gaugesg the establishment of accepted screw threads g the specification of wire sizes: the systems of weights and measuresg or even the Arabic tables of numerals have all done much to facilitate progress and to enhance the happiness of life. Great as are the advantages of standardization its institution precludes prog- ress in other respects. Railroad cars are limited in size, weight and carrying capacityg screw threads and wire gauges are limited in latitudeg weights and measures are awkwardg and the systems of counting unduly burdensome. Stand- ardization thus serves to limit the scope of progress. These limitations become apparent with the passage of time and with the natural developments in the art which can know no moratorium on progress. Ultimately, it becomes necessary for the old standards to be altered or for new and better ones to be originated. p Standardization of machine members-or for that matter, mental attitudes and processes-may be expeditious for current problems but without flexibility it constitutes the most certain course toward stagnation, decadence, and fossil- ization. Thirty-sin'