Institzttion of Civil Engivzeers. ‘ 107

the work of a day, a month, or a year; but let the foundation be
once properly laid, and the architects will receive renewed vigor
from its gradual success, until they eventually behold it a permanent
and beautiful’ structure. Look, for a moment, at England ‘and
France, and other countries of the eastern world, and see how dif-
ferently our profession there stands, and ask yourself the reason
Why 1 Is it because its leaders are men of more talent, genius, and
scientific knowledge‘? N 0! But because they have system with
their wisdom. True, they have more magnificent structures to
which they can direct the finger of inquiry; but the same spirit
which teaches us to admire them there, would make us pronounce
them ridiculously absurd at home. There, they have ample wealth,
and are taught to waste thousands in decorating external surfaces,
in order that they may attract the. gaudy eye of the extravagant
Witnesses; While here, we know no dictator but economy, who
teaches us that beauty is in their simplicity, and virtue in their
strength. '

Our civil corps has abundant material to make it rival any other
in the world ; and the occasional failures which it has experienced
in some of its plans, may justly be attributed to a common error

among the directors of companies, which is,'adopting the extrava-

gant schemes of mere scientific gentlemen and amateur engineers,
because they are accompanied with a long and abstruse treatise
upon the theory of the ‘matter, which no one but "themselves can
understand, in preference to the plain, practical, and inexpensive
plans of a less ostentatious individual. This is one great evil which
our profession in this country has had to contend with, but an evil
Which,vI am glad to say, is gradually correcting itself. They begin
to see the virtue of the old maxim, that experience is the best school-
master, and apply it to their works. The course internal improve-
ment will hereafter take will be a gradually progressive one. Our
finances will forbid future extravagant projects; and works must
grow in proportion to the increased wealth and capital of our coun-
try. The revenue derived from moderate taxation, increasing of
course with every improvement,—and the enterprize of individual
capitalists seeking safe investments for their funds, are.the only
safe basis upon which we can rely for future employment. True,
the spirit of improvement has gone forth with an impetus that cannot
be suddenly arrested, and the constant success of its accomplishments
will give encouragement to further action; but our States have
branched so extensively in works of every description. and so

flooded the foreign market with their stock, that they Will soon be