Author: Faber, Oscar
1 January 1933
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Faber, Oscar
The Structural Engineer, Volume 10, Issue 1, 1932
The President, proposing a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Creswell for having put the matter so clearly before the members, said he was wondering when structural engineers would have the opportunity to acquire legal knowledge in addition to all the scientific knowledge they must possess; perhaps the matter was one which might be placed before the Institution’s Board of Examiners. Mr W.C.Cocking(Past Member of Council) paid a tribute to Mr. Creswell in respect of his very happy knack of drawing the attention of professional men to various matters, often of very great importance, but which had previously escaped their attention, and said that the paper referred to many matters which professional men did not often consider.
The designers and manufacturers of steelwork for buildings have expressed continuously, for several years, their view that it is possible to economise to a considerable extent, and with safety, if building regulations would permit. This urge for economy has not arisen suddenly,and has no relation to an economic crisis; the urge arises from a realisation that steel can be utilised to better advantage, particularly in pillars, because greater stresses are justifiable than are at present permitted. The experience of other countries and their development of the more economical and advantageous employment of steel has been noted by British engineers. They have shown that, given less restrictions, they are capable of competing for overseas trade, but they are just as eager to utilise their steel in the most economical way in the home market. It is unquestionably the opinion of a large body of structural engineers that existing regulations are in many respects of a very conservative character and will bear rather drastic revision under several heads. F E Drury
The future will always hold interest for those who are full of vigour and enterprise and, as a comparatively young and very progressive Institution, we are looking forward with an intense interest to the future and the possible developments in Structural Engineering. It is not intended to put forward any attempt at a prophecy, but rather to indicate in some manner the developments which are at present in their infancy, and search among these for guidance as to the direction in which some headway is likely to be made in the near future. A Lakeman