I am conscious that my powers and my faculties； formerly
unnaturally taxed； are giving way。 I am letting the prosaic
influence of my life get hold of me。 I who； by the very nature of
my efforts； looked to do some great thing； I am face to face with
none but petty ones； I measure stones； I inspect roads； I have not
enough to really occupy me for two hours in my day。 I see my
colleagues marry； and fall into a situation contrary to the spirit
of modern society。 I wanted to be useful to my country。 Is my
ambition an unreasonable one？ The country asked me to put forth
all my powers； it told me to become a representative of science；
yet here I am with folded arms in the depths of the provinces。 I
am not even allowed to leave the locality in which I am penned； to
exercise my faculties in planning useful enterprises。 A hidden but
very real disfavor is the certain reward of any one of us who
yields to an inspiration and goes beyond the special service laid
down for him。
No； the favor a superior man has to hope for in that case is that
his talent and his presumption may not be noticed； and that his
project may be buried in the archives of the administration。 What
think you will be the reward of Vicat； the one among us who has
brought about the only real progress in the practical science of
construction？ The Council…general of the /Ponts et Chaussees/；
composed in part of men worn…out by long and sometimes honorable
service； but whose only remaining force is for negation； and who
set aside everything they no longer comprehend； is the
extinguisher used to snuff out the projects of audacious spirits。
This Council seems to have been created to paralyze the arm of
that glorious youth of France； which asks only to work and to be
useful to its country。
Monstrous things are done in Paris。 The future of a province
depends on the mere signature of men who （through intrigues I have
no time to explain to you） often stop the execution of useful and
much…needed work； in fact； the best plans are often those which
offer most to the cupidity of commercial companies or speculators。
Another five years and I shall no longer be myself； my ambition
will be quenched； my desire to use the faculties my country
ordered me to exercise gone forever； the faculties themselves are
rusting out in the miserable corner of the world in which I
vegetate。 Taking my chances at their best； the future seems to me
a poor thing。 I have just taken advantage of a furlough to come to
Paris； I mean to change my profession and find some other way to
put my energy； my knowledge； and my activity to use。 I shall send
in my resignation and go to some other country； where men of my
special capacity are wanted。
If I find I cannot do this； then I shall throw myself into the
struggle of the new doctrines； which certainly seem calculated to
produce great changes in the present social order by judiciously
guiding the working…classes。 What are we now but workers without
work； tools on the shelves of a shop？ We are trained and organized
as if to move the world； and nothing is given us to do。 I feel
within me some great thing； which is decreasing daily； and will
soon vanish； I tell you so with mathematical frankness。 Before
making the change I want your advice； I look upon myself as your
child； and I will never take any important step without consulting
you； for your experience is equal to your kindness。
I know very well that the State； after obtaining a class of
trained men； cannot undertake for them alone great public works；
there are not three hundred bridges needed a year in all France；
the State can no more build great buildings for the fame of its
engineers than it can declare war merely to win battles and bring
to the front great generals； but； then； as men of genius have
never failed to present themselves when the occasion called for
them； springing from the crowd like Vauban； can there be any
greater proof of the uselessness of the present institution？ Can't
they see that when they have stimulated a man of talent by all
those preparations he will make a fierce struggle before he allows
himself to become a nonentity？ Is this good policy on the part of
the State？ On the contrary； is not the State lighting the fire of
ardent ambitions； which must find fuel somewhere。
Among the six hundred young men whom they put forth every year
there are exceptions；men who resist what may be called their
demonetization。 I know some myself； and if I could tell you their
struggles with men and things when armed with useful projects and
conceptions which might bring life and prosperity to the half…dead
provinces where the State has sent them； you would feel that a man
of power； a man of talent； a man whose nature is a miracle； is a
hundredfold more unfortunate and more to be pitied than the man
whose lower nature lets him submit to the shrinkage of his
faculties。
I have made up my mind； therefore； that I would rather direct some
commercial or industrial enterprise； and live on small means while
trying to solve some of the great problems still unknown to
industry and to society； than remain at my present post。
You will tell me； perhaps； that nothing hinders me from employing
the leisure that I certainly have in using my intellectual powers
and seeking in the stillness of this commonplace life the solution
of some problem useful to humanity。 Ah！ monsieur； don't you know
the influence of the provinces；the relaxing effect of a life
just busy enough to waste time on futile labor； and not enough to
use the rich resources our education has given us？ Don't think me；
my dear protector； eaten up by the desire to make a fortune； nor
even by an insensate desire for fame。 I am too much of a
calculator not to know the nothingness of glory。 Neither do I want
to marry； seeing the fate now before me； I think my existence a
melancholy gift to offer any woman。 As for money； though I regard
it as one of the most powerful means given to social man to act
with； it is； after all； but a means。
I place my whole desire and happiness on the hope of being useful
to my country。 My greatest pleasure would be to work in some
situation suited to my faculties。 If in your region； or in the
circle of your acquaintances； you should hear of any enterprise
that needed the capacities you know me to possess； think of me； I
will wait six months for your answer before taking any step。
What I have written here； dear sir and friend； others think。 I
have seen many of my classmates or older graduates caught like me
in the toils of some specialty；geographical engineers； captain…
professors； captains of engineers； who will remain captains all
their lives； and now bitterly regret they did not enter active
service with the army。 Reflecting on these miserable results； I
ask myself the following questions； and I would like your opinion
on them； assuring you that they are the fruit of long meditation；
clarified in the fires of suffering：
What is the real object of the State？ Does it truly seek to obtain
fine capacities？ The system now pursued directly defeats that end；
it has crated the most thorough mediocrities that any government
hostile to superiority could desire。 Does it wish to give a career
to its choice minds？ As a matter of fact； it affords them the
meanest opportunities； there is not a man who has issued from the
Ecoles who does not bitterly regret； when he gets to be fifty or
sixty years of age； that he ever fell into the trap set for him by
the promises of the State。 Does it seek to obtain men of genius？
What man of genius； what great talent have the schools produced
since 1790？ If it had not been for Napoleon would Cachin； the man
of genius to whom France owes Cherbourg； have existed？ Imperial
despotism brought him forward； the constitutional regime would
have smothered him。 How many men from the Ecoles are to be found
in the Academy of Sciences？ Possibly two or three。 The man of
genius develops always outside of the technical schools。 In the
sciences which those schools teach genius obeys only its own laws；
it will not develop except under conditions which man cannot
control； neither the State nor the science of mankind；
anthropology； understands them。 Riquet； Perronet； Leonardo da
Vinci； Cachin； Palladio； Brunelleschi； Michel…Angelo； Bramante；
Vauban； Vicat； derive their genius from causes unobserved and
preparatory； which we call chance；the pet word of fools。 Never；
with or without schools； are mighty workmen such as these wanting
to their epoch。
Now comes the question； Does the State gain through these
institutions the better doing of its works of public utility； or
the cheaper doing of them？ As for that； I answer that private
enterprises of a like kind get on very well without the help of
our engineers； and next； the government works are the most
extravagant in the world； and the additional cost of the vast
administrative staff of the /Ponts et Chaussees/ is immense。 In
all other countries； in Germany； England； Italy； where
institutions like ours do not exist； works of this character are
better done and far less costly than in France。 Those three
nations are remarkable for new and useful inventions in this line。
I know it is the fashion to say； in speaking of our Ecoles； that
all Europe envies them； but for the last fifteen years Europe；
which closely observes us； has not established others like them。
England； that clever calculator； has better schools among her
working population； from which come practical men who show their
genius the moment they rise from practice to theory。 Stephenson
and MacAdam did not come from schools like ours。
But what is the good of talking？ When a few young and able
engineers； full of ardor； solve； at the outset of their career；
the problem of maintaining the roads of France； which need some
hundred millions spent upon them every quarte