Nebraska Newspapers

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DEPARTMENMN 1884
CIVIL ENGINEERING CREATED AT
NEBRASKA THEN.
PROFESSOR LITTLE AT ITS HEAD
Only a Few Students Took That
Course During the Early Years,
Rapid Increase In Numbers
Began In 1898-1899.
(By. Prof. o. V. P. Stout.)
The first course In ciyil engineering
offored in this university waB form
ulated in 1877 by Lieutenant (now
Colonel) Edgar S. Dudley, U. S. A.,
the first commandant of cadets. The
department of civil engineering was
created about 1884, with Professor
C. N. Little as the head. Col. Dud
ley haB been for several years a mem
ber of the faculty at West Point, and
Professor Little has the civil engineer
ing In the University of Idaho. The
department has been in charge of the
writer since the resignation of Prof.
Little in 1893. E. J. Robinson, '84,
known to many of the younger men
through his connection with the en
gineering department of the Burling
ton, is the curliest graduate in active
practice.
Few Registered.
During the early years but few stu
dents took tho course. The rapid in
crease In numbers commenced about
1898-99. In the first semester of that
year the registration numbered 29. In
six years they had IncreaBed eight
fold. On the creation of the depart
ment Of applied mechanics and the as
signment to that department of tho
laboratory courses in civil engineering
our registration was reduced to about
100. Now It is 267. '
Only a very small percentage of
the graduates thus far have engaged
in occupations distinct from engineer
ing. Tho University of Nebraska typo
of civil engineer is an industrious,
resourceful, practical man, who Is
either a loyal and valued employe or
a succeBBful independent practitioner.
Much Loyalty.
It is a pleasure to be able to state
that a high degree of loyalty to tho
university prevails, and that we have
continual manifestation of a disposi
tion on the part of tho older men to
introduce the younger brother to his
opportunity.
here to the summit consists mainly
of tunnels, bridges and switchbacks.
"Don't forget to send mo ono of
those annual letters, as I'm looking
for it. With tho beBt wishes for the
chapter, its members and tho now
chapter, I am,
"Fraternally yourB,
"CHESTER K. SMITH.
"La Pundlclon, Peru, S. A., care Cerro
de Pasco Mining Co."
I. B. Jones.
"Redfleld, Idaho, Nov. 2.
"Brother Members in Sigma Tau:
"Dear Brothers: Another year has
passed and I am looking forward for
the Sigma Tau letter, aa I like to
hear what tho other members aro do
ing. "Up to the last of May I was em
ployed by the .TrI-Stato Land Co., at
Scotts Bluff, Nob., on concrete and
pUo driving Inspection. I came to
Idaho tho first of June and am work
ing for the J. G. White Construction
Co., fpr which Jas. A. Green is super
vising engineer. I am a division en
gineer on the construction of an irri
gation system. I am well satisfied
with my work and like this part of
the country.
"Hoping to get tho annual letter
soon, I remain,
"Sincerely,
"I. B. JONES."
Jas. A. Green.
"Richfield, Ida., Nov. 4.
"Dear Brothers: Mr. Hrubesky
handed mo a note some time ago re
minding mo of tho fact that the an
nual letter of Sigma Tau was due in
October. I io not quite recall what
I wrote tho chapter a, year ago, but
as near as I can remember It was
much in detail and carried mo up un
til October of last year, at which
timta I was in charge of tho engineer,
ing and construction for J. G. White
& Co., on a largo irrigation project'
adjacent to Denver. During the last
winter this project was not actively
pushed on account of financial
troubles of .the country and my time
was devqted to making investigations
and reports for White &' Company on
Irrigation projects throughout tho
west.. Since Aprir ,1 have been en
' gaged as superintendent of construe
ftlpn, and engineering for J. G. White
THE
& Company In the development of tho
Idaho Irrigation company's project
hero in Idaho.
"Wishing you tho very best of sue
ceaa for the coming year and looking
forward with pleasure to your annual
letter, I remain,
"Very fratornally yours,
"JAS. A. GREEN."
C. L. Davis.
"Wilkinsbug, Pa., Nov. 7.
"Dear Brothers of Sigma Tnu:
"It Is time our letters telling of our
conduct during tho past year, aro ar
riving. However, there aro a few of
us who do not know to whom they
should bo sent. But, if this reaches
you in time it will glvo my year's
history ns follows:
"I have managed to keep In tho
employment of tho Westinghouso
Electric and Manufacturing Co., and
lost but little time duo to tho flnanulal
panic. Not every ono did so, and wo
who did, feel ourselves in luck.
"I spent five mmths, beginning with
May first, in Kansas City. Mo., in thd
district sales office. Then returnod
here where I have now finished my
two year apprentice course. I am
rtlll working on tho course, however,
getting some additional knowledge,
and when times open again I wish to
follow tho erection business for
awhile.
"This gives you a short but clear
Idea ot the way tho year lias gone
with mo and it haB been very inter
esting. Tho further I advance in tho
knowlodgo of olectrlclty tho more in
terested I got.
"Hoping this reaches you all O. K.
and In good time, also that I may
rend of all your successes, I am,
"Your Brother Sigma Tau,
C. L. DAVIS."
39G Center St. Wilklnsburg, Pa.
C. G. Hrubesky.
"Gooding, Idnho, Nov. 8.
'A
f ".", i 'r
"Dear Brothers In Sigma Tau:
"With as many Sigma Tau's as
there aro out on this Job it doesn't
beem aB if a fellow could write much
about the work except those who
know more about it than I do. There
being five o'ther men out here and
all of them closer connected with the
work that I am I think I will leave
It for some of them to describe more
fully.
"I have charge of a party on loca
tion nnd am stationed at Gooding,
Idaho, but it seems a lot like being
among tho fellows at school, for there
are so many Nebraska men on the
job. Besides Horshey, Page and my
self there are three other Nebraska
men in this camp.
"I will cortalnly be glad to get the
annual Jotter and hear from all the
fellowB, for a follow hasn't any other
way of keeping track of them.
"I had the pleasure of helping star!.
Brother Day off on married life not
long ago and surely tried to start
him right.
"Don't forgot to put this in and send
me the big letter.
"Fraternally yours,
"C. Q. HRUBESKY."
Leonard W. Turner.
Schenectady, N. Y., Nov. 17.
"26 Division Street,
"Dear Sigma Tau Brothers;
"Did I hear some one Bay 'late
again?' I fear it Is true, though I
fully Intended to get in at least on
time this year. J have not heard any
thing to 'the contrary so I expect that
Sigma Tau Is booming and everything
"fiplng along in much the same old way
at the university. I could not find,
out very much either way when I was
there this summer but I saw;, with a
great deal of pleasure, that the en
gineering building was coming along
In fine shape. ' '
"I havo not much to add to my
last year's report as far as the work
goes, although ,we have been 'busy
most of tjho time and some of tho
work veryjinteresting. I (am, atlll in'
charge of the steam economy testa
on turbines for the General Electric
o., and among tho seta ;that have
DAILY NEBRASKAN
been toBt'ed woro GOO H. P. horl
zontal turbines direct connected to a
liro pump which wns guaranteed to
deliver 1,500 galloiiB per minute
against 150-lb head. They did con
sldornbly better than that and part
of them nro now installed on a flro
boat in tho Chicago river. Incident
ally on tho same shaft with tho pump
and lurblno wbb a 200 K. W. genera
tor which drovo a motor which was
direct connected to tho propellor.
There was a very good roport of
thoBo sets in n May Ibsuo of the Elec
trical World which you may havo
seen.
"Among the other especially Inter
esting machines was a 1,600 K. W.
horizontal sot which Is tho largest hor
iontal set unit Lullt hero bo fnr, al
though there 1b n 2,500 K. W. and a
3,500 K. W. set now In the course of
construction.
"However, perhaps you may bo
m6re interested to know that on tho
nineteenth, of August I was married
to Elizabeth Countryman of Weeping
Water, Nebraska After a short visit
In Nebraska and Illinois wo came
back hero and now are located at tho
above address, whoro wo will bo very
g'.a.l lo boo any Sigma Tau brothers
who may chance to strny bo far Into
the eaBt.
"With greetings to nil, fratornally,
"LEONARD W. TURNER."
E. E. White.
"Fort Morgan, Colo., Nov. 27.
"Dear Brothers In Sigma Tau:
"Tho time for tho annual letter to
Sigma Tau has arrived, and if-1 mis
take not it is past due, I can now
appreciate the feelings of some of the
past who havo found It difficult to tell
what they have done In tho last yoar.
What I have accomplished since I left
tchool wouldn't fill a very largo vol
ume, but I will try and stretch It but
and make it look as largo as possible.
& ?
.. W!t
Engineering Laboratory adit Looks
I am waiting anxiously to get the an
nual letter. I want to hear fronl tho
other fellows and learn what they aro
doing and how the cold world treats
them. I correspond with several of
them and through them hear from
others whom thoy hear from, but still
there aro a number that I know noth
ing about.
"I think that we were 'quite for
tunate to get a chapter in at Iowa
City last yeaV and especially such a
strong bunch of follows as they were
able to give us. Judging from the
men that woro picked I think that
they havo tho correct Idea of the
meaning of the fiaternlty. To the old
men in school I would say that I think
tho alumni expect at least one more
chapter this year. We havo a gocd
start now toward a national organiza
tion but If a year Is allowed to psb
without adding at least one chnpter
we may never got any farther.
"If I remember lightly each man
was supposed to give a short sketch
of his lifo In his first letter for rec
ord, so I will make It as short as pos
sible. "After leaving school I camo out to
fny homo Jn Fort Morgan, Colo., with
the Intention of taking the civil serv
ice examination for clvjl engineer In
the Philippine Bervlco, which was to
be given In Denver In a short tlmo.
Just before taking the examination I
received an offer, through Brother
Jenkins Influence for a place as chief,
of a party on a preliminary survey
in Cuba. I accepted it and started
at onco for the island. Mr. J." A.
Sargent, engineer In chief of tho
province of the Orient, who Is an old
Nebraska man, has charge of the;
work. Mr. ".Sargent is a very loyal
Nebraska man, as is evident from tho
number of Nebraska men he has
around him. Jenkins and Schrelber
are there and have their headquarters
In Manzanlllo, They are chiefly con
corned in the construction .of the road!
from Manzanlllo to Bayamo, "and I
support that Jenkins will tell you' all
about that. '
'My work consisted of a preliminary.
flurvoy for a road from Baynnno to
Cococum, a dlstanco of about fifty
six UllomoterB. This Included drain
ago study, location of brldgo bUos,
data on high water, floods, otc, cross
sections aijd velocities of streams,
study of tho JubBoll to iletormlno
foundation conditions and also as n.
means of locating rock for tha road;
alBo maps and cmimntlnn of cost of
construction.
"To mnko a long story abort, tho
ontlro forco wording on tho now work
vns laid off In tho fnll and I camo
back to tho Uultod Sta.e about as
fast as possible. Slnco than I havo
boon doing some work around Fort
Morgan in the englneorlim Hno nnd
doing some office work o pit In tho
tlmo.
"With best wisho for a proHporou
year in Sigma Tau, I remain, frator
i:iy, a woll wlblidr to all of Ihe
bunch wherever Ihoy mn) he.
"E. E WHITE"
P. O. Box 223. Ft. Monjan, Colo.
A. 8. Harrington.
"Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 29.
"Dear Sigma Taua:
"I had ontlrol forgotten that I was
due to write a letter tho fore part of
October and wnB reminded of it by
Brother Johnson n fow days ago, bo
I will write a Uttlo of my monger ex
periences since graduation last Juno
"I finally obtained work as electric
ian's helper in the Omaha shops of
tho Union Paclllc railway, where I
had plenty of real work and 'exper
ience' In conduit construction nnd Wir
ing and incidentally plugging holes in
brick walls to hold up tho conduit.
After three months of this work I
was needed at homo and bo gave up
tho work.
"Later I camo to Lincoln and work
ed with Brother JolniBon (C. G.), help
ing him in his work of installing elec
trical equipment in tho plant of the
s? , Atff-iiftfPrt 'u o -
SH'iT v"
?wi8&.8&
.?
BK3BF.K
t TflXV
Today
Evans Laundry Co., and with him
wiring some residences and doing a
complete equipment for a mill, includ
ing wiring for lights, signal bells, sot
ting tho generator and switchboard,
etc.
"How hard it Is to keep track of
tho fellows and how nlco It will be
to get the annual letters from them
luiuugn ii inoy an am not write soon-
er than I. I fear the nnnnni lettnr
would be two years old before it got
around).
"I had the pleasure of attending our
initiation this year In which twelve
.,.., i. . i, . .... .
wr uiuiuurB wciB lUKeu in anu no
doubt the society Is stronger this year
..mu wr Buvuiuiyeura.
Long live Sigma Tau, may she
crow nnd hennmn mnro iinnful in ,tnif.
. i. .. " w " t""
nig me men mat aro out' as woll
fin til mm In nohnnl
as those In school.
"Fraternally yours,
"A. S. HARRINGTON."
Clarence G. Johnson.
"Lincoln, Neb,, Dec
"Dear Brothers In Slema Tan;
18;
"I am glad Our fraternltv fnrnlnhna
an opportunity for us to send each
other a word of greeting and to gos
sip a little about what has happened.
S.lnco graduation my own work haB
not been especially eventful and time
has flown very swiftly. I have been
fortunate enough to bo busy since
July first, and havo spent the entiro
time hero In Lincoln. I havo worked
for a local electrical contractor for a
ehort time, and have done some con
tracting work myself, mostlv lnuMn
.Wiring. My most entrrnsHlnc wnrlr
which has taken practically all mJ
wwu biuuu mat summer nas oeeq the
Installation of. tho new electrical plant
for tho 'Evans Laundry Company of
Lincoln, in thq building with. the New
Yellow Front. ,
"Several Nebraska boys havo work
ed with me on this -job. Brother
Guthrie, '08, will remember wieldlnff
polder pot and angle brace during
electrical engineering.
"Since' September Brother Harring
ton, ''08, 'has shared niy Joy and woo;
(Continued pn Page S.)
CROWDED BUT GOOD
THE MECHANICAL LABORATOR. j
IE8 OFFER PROPER FACILITIES.
THE NEW EQUIPMENT WILL HELP
When It Is Supplied Rooms Will Be
On Equal Footing With Those In
vtho Other Universities of this
Country.
(By Prof. C. F. Doan.)
The mechanical onglnoorlng dopart
mont Is provided with tho following
whops and laboratories; Wood shop,
forgo Bhop, foundry, mnchlno Bhop,
fuels and friction laboratory and tho
mourn laboratory. Spaco at this tlmo
will not permit of a cotnploto descrip
tion of tho nbovo, but a fow wordB as
to equipment and work dono in thoso
laboratories may bo of Intorest.
In tho wood Bhop Instruction in car
pentry, wood turning ajid pattora
working H givon. Tho shop contains
25 benches, each oqulppod with a com
plete sot of carpontor's tools, and b!x
toon 10-lnch speed lathoB, with two
Ht-tM of turning tools for each Iatho.
A number of other wood working ma
chines nro provided, nnd tho tool room
is auppllod with a largo numbor of
email wood working tools.
Work, In forging and welding iron
and steel, and temporlng, etc., is givon
In tho forgo shop. This shop con
tains 24 down-drop forges. The blast
for tho forges is suppliod by a powor
blowor, and tho smoko Is alBo romovod
by thiB blowor. other -tools will bo
lound hero such as vices, shears,
emery wheels, Btoam hammer, otc.
The foundry cotnalns 20 moulders'
benches, with comploto sets of tools,
a 24-Inch cupola furnaco, a power (f
Wind sifter, crnno, coro bonches, coro fe
oven, ladols, blocks, etc. Hero the.'"
student is taught molding, coro mnk-'
lug and casting.
Iron Working Tools.
In tho machlno shop instruction la
given In tho uso of iron working tools
and machines, and actual construction
of machines is carried on. In this shop
are lathes, planor, milling machine,
whaper, drill press, otc. A courso Ib
also given In chipping aifd filing. In
the tool room h kopt a largo assort
ment of drills, taps, dies, reamers,
milling cuttors, otc.
In tho fuels and friction laboratory
tho toBtlng of both solid .and liquid
fuel Is carried on. Also considerable
work is done in tho testing of lubri
cating oJIb. Two transmission dyna
mometers and a bolt testing machlno
aro installed.
Such Instruments as Carpenter's
coal colorimeter, Mahler's bomb color
meter and a Junkers' gas and qil
colormoter aro used in this laboratory.
With tho llbrlcating oils, blscoal'-
moters, flash apparatus, test hydro-
.. .
me, etc,, aro used
In Ine steam laboratory the atudent
becomaa fnmiiim. with .. .ii .
0f engineering annarf m. IT
eng,ne0rInS apparatus, the teaUng
Ot steam onclnoR cm a onin.n -..
a wowo ,uuu
bollors. The oqulpment of this Iabor-
aiory consists of four experimental
Bteam engines, ono gas engine an In.
" ' uuu UB uKo an in-
inntnr fpqUnrr mitflt- ii. i
---..., WUbUbf u uuuiyteie hoi oi
WeStlnchoilBn and Manf Vm1 1 .r.
yvesungnouBo and New York ' air
brakes, apparatus for the colibration
of indicator 'springs, Bteam gauge,
und thermometers, a surface conden
ser, etc. In addition to the above
will be found steam and gas engine in
dicators, planlmoters, gauges, pyrS
meters, etc.
Facilities Are Good.. ' '
Tho facilities for work in these lab
oratories are good, In spite of the
fact that every laboratory and shop'
ip oowded. B,ut with tho completion
of tho ne$ engineering building tho
necessary room for the accommoda
tion qt thoso .laboratories wHlte aval-,
able, and with tho new apparatus
which we hope to install, our labor-"
atories will bo on' an equal footing
witn tnose of tho larger and older
universities.
8ENIOR MEETING TUESDAY
Important business in regard to the
play and Cornhuaker authorization'
and appropriations must bo made at
ence if class team pictures are,to gb
into the annual, Plenty of other
business. i
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