The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-05

a. A'""" e"t'N~ W. W W n.y. t>Httet VVtcJc
Natural Science and the Mechanic 1rts-
Buildings and Equipments Fstsyprospectiue
Farmers
ORoNo, April 2, 1872.
- To tie Editor OF the Press:
A majority of the people of Maine lack a cor
rect idea concerning the State College at Orono,
and the purposes for which it is designed. I
have recently passed several weeks there, and
will embody some of my observations in a ,et
ter to the PRESS. -..
The name Agricultural College, often applied
to this institution, is too limited in its signiica
ton, and tends to mislead as to'the true pur-
pose of the institution. Civil and mechanical
Engineering, Chemistry, Astronomy, and an
agriculture, and all are under the care of pro-
fessors of distinguished ability and culture.
In broad sense this is a school for Industrial
Science; the studies pursued here and the sys-
tenn of instruction, which includes military
drill, are almost precisely similar to those of
the Massachusetts, Institute of Technology.
z The State College is pleasantly situated on
an eminence between the villages of Orono and
Upper Saltwater, overlooking Saltwater River.
dents are three in number, one of which is a
dormitory;g connected with it is boarding
house and laundry. The other two contain the
recitation and drawing rooms, cabinet, library
and laboratory The cabinet is already en-
riched by many specimens of Natural History,
and the laboratory is one of the finest in New
England, affording every 'facilityfor conduct
ing the experiments which are part of the
everyday drill of the students in chemistry.
The college buildings are adapted for the ac-
commodation of about hundred and twenty
five students At present there are fifty-one in
attendance of whom six will graduate next
summer. In the outset the State College has
labored under the many disadvantages incident
to the founding and commencement of an insti-
tuition of so novel character, but it is now
fairly under way and its management has been
sufficiently systematized, and adequate ar
rangements completed to 'entitle it to very
high rank among the scientific schools of the
country. 1890 A RUsTICULUs.
A SMALLPOX SENsATIoN.-A genuine small
pox sensation was inaugurated few days since
in Driftwood, near Williamsport, Pa. 1t APP
pears that scavenger made his appearance at
the hotel in that village, and was given lodg-
ings for the night, retiring In state of intoxi-
cation. The next morning he was found to be
sick and unable to rise, and died the evening
of that day. A coffin was procured, the corpse
laid out, and upon removal twas ascertained
that the body could not be conveyed down the
stairway, owing to its narrow, winding course
1t was thereupon resolved to lower the body
from the window, and in the execution of this
task the coffin burst, and the body fell to
the ground, also bursting. Six men gathered
up the remains, and the burial was performed
as speedily as possible. To the utter astonisl-
ment of the people of that place, six inmates
of the hotel were taken with smallpox, one of
whom, a son of the landlord, died ON the 25th
inst. A guard has been steadily maintained
day and night around the hotel to prevent the
inmates from escaping, and to keep outsiders
away; but in spite of all vigilance one Of
the patients, suffering from delirium has es-
capped, and at last accounts had not been cap
tured. The business of the hotel previous to
this visitation was about 800 per day. Some
of the patrons escaped upon the. outbreak of
the disease, and now demand their baggage,
but the landlord refuses to deliver it, a conclu-
sion in which he will receive the Endorsement
of the Inhabitants. -,