Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-01
BUDDING ENGINEERS.
Hard Problems in Their Pathway
Toward a Coveted Degree.
THE COLUMBIAN METHODS.
The Subjects for Theses Given to the Men,
beers of the Engineering Class OF Column
bian Univer-ity-Many of Them Relate to
Important Local Conditions.

ing the details Of the profession of engineer
ing under the auspices Of the faculty OF Co
lumbar University are looking into some prac-
teal problems which interest the public out
side of the academic halls. This is. more
true of the members of the class
who will graduate next year. In accordance
with the custom which Is observed in this de-
psrtment Of the university. q subject for a
thesis is given to each member OF the class at
the close Of the year. The preparation of these
theses, in connection with other work satisfac-
torily performed, will enable the students to
obtain from the faculty eleven months hence
the coveted recommendation TO the board of
trustees for the degree Of c. E.
There is good deal Of formality about this
initlatory step into the last year of college
studies. which. apart from the hopeful visions
OF the young men taking part in it and the
"reminiscences Of those who have gone through
the mill before, has even for the casual on
locker certain fascination. The students who
prepare to graduate. the special faculty Of the
department. Of civil engineering, a member of
the board OF trustees or some high officer of
the university and some guests and friends are
accustomed to meet in the engineering hall,
where most Of the engineering lectures are
given. The head Of the department OF en-
cheering, Prof. Francis r. Fava, has prepared
a roll Of twelve closely written pages contain
ing the subjects which will bring many Of the
men present to honors.
CHOOSING THE SUBJECT
Each candidate has the right to select from the
subjects presented in the order Of his standing
at the end Of the junior year. If his standing.
therefore, il not among the very first his
chances Of selecting his pet thesis are slim
The occasion is therefore one of great
moment. and as Prof. Fsyar reads slowly, one by
one, the long theses which will have to be
solved, he is followed with close attention.
These theses are all practical subjects, relating
mostly to the improvements of the city OF
Washington and vicinity. in order to render il
easier Tor the candidate to collect the numerous
data that he will need. The preparation of
these subjects requires considerable csre. and
it is one Of those things which are apt to cause
the head Of department a good deal Of anxious
thought. They must be SO selected as 70 form
each one unit by itself. sufficiently extensive
to try the ability Of the candidate not only in
the details Of the different fields Of the profess
sion. but also to prove his ability 10 lay out a
large comprehensive and systematic piece of
work and to present IL in such form ss If he
we're to 60 with il before the public.
After the head u department has concluded
the reading comes the tine-honored question:
"Have all these problems eeen understooa-
or does any candidate wish the one or the other
repeatedly Almost every man wishes &c hear
the buDlect WHICH nc nAB uXeu IN ais nina as
the one OF his selection read over again, and the
reading is patiently begun again, in order that
each man may know exactly what he is doing
when he is called upon in turn to make his Sc
lection. Az the reading Of each one is con-
cluded, the professor assigns that subject a
number, and writes that number on the black
board, together with q brief title, in full
view Of the audience The reading is now over.
Each man has made up his mind AZ to his first
choice and his second choice. Will be get
81 will now call MP the names of the candi-
dates in the order Of their present standing in
the course. and request each one to state dis
says the professor. ''Mr. X--,what is your
choice?"
The young man called receives the due cleo
trio shock, the consequence Of being unex-
pectediy called up first, and responds, Il select
No T."
No. being thus pre-empted is checked of
on the blackboard. while a sigh Of relief goes
up from those whose pet subjects he did not
take. aud a sigh Of despair from those whose
hopes he cruelty though automatically de-
stroyed.
s.Mr. y, what 10 yours?"
IL select No. ~
And so il continues until all subjects are pre-
empted and the man last on the roll gets the
last subject left.
Mpsr DEFEND HIS THESIS.
After this lie performed follows the explana-
ton Of the rules governing this work One
particular new and interesting rule has been
shall prepare an abstract Of his work in form of
a paper to be read in public before the faculty
and guests and defended publicly BY its author
This is the procedure adopted in the university
before comforting the degree Of doctor Of phil
osophy, in scientific. philosophical and literary
T.
degree exists than that OF engineer" coupled
with the adjectives civil" mechanical -
mining electrical" &C, according to the
branch Of study more specifically pursued
The distribution OF the manuscript subjects
to the candidates. and taking their receipts
therefor, closes this ceremony. and the caudi-
dates depart with q new feeling Of their i'm
portance commensurate with the extent Of the
practical problems they will have to grapple
with during the next ten months.
Below are the texts OF some OF the theses
as given out and the names Of the candidates
against whom they stand now charged on the
university records. It will be seen that they
are all problems of the highest importance to
the welfare of Washington. and not less than
three Of them deal directly with subjects
affecting the health OF the District, while two
Others have in view the protection Of life and
limb from the dangers caused by the railroads
in the streets and by the freshets Of the Poto-
mac.
REcLAIMING ROCK CREEK
No. / is to be solved by Mr.. Perly Egbert
Stevens, the son Of Mr.. ". X. Stevens. the WELL
known and philanthropic superintendent Of the
free bathing beach. 1t reads as follows:
1t is represented tina. number of sewers
and drain pipes, &C., emptying into Rock
creek below the street bridge poilute the
waters Of this stream. Transforming the same
into an open sewer and rendering the whole
Rock Creek district pestilential and u,alarious
one, which shows the largest death rate of the
city and is a constant source Of danger in case
of an epidemic.
1t is also stated that the Potomac river is
being polluted to considerable distance down
and up stream by the discharge Of Rock creek
into the same.
Prove by surveys, photographic measure
ments, water pollution measurements, water
analysis, vital statistics, &c. that the above
facts are true, and establish in what degree.
Prove that the best remedy of this evil 10 TO
entirely remove the discharge Of sewers and
drains Of any kind from the creek and turn
these into collector built along some appro-
pirate line and discharging it's contents either
by gravity OF through pumping apparatus as
NAV be found best into the Potomac river ut a
distance of not less than fifteen miles below
Washington city.
The creek being relieved Of its impurities
can be given bette grade and faster flow by
straight ening and narrowing the channel. L,
can be incosed between two deep walls and
the surrounding low lands can be reclaimed
and brought to a proper level and laid out in
blocks. lots, parks. &c. The following Incl
dan ,al p.r.s ,nnst he inciu,ied in the work.