Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-03-24
School OF Mines.


I There has been much complaint Of
late relative tp the management Of the
state school Of Mines; and IN vIeT Of
the apparent determination on the part
] Of certain newspapers 10 ignore the sub
ject, concerning which they have the
best means Of securing the facts, We
have taken the pains 10 gather snch in
( formation concerning this important
matter as may in the end lead 10 a better
understanding, on the part Of the public,
rs 10 the present status Of the affairs Of
| the institution, 10 the end that the same
may become more useful than il has
been in the past, and credit. rather
than stigma upon the fair name Of the
state. our first effort has elected the
/ following communication, which would
/ Indicate that there vas ample room for
improvement ia the management Of this
much muoted institution;
RAPID CITY, : d., March 10. 1894
/ EDITOR CHRoNICLE In compliance
with your request, | will endeayor
TO give you "A few facts in regard TO
the Enlargement Of the School Of Mines
al Rapid City, which | have obtained
frOm reliable sources. People DO not
generally know much about the school,
/ iudgiHg from comments of various news
/ papers on the resignation Of DR. Jenney.
/ Al the commencement Of this school
\ year Dr. Jenuey WAS engaged as dean at
a salary of $1,000 per auuum with the
understanding as he SAYS, that he Was
only to devote small portion of his
time 10 the school, so lie could finish
some work in hand, and also DO some
outside work; SO in accordance with
that understanding he did not do any
teaching of any kind until after the
meeting Of The Board of Regents. which
MAS held the first week in February
Afier that he gave lectures on geology
three times per week until the first OF
March, when he resigned. which was
arranged for AT the regents meeting II
appears also that DR.. V T. McGilicnddy
was TO take his place. not only a. dean,
but was 10 take the place Of several of
| the professors. rs the papers on the east
side Of the river stated.
Now, the facts probably are that DR..
Jenney was allowed TO DO comparatively
I nothing for the school SO that the
students and the public would End fault
with his management, for which he
was not as much to blame as the Board
Of Trustees. so that the present dean
and president could ursurp his place by
, making great promises TO the Board Of
Regents, all Of which he is unable 10
fulfill. even if he was willing not being
qualified except drawing his salary OF
IL 800 per anuum' 10 teach any branch
that should be taught there. II seems
/ like bad policy for the state To have at
the head OF the school man that could
not manage his own business.
Prof. Holman was continued from last
year as professor of mathematics at
81 900 per annum, which branch he was
well qualified to teach. but ne resigned
ON the first of January. In his place a
Miss Reeves was engaged, for which
position she was only fairly qualified,
but at "A subsequent meeting of the
Board Of Trustees, Mr.. Willis Bower
was hired at SO per month 10 take her
place of professor OF mathematics, for
which position me is not qualified III
any sense. Instead of teaching mathe-
MATES he is teaching arithmatic and
single entry book keeping. which Is
taught in any common school. Neither
of these studies are on the list of studies
A. laid down in TIE catalogue of the
school. The professor of mathematics
is required to teach algebra, geometry
trigonometry, calculus and surveying
not one of which he understands.
Frank Tindlll, a graduate from the
London school of mines, was hired a:
assistant Teacher of chemistry and as
saving at $40 per month, but as such
assistant he had To do all the work as
teacher in chemistry and assaying unit
the middle of February, which he die
To the best of his ability, and 10 tht
satisfaction Of all, and if il had not beer
for him there would not have been any
school at all. Since that time pro
feSsor of che istry has been engaged
Who is a young man Of only "a and 4
recent graduate from the State Universe
ty of Michigan. He is no doubt vel
posted in general chemistry. but ha,
had no practical experience in metal
lurgical chemistry.
The school needs practical metal
lurgist at the head above all things, and
without such head the school will al
ways lie farce. and should be discon.
tinued until such a change could be
brought about. There seems to be no
valid reason why this school shonld not
be a success if we'll managed and should
have at least 100 students from the Hills
alone.
(To he Continned.)
A. r. CTS.
Belle Fonrche has perfected plans fol