Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-10
BLACKSBURG'S NEWS
IysTTTUTE STUDENTS MAKE A
PRACTICAL TOUR.
The commencement senson-Com-
plemcnt of Speakers Made tp-The
EsamiDntions-Iter.a rknble Nca-
tber-The Fruit Crop.

BLACKSBURG, VA, May 9.-CSpecialJ
Professor Lingan Strother Randolph. OF
the Department Of Mechanical Engineer
ing. took his class Of seniors and post
graduates. numbering in all fourteen, TO
Roanoke this week on a tour Of inspec-
ton OF the Norfolk and Western machine
shops and the various mechanical plants
in the city. They were cordially received
by the foremen and all connected with
these works, who We'd with one another
in showing them every courtesy in their
power. After spending a part Of two
days they returned here, highly de-
lighted with their trip, and with many
new ideas gathered while away This is
an annual custom with Professor Ran
dolph. He hopes on the 26th OF June to
give them another trip. The Virginia So
ciety OF Engineers, which viii be In ses-
sion at that time in Pulaski City, has
extended 10 the technical students OF this
institution very cordial invitation 10 the
present with them. This IT Is their our
pose to accept. II possible, and while there
10 20 through the Bertha zinc-works, the
lead-works and the lead-mines.
MADE UP.
The full complement OF public speakers
FOR the commencement exercises IS now
made up. Hon +. W. Saunders OF Frank
lin has been invited. and has accepted.
the invitation 20 address the Maury and
Lee literary societies on that occasion.
The Young Mems Christian Association.
OF the institute has been holding a very
interesting series OF meetings during the
present week. Different speakers have
addressed them each night and the at
tendance throughout has been good. On
last night the association was fortunate
I'm having az the speaker Of the evening
Mr. John T.. Marshall, travelling secre-
tary OF the students volunteer move
mont IN the South and West. in the
branch Of the work devoted 70 foreign
missions Mr. Marshall will also hold
services I'm the college auditorium on to-
morrow Sunday morning, which will be
the last service Of the series. unless the
interest IS so great as 70 Justify their
continuance.
Commandant David c. Shanks will
commence next week the yearly drill IN
target practice. Some very fine shooting
has more than once been done by the cadets
on these occasions, and the mounta
boys. accustomed 20 handle the rife
tho prizes.
The catalogue Of the Virginia Poly
techn'c Institute having for IT'S first time
rs new name IN large letters upon tho
title page. with "State Agricultural and
Mechanical College" in smaller type Just
beneath, has been received. u shows n
total enrolment OF 800 students. twenty
four Of whom are pursuing Postgraduate
worll-a noteworthy foot.
EXAMINATIONS.
The schedule for examinations IS m.
Senior examinations commence May 10Th
and close June 10th. The other classes
Will commence June Sth and close the
10th. This announcement always means
the beginning Of dead. 1own-har1 work
and digging FOR the month following.
This has been a most remarkable sea-
son with US. For a month now the
weather has been open and warm. and
we have had no frost. All fruit-trees
which bloomed are full OF fruit. IN
deed 7 have never seen the cherry crop
so large. All crops. both farm and gar
den, are we'll advanced. and the i'm
provement in wheat In the past three
weeks IS simply wonderful. Tho grasses
have grown go rapldlv that already form
crs are cutting them and feeding them.
we should be free from all danger OF
frost now; but, as a point OF fact. we
are not Last May there was a killing
frost as late as the 18th.
In the clouiturst which recently &C.
CURED here much damage was done.
one moor fellow had Just finished plant
ing twelve acres I'm corn. and was con-
ira tulatine himself on getting it done
before tho rain. But his were false
hopes. for the rain fell IN such quanti-
ties and with such force that his whole
field was washed away. In some in
stances the entire surface soil was taken
from the gardens and only the hard, sub
soil left
DR.. s c.. Guerrant. who hrs Just re-
turned from the University OF Edinhurg,
and who while away made n bicycle tour
OF the continent. was at the institute on
wednesday. IN order 20 examine n. and
inform himself as to its many interesting
features.
Hon. W. Y. Garrett. OF Leeshurg. va.
addressed this week n large and enthu-
siasuc gathering Of the knights OF
Pythlas.
Master George Junkin. n son Of Mrs.
p. NJ. Junkin, Of Christiansburg. met with
what might have been a fatal accident
I'm the early part OF this week. The rope
Of a pulley used for raising heavy
weights broke and the iron bar OF the
pulley struck bin with great force on
the head He was rendered unconscious
for quite a time, and quite a severe cash
was cut IN his skull. Or. Edward Pierce
was called In. and by taking six stitches
repaired as near as possible the damage
Mr. w NJ Thomas. a resident OF
Blacksburg. has recently gone to Roa-
noke 20 engage IN business Mr.. Thomass
wife and daughter will continue TO make
this their home.
a few Of the cadets from the eastern
portion OF the State went on a jaunt TO
Mountain Lake recently. or course they
had Jolly, good time, and they report
everything as lovely on Bald Knob