Arizona republican., 1898-05-08

Tucson, Ariz., May 7-(Special Correspondence of The Republican.)-| It is not often that students taking en- gineering courses have the opportunity
 of placing into practical use the the ories learned in the classroom. This
 deficiency in practice is always keenly
 felt when practical problems instead
 of theoretical ones are encountered,
 and embarrassment is often caused by
 simply ignorance in field work. Last
 year a projected canal south of town
 offered the class in surveying and en-
 gineering an opportunity to engage in good practical work. So far this year there has been no chance whatever to learn the practical side of engineering. The proposed water system that the city. of Tucson is at present cOntem- plating will, however, give a chance | in a roundabout way for acquiring limited amount of experience. The scheme is to pipe water from Sabino canyon, situated in the Catalina foot | hills, to Tucson and through the aid
 of water towers utilize it for city use. There has been some difference of opinion as to it's practicability, and it 1 is to determine this that the students
 will be engaged. This does not mean that they will constitute an advisory board to instruct the city council as to what course to pursue, it being | merely an ordinary engineering prob
 lem, and one not too difficult. The l work of figuring out the cost and diff ,iculties will be very beneficial to the
 class.
 | MT. Will Mcbride, one of our bright est students in mining, will leave for Bisbee tonight. He has secured a po- | sition in the mines, and as the oppor- tunity is very favorable, he decided | to sacrifice the last three weeks in or der to avail himself of it. This Is
 MT. McBride's first year at the uni versity, and though the subject of mining was entirely new to him, he
 has made splendid progress, as the po- I sition offered him testifies.
 | The gardeners cottage that has been 1 used all winter as boys dOrmitory | has been entirely refitted and fur nished, and is now occupied by Pro- | lessor Woodward and wife. This cot tage is very tastefully modelled and
 with it's beautiful rose garden makes
 it very desirable residence.
 The class in advanced botany is ex- ceedingly energetic these days. Morn 1 ing, noon and night one can see the | two young ladies and one young gen. tleman that comprise the class search ing diligently for specimens of flowers | and shrubs. It is universally con- ceded that this unusual interest can only result from the splendid instruc- tion the class receives under Professor Tourney. Some, however, hint at the existence of an attractive element Of
 far deper significance than much inter est in botany.
 The beautiful moonlight nights have almost destroyed all ambition for study, and were it not for the ap- preaching finals" the chances for mental advancement would be very
 precarious. It is almost too difficult
 tor the average student to concentrate
 his mind upon any subject when out
 side the mocking birds are transfol m-
 ing their happiness into perfect floods
 Of song, "and the peaceful earth is
 bathed in silvery radiance" There
 is one science, though, that not only
 enriches the mind with many facts
 but also opens up an unlimited field for study and research. That science is astronomy, and the warm summer evenings only increase it's attractive ness. Twice the past week the four inch telescope was mounted and all interested students had the chance to