New-York tribune., 1900-11-25

new building which is to be five stories high is
being constructed Of stone, of the same color as
the rock walls Of the gorge in which II stands.
The style Of architecture is twelfth century Flor
entine and effort will be made disturb the
natural scenic beauty of Fall Creek Gorge as lit
tie possible One feature Of the building
which is attracting attention is wide shaft run
ming the entire height of the building. which will
afford opportunity for extensive experiments with
water Jets.
DR.. E. A. Fuertes who is at the head of the col
lege believes that the day is past for classroom
periments in hydraulics and that important de-
signs be wholly based upon the results of such
experiments. He says:
We have found and not in a few or unimpor-
tant cases. that it is not safe to the results of
periments do not reach the conditions which exist
In actual practice However interesting and neces
been in this field. the improvements effected by
!nents upon which new theories Of hydraulics have
rational evolution Of this dificut science The pur
poses Of the Cornell laboratory are TO pass beyond
the field of actual research under the natural con-
ditions which the engineer actually meets in his
professional life
been slow. but none the less The intention
from the has been TO establish a rational
system of laboratory work and to make the work
20 hand in hand with the theory Of the classroom.
The first experimental apparatus was used in Cor
nell University 1873. Experimental work on GEM
ents and losses under certain conditions of piping
gave good results. It simply repetition Of
work done by prominent scientists. but served the
purpose of proving that this radical change in
teaching methods should be made.
The first difficulties to obtain adequate ap-
paratus and convince the authorities of the
university of the expedency of attaching to the
college force permanently a corps of skilled
mechanicians. 1t took ten years to interest the
trustees in this departure in the methods Of
teaching engineering, and in 1880 Dr. Fuertes was
sent to Europe TO visit engineering schools. He
iIera Ia 1ber Ofrn OdalS
material for Illustration employed 10y in the lower
dents frowned down as unworthy of place in
the eurriculum en- II II was in June lsS "a tna1 an ap
OF q hydraulic laboratory, and soon afterward
respectable eqpent was Sbtaheo M2e bncoTe
really interested in the scheme The director brought
qgeStions of an IMPORTANCE so manifest that they
made large appropriation for special laboratory
The peculiar situation OF the university. with an
70 erect an hydraulic laboratory which could not be
duplicated at any existing school without an enor,
Creek, which flows along the northern limit Of the
lry dreton and nafIy Ischarges it's waters into
cayuga Lake: The Fall Creek watershed includes
miles, and has mean annual rainfall of something
less than forty inches
thrown across the gorge. to collect the waters
feet long Oi and nd 30 feef high suitable spIliway,
capable Of passing any possible Hood without in
been formed by stripping and blasting the rock at
one side There is experimental canal l6 by 400
feet, with ten foot depth of water The canal
extends upstream for distance of two hundred
feet, and Is provided with six gates the upper
end. which permit the entrance of the water with
z head of twenty feet although the hydraulic
neaos may be increased to 145 feet at the bottom
o. the laboratory buildings. Provisions have been
Saade to raise the dam ten feet whenever the step
Becomes n necessary and to treble the present vol.
hn.. sme OF the impounded water. making total Of
about LOO 600 cubic feet The enlargement of the
morks can be carried out at a minimum expense or,
aass.nef with only the expense due the actual ad
1.lons 70 the laboratory. A 4S-inch main supplies
er G~er downstream for the shops OF the College OF
ascchanical Engineering, for lighting purposes and
poses campus ioi 'oi"Aine anu o'iiei pun
i.tnns studies which have been carried since the
abis atosy was erected have numerous, yalu-
is Sno interesting and the work Is advancing