The Washington times., 1901-06-30
YOUNG ENGINEERS In CAMP
Haryard's Summer School in the
New Hampshire Hills.

The University Purchases a Tract of
Four Hundred Acres with Beautf-
full and Historic Surroundings
The Plans for the Coming COuFse.
BOSTON. June %. 1901--on the eastern
shore of Squam Lake-still the noun
tain-girdled Squam." Of the poet Whit
tier-amidst wilderness of New Hamp
sire mountains among which Chocurua,
majestically visible toward the northeast,
is perhaps the best known, Harvard Uni
versity has this year established a sum
mer school of engineering which. unlike
most summer schools is regularly con-
nected with the courses of instruction
that occupy the winter terms. The little
colony, which comprises ninety-four stu
dents from the Lawrence Scientific School
with their instructors and camp follow
ers, marks the first real settlement of this
particular spot since the defeat of The
Pemigewasset Indians by Bakers Rangers
in 1712 and the removal OF the tribe itself
TO Canada. The permanence of the new
settlement-the Harvard Engineering
Camp. as it will henceforth be called-is
assured by the fact that the university
has purchased 800 acres of land adjoining
the lake and is erecting substantial camp
buildings large enough to accommodate
100 students
The tract itself, heavily wooded in part
and including one small hill and a portion
of another extends back from the waters
edge toward Red Hill, about 1900 feet
high and well known both for the beauty
of its view and the important scientific
information that modern geology has
gathered from its gray sienite ledges. 1t
is surrounded by thousands of acres OF
unoccupied country through which one
can go for twenty miles without seeing
either a dwelling or a cultivated heId. Inc
character OF the country is thus particu-
larly fitted for its new uses Mount Israel,
crowned with a beacon of the United
States Coast Survey, is a prominent land
mark en- the north. on the west Mount
Morgan and Mount Prescott are conspicu-
Gus. and High Hath, jutting out into the
lake and cutting in two the southern view,
combines with the Squam mountains and
the other lesser peaks to increase still
further the value of what might be called
a natural laboratory for the study at first
hand of the varied problems of the sur
veyor, the railroad engineer, and the geo.
detlst.
The movement which has thus turned
the spot where the Canadian Indians fire.
quently camped on their way TO attack
the early settlers of New England into
permanent modern camp for the advance
mont of one of the most civiliziing pro-
fessions has been almost six years in de-
veloping and is due to the policy Of the
engineering department at Harvard, be-
ing the outcome of the belief that all in
struction In the more practical courses
should be given where the actual applica-
ton of abstract principles can be made
Immediately, and where the student may
come in direct personal contact with the
natural obstacles which. theoretically, he
IS learning TO overcome. A beginning was
made six summers ago at Martha's Vine
yard where a few students went for a
short course in practical surveying. Grad
ually more summer work was attempted,
larger parties sent out, and this year the
metamorphosis is complete. In fact all
the future instruction OF the University in
field engineering is to be given during the
summer months of June, July, and Au-
gust, in this natural workshop in the New
Hampshire hills.
The government of the camp is in the |
hands of Mr. Daniel L. Turner. instructor |
in surveying, who has already had the |
management of the smaller parties which |
began the movement. While he may be |
called the principal of the summer school |
of engineering, or, to be more exact the |
chief engineer in charge of the survey. he |
Is in fact the governor of a lively, wide !
awake. and vigorous colony, though less
difficult TO manage than one might at first /
suppose, since its members are at work /
eight hours a day and the course is not /
one that appeals to idIers. As his leuten-
ants Mr.. Turner has four recent gradu-
stes of the engineering course-assistant
engineers in charge of different corps, to
use the phraseology of a practical sur
vey. These men, like Mr.. Turner himself, |
have had previous experience in the act
uaIities Of a camping expedition, and have
under them steward and a corps Of |
helpers to prepare the camp mess and
look after the outft-no small matter /
when one considers the number Of knives, !
forks. spoons. kettles, blankets, and other
impedimenta needed by ninety-odd men |
who are -'roughing it" in the woods.
AS a rule the members Of this unique 1
surveying party-with the exception of |
the chief and assistant engineers-have
had no previous instructions in survey
ing. going into camp only with the mathe |