New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
WHAT PROF THURSTON DID FOR CORNELL STUDENTS
ALL GRADUATES OF SIBLEY COLLEGE or ENGINEER
ING REGRET HIS DEATH.

wood shop. IN three months he f. expected 10 =.
able to do the ordinary WORK ot the carp.n.s-
the joiner and the pattern maker. He first work,
over Httle carpenter benches. learning the usa
Of different tools and how make joints mat rear
Join. Then the benches are taken out and turning
lathes substituted For days he bends over +h...
machines films the air with fying chips and hg,
ewes with spiinters At first a clumsy slip % shs-
chise will ruin the work ~ several days. but Ia
soon masters the task and some 90 the work N
exhibition in the Sibiey museum would 10 credit n
a professional turner The last weeks os the voos
shop detail are devoted 20 pattern making m
better patterns with their core boxes. sent %
To the foundry for use BY the more advanced str
dents.
The dfrtiest and most dsagreeabie work q. -
course Is down IN the college blacksmith shoo ~
course none OF the students would dream OF bsi,s
bIacksniths. but without the manual skin IN -,
manipulation OF metals which they acquire ,ss-
would work at a disadvantage in thu racbs-
shops Fifty OF the student smiths can rort :.
time. They wear leather aprons and ron up tAss-
sleeves over their griny arms Their anvils rfrr
from steady blows OF heavy hammers and a.
sparks fly merruy. After learning to weld iro7
they forge chains and fashion finely tempered ste.
tools for use in the other shops
Many interesting junior week Incidents ars to1a
I about these shops This is the time when CornsU
gives I'D six days TO society. all except hard vor
/ ing sibley. The prospective engineer may dane,
the entire night II he desires. but Il does not taxa
any time of his shop working detail. n he has
gil ne gets one o. MS fraternity orOrners'
\ TO take her around during the day and as uyslv
as he viii lead her to the shops. Sisters have
/ passed BY their brothers who were blacksmithfnz
without noticing them. ard engaged girls havs
failed to recognize the men they intended % MARI
| all account OF the coat OF dirt which ths stu
/ dents faces take on.
They tell Of a Chicago matron who Wills VISIT
| ing the university. found her grandson at work
over forge. look OF dis-nay came into Ter facs
she said:
why. john. your grandfather started IN as a
blacksmith
1T turned out pretty we'll" replied the stuasat,
| "since It made the governor millionaire
Yes. but he did not have to go 70 college 70
learn the trade" she continued, shaking her head.
/ He got 81 a week from the start. and her. you
paying out S25 week 70 stay hers I nust
/ speak your father about IT.
The student did net try to explain the Few prar-
! teal system OF teaching engineering
From the blacksmith shop the student goes into
the college foundry. large. well lighted room
with sand floors, and a miniature blast furnace a.
end Scores OF 'haskes'' or moulding boxss
/ large and small. Hitter the floor. Over these ths
students bend for hours at time finishing delicate
| moulds IN the wet sand. One day OF each week "a
set aside for pouring and the scene is that Of
rolling mill in miniature There are pots OF molten
iron 20 be hurried from the pouring spout TO thu
uaouIds. Often. through some fault IN the mould
the work is ruined by a crack. and has to be done
/ over again. After the student foundrymen o.
/ sand shovellsrs," as they call themselves can
handle iron 70 the satisfaction OF their instructors
/ they work in brass and bell metal
1t IS only step to the machine shop but Z. "a
step which takes the student from the ranks
OF the common laborer into the skilled class whlr-
ring OF countless leather belts and the tr1lndlir-
= Of monster lathes tell OF new forces which
/ will relieve the strain OF human muscle. The &C.
casonal hiss OF escaping steam and the fash OF an
electric spark tell what these forces are.
The machine shop is long and wide surce1t7
so for the accommodation OF four rows Of heavy
| lathes and machine tools Of various kinds. Tns
! instruction begins with series OF graded sxer-
ctses which give familiarity with the use OF iron
working tools. Two or three students will wore
simultaneously the different parts OF cornplets
machine When finished these parts are assembled
and put together. Then the machine IS tested b.
applying power and running it, Many pieces %
marketable value are turned in this way Caz-
plete sets Of castings are often contributed b.
manufacturers. and the students always manage 70
finish them OF AMI construct working machine.
In the same shop more advanced students wcTs
over original designs and several successful IL
ventions have been worked out
Every encouragement is given 70 the student %
carry on practical research Professor Thurstoa
was particularly proud OF a complicated little
gine which is hidden away behind the great boilers
| Of the plant, and which made mechanical reputa-
tons for the seniors who constructed IT, They
/ decided to experiment on the economy OF an engns
/ built to ordinary steam pressure. They sue
/ ceeded in constructing quadrupls expansion en-
/ CINE using steam at a pressure OF i've hundred
/ pounds TO the square inch AS the engine
/ was completed the young investigators built
brick furnace and set safety water tube boiler
/ OF their own making. They turned on the steam
| and the engine ran without a hitch. so perfectly
/ had every part been constructed Il exhibited a.
efficiency without precedent the time OF its
/ structon. and the students carried on a series Of
experiments which attracted great attention IL ths
scientific world Both men went into important
/ places the completion OF their course. and a-s
/ now high in their profession.
| Thanks 10 Professor Thurston. SIbley graduates
\ have never had any trouble getting work There =
/ always great demand for graduates TO III In
l portant mechanical positions. more OF a demand
/ than Sibley supply Or. Thurston really opsr-
| ated unofficial employment bureau He made
record OF every position that offered and arranged
with large mechanical firms 20 keep him posted on
/ their needs He knew his students. and what tnes
/ could do. and usually the right place found ira
/ right man.
/ Now. my boy he would say When the student
about to be graduated came before him. Vow. nv
boy. I'm going to get you this position II does not
| seem very big, but it is good fer start. and L
| will lead to something better
/ Or. perhaps. his speech would so like this.
! This is the best can do for you. young man
/ But I worth a better place" the student
/ would protest mildly
| Il know you are the director would snsNsr
| quickly And III get II for you: but must have
/ time Take this until can promote you
! At the time OF his death Professor ThurstOn was
/ in touch with more than half the who have
I been graduated from Sibley since its foundator
From time to time he secured promotions for them
4 Not many months ago he sent out circular Letter
| saying that lie had his disposal o. c.
| sirabls positions and he would be pleased 20 hear
I details from tboSe who vsrs not ssrfs6ei VT.
\ their present places There mIUy GnSwefs
! and number OF changes resulted
evening Of Friday. November s. \ reception corr