The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25
MAKING OF AN ENGINEER
PRACTICAL TRAINING THAT FITS
MEN FOR CONTROL OF MINES.
Chemistry. Physics ard Mathematics
the Preliminary Basis of EnSi-
necring of All Kinds.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
BOSTON, oct. 2i--The geography of this
planet kindly as it has proved in its rough
and-ready fashion. TO those who have dug
fortunes out of its hidden stores of metals
and minerals. was not in any way laid out
for the special accommodation Of such
young men as wish to study the theory and
science OF mining engineering. The valua-
bic elements to be mined are scattered hap
hazard over wide, desolate regions, while
the centers of population, and, correspond
ingly. the centers of education. cluster to-
gether without reference TO the structure
of the earth under them In other words
the young and aspiring mining engineer who
wants to place himself in actual contact
with real mining finds himself often at a
distance from his theory and science-and
vice versa.
The modern department of mining engi-
neering at big up-to-date technical school
in the East-where we have mining science
but practically no mining worth talking
about-presents therefore some queer in
congruities. Here in Boston at the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology. as the in
structor who has in charge the mining en-
gineering course approaches you, your pre-
conceived idea of what professors of science
should look like retreats in disorder. He
has the prescribed white hair. the indispen-
sable expression of thought the even,
methodical voice; but his hands indicate
the continued handling of heavy tools and
grimy things generally; and though he
takes his seat in a patent revolving office
chair, before very business-lke desk, he
still retains his complete uniform of practi-
cal but unacademic blue overalls.
THE BASIS OF ALL.
The three RS of every kind of engineer
ing whatever-in other words, the preimi-
nary base from which to study it-must
comprise chemistry. physics and mathemat-
les. AS the professor in the unprofessional
blue overals would tell you, Everything in
engineering, from a crowbar up, begins with
and ends and is manipulated in these three
things" The young man, therefore, who
would learn how to extract the treasures
OF the earth begins in the comparatively
dry atmosphere of these exact and exacting
sciences; but at the same time he appears
internationally with his nose not far from
a drawing board strewn with compasses
and railing pens, for a mining engineer must
also be a fair draughtsman. After a little
We meet him all over Boston and far out
into the country with his mysterious three
legged instruments, kindly requesting US.
as we sit in the parks, to take some other
bench so that he can see his companion
with the striped pole on the other side of
the pond. Surveying is a very important
| part OF a miners accomplishments, for he
must always be depended on to find his way
a mile and more under ground in any direc-
| ton. to run tunnels and labyrinths skewed
at all sorts of complicated angles, and, with
| nothing in sight ahead of him but a fine
| steel wire with a light behind it and a
plumb-bob on the end held vertically over
tiny mark on the floor to come out even
in the end to the tenth part of an inch.
At the same time that these various
studies are in process the future mining
engineer also becomes acquainted with
| minerals in his laboratories and with geolo-
gy out of books and in the lecture rooms,
with an occasional trip outdoors to view
the methods of nature in our glacial New
| England landscape.
So far it is plain sailing; but now comes
the problem of getting into actual contact
with the metallurgical work of a mine and
with the structure of the earth in which
mines are worked proftably. Generally
/
| sachusetts; but for the benefit of this
future mining engineer there is plenty of
mining machinery busily at work. even
within a stones throw of Trinity Church
and hardly a block away from the Public
Library. He has only to pass from one
room into another and there, under the
very hall where 1ecturing and book learn
| ing flourish. is a glowing of furnaces, a
rumble of grinding mills, and jar of fall
| ing stamps all going on in a half-conceal-
| ing atmosphere of dust from the rock
/ crushers.
STUDENTS AT WORK.
/ In this big room there are many young
! men in scorched shirts with their sleeves
rolled up and with very dirty hands and
| faces. BY the expression on their counte-
nances as they peer into the glowing fur
| naces, watching the evolutions of tiny bits
| of the earth's crust under high tempera-
| lures. you may guess that whatever they
! are doing is at least interesting. There are
| in fact, more machines at work and more
! things going on in this room than at many
1 real mine. In one place, ores rich in