Bisbee daily review., 1904-05-03

Dr. James Douglas of New York, one of the chief interests in the min ing and metallurgical firm of Phelps, Dodge 6 Co, expressed his views Mon day in an interview to the Mining Gazette concerning the needs Of the Michigan College of Mines.
 The advantages which the college possesses are too obvious to require elaboration" he said. Therefore, if I am to say anything that shall be of profit to the institution, it seems bet ter that I should dwell upon what ap- peals to me as lacking. Nevertheless, there are some peculiarly striking features, which give this college an eminent advantage over any other school in the land as a place for ac- quiring the strictly technical training of a mining engineer.
 The enrolment is not so large as is found in a college of wider scope and therefore the overcrowding which often 6eprives students of the great advantage of individual instruction is not found here. This permits the per sonality of the professor to be more strongly reflected in the man and must result in a higher efficiency in the product of the school
 The Michigan College of Mines is surrounded by opportunities for study- ing mining and metallurgical prob lens at first hand that cannot be equalled on any other technical in- stitution, and which are altogether lacking in the eastern seats of learn ing. There is an incalculable advant- age in studying for the profession of mining engineer here. surrounded by mining as the dominant and almost ex- elusive industry.
 The practical operations for profit. as they are carried on in the mine and the smelter, possess advantages which place them beyond comparison with the mere laboratory work that is nee essarily imposed upon the students in technical schools removed from min ing centefs. And the surroundings which the Michigan College of Mines possesses in the great copper and iron mines, together with the high develop ment of mining practices in these dis triets, lend an attractiveness to the in- stitution at Houghton which cannot be approached by any other college that preteDds 10 train mining men.
 What the College Lacks.
 With all the technical advantages of which the Houghton college is the happy possessor. the electrical labora- tory is possibly not as well equipped as it ought to be. Electricity is grow ing rapidly as requisite in the min 1pg industry, anu the mining engineer of tomorrow must be a well versed electrical engineer With a state in- stitution which gives such thorough training as is imparted here, those re- sponsible for inc welfare of the col lege should be willing to expand to meet this growing need
 Another department entirely lack ing in the Michigan College of Mines is one that offers an opportunity for the necessary literary training de- manded of mining engineer who as- pires to higher position than a mere subaltern. Unless a man had had some college training away from here, or has been fortunate enough to se- cure an exceptionally fine high school tutelage, he will not have the literary qualifications, except in rare instances, that will permit him to prepare a
  intendent's report or experts opinion
 This ability in literary construction does not come by nature. And for the mining engineer to have his opinions respected by men of affairs and cul- ture into whose hand such documents generally come, in the course of events the opinions must be couched in Ian guage that will give evidence of high mental qualifications. The very best technical ability will suffer greatly in the estimation of a client, if the me dium through which the evidence of this ability is conveyed consists of poorly constructed English.
 Need of Spanish Department.
 Another branch of literary training that is a growing necessity is instruc- ton in the Spanish language. The greates undeyeloped mineral resourc- es Of the world, so far as is known, lie in counties where Spanish is the official language. This includes the reprblic of Mexico and the whole of South America. To meet with the highest success there. it is absolutely