The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-27
Professor Kay Discusses Pro- jeCt to Bring Water from
 the Warrior
ENTHUSIASTIC OVER
 UNIVERSITIES OUTLOOK
Plans Contemplate Placing Alabama Among the Greatest Technical and Engineering Schools In
 the United States.

Edgar B. Kay, professor of civil engi- neering, and dean of the engineering de- partmcnt of the University of Alabama, passed through Birmingham last night, the proposed canal connecting Blrming- ham with the Warrior river, a survey of which he has made, and he also spoke of the wonderful strides which the univer- sity at Tuscaloosa has made in engineer ing work, placing it second to none in the south.
 MT. Kay is also consulting engineer for the railroad commission and Is on trip of inspection over the Northern Ala bama railroad, a report of which he in- tends to submit shortly. MT. Kay had this to say
 "1'he proposition to connect the city of Birmingham by canal with the War ror river is now in the hands of the city. The legislature passed an act at its last session empowering towns to build waterways, and 1t is now up to the city to exercise her rights, or leave the op- portunity to the local water companies. ThS canal is inevitable, and in my mind there is no doubt in the world that the Warrior is tho future water supply of the Birmingham district.
 Your present water works company's plans are not sufficient to supply the de- mands of years for the simple reason that there Is not enough watershed, and it is my belief that if the city does not take action shortly the corporations and industries of the district will go to the Warrior to find their water.
 "A survey has demonstrated the fea- sibility of the canal, and the cost is in significant when compared with the out lay being made by the city of Los An geles, Cal, where they are spending s25,- coo 600 and making a canal 225 miles in length, against cost for Birmingham of only $2,oOO,0oo and distance of 45 miles,
 We have perfected plans whereby the students of the university in all depart ments of engineering can spend the sum- mer months in the employ of the indus trial plants, the companies paying them for their time, and the university giving them credits for their work.
 This is especially attractive to the student, having two fold advantages, the industrial. companies coming in touch with the young man and the young man 5 services after graduation becoming far more valuable and commanding much larger salaries than would result from a purely academic course. Contract has been signed for this feature with the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company the Republic Steel and Iron company, the Birmingham Foundry and Machine works, the American Cast Iron Pipe works, the central Coal ana Iron company. and several railroads making the plan mutually helpful to both stu dents, university and corporations.
 q can say truthfully that greater ad- vance has been made in the line of prac- tical technical education at the univer- sity in the last few years than ever be- fore. The university expects to make it's engineering department among the great est of it's kind. The Carnegie Institute now places Alabama at the head as hay ing the highest standard of any univer- Slly III tuc SOutH.
 We are preparing plans and equipping the state laboratory to make 1t equal to the finest in the United States. One test ing machine will have the capacity of eco GOO pounds, which Is the largest ma chine of it's kind made for physical tests.
 "The mining laboratories are to be equipped with all the various coal wash ing and testing appliances ordinarily used in the mines. It is the purpose of the department of engineering to not only offer the opportunity to the students to secure the most thorough training in mine plant and mining methods, but ex- poets to systematically study all coal from the southern fields, and to publish the results of tests made and spread them throughout tn, United States.
 "The department will thus assist in bringing the attention of the world on Alabama products. and be useful fin ex- plotting the products of the state. We are out for big game. acknowledge ing no competitors in technical education in the south, having four new professors in the department all of them with tip top records, and will also be ready to do testing work in the most improved man.