Montana labor news., 1938-12-08
4 PERSONAL STORY Of
THE SCHOOL OF Mines
AND ITS Difficulties

l. e1AAoS4 "a AAAi@
a broad grin on his face the next
time we saw him. 81 hear you've
been talking to Professor Adami,"
he said. "Tll bet my five bucks is
as good as won right now. Adami
gave you a lot to think about, didn't
he? l hope you're going to see the
rest of the people up there"
We're going to see DR.. Koenig
this afternoon. What is he like?"
"Dr. Koenig is rated as n of the
best chemistry professors in the
country. He's a fine lecturer and
has the knack of teaching. No nom
sense goes on in his classes. Strict
discipline. The students all like and
respect him. The chemistry depart
ment is an important n in a mining
school. AS head of it, DR.. Koenig
teaches general chemistry and quail
tative analysis, organic and physical
chemistry, and electro-chemistry. |
still remember what a tough course
physical chemistry was-about the
toughest up there-and how much l
had to study for it to make the
grade. There's Professor Hartzell,
too. He's been with the school for
a long time, and there isn't a single
graduate who hasn't a soft spot in
his heart for Hartzell. Chemical
analysis is his speciality 10 he teaches
cumulative analysis and fire assay
ing. He is also analyst for the Mon
tana Bureau of Mines and Geology
which has its headquarters at the
school, and if there is anything about
assaying he doesn't know I'd like
to be told about it. Well, I've got
to run along.
Once more we made the long trek
up to the School of Mines, into Main
Hall, where we had a chat with DR..
Thomson, and then through another
tunnel to the Metallurgy building.
On climbing up to the second floor,
we heard a booming voice rumbling
down the stairs. The owner of the
voice proved to be DR.. Koenig, who
was fast disappearing into a fume-
laden laboratory as we caught ur
with him. He was accompanied by
a convoy of students to whom he
was explaining some obscure chemi-
cal theory.
This molecule grabs this n over
here" he was saying, illustrating
vigorously with his fingers, "anC
then the reaction is complete. Bur
He turned around as he saw
us.
ZACH, well, get in, get in, now
and do some work." he doomed t.
the students, and then ushered III
into his office. 'They are gooC
Freshmen this year." he said, By
way of introduction, but graphic
illustration is necessary to maxi
them visualize atoms and molecules
Once they get a picture in thei
minds the rest is easy. But the
have to work at it. It's not play.
From our amateur viewpoint
they seemed to be getting it," w
said. do you have any trouble will
students who won't study, won't d.
the naceesarv work2"
mo, / don't have much trouble
In a technical school most of tn
students know they have to worl
hard to pass the course. l will g
to any lengths to help a student j
/ l know he is serious and trying hare
. But l have no patience with loafer'
, the ones who are here to play. W
, don't have many Of that kind AM
they are soon weeded out"
{ "You know" we said, "Professo
; Adami has to contend with over
crowding and lack of adequat
/ equipment in his department. HOY
) about your department."
: Zach, it is the same here. For tn
| general chemistry courses we hav
/ l16 desks in the laboratory for abou
| 100 students. For the sophomore
d. Professor Hartzell has go desks
I the cumulative analysis laborator
for more than 80 students. l hav
f So taking physical chemistry TIL
{ year. an all-time record, wit
t laboratory facilities for half ths
! number. The fire assaying labors
D tory is badly overcrowded."
D Il don't see how you manage
t we agreed.
"The students work elbow I
elbow" Koenig went IN. "Chemistr
e is delicate work and requires room
In cumulative analysis there al
n five students using each balanc
Balances are extremely sensitive il
: struments, used to weigh precisel
n the materials for the work and NJ
d more than two students should
T assigned to each one. We new
e have enough chemical or laboratol
equipment. For instance, we hay
It only one water distillation outfit
supply distilled water for our ST.
dents. With our large classes Il
s outfit can't distill water fast enouG
SO that the freshmen have to u
tap water, leaving the distilled wat
for use in cumulative analysis"
IT 81 need a full-time assistant
IS help me in the laboratory. I thir
d Professor Adami told you the nur
a, Der of students that should