Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1874-1875 [PAGE 37]

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School of Mining Engineering.

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The Estimates will give the cost of ground, earth-work structures, rolling stock, etc. A Memoir will be required at the opening of the fourth year upon an allowed subject, and a Project in Engineering construction will be executed during the year.

APPARATUS.

The school is provided with both English and American instruments for the different branches of Engineering Practice, and for the Astronomical work of Higher Surveying. It has numerous models for illustration of its specialties, and access to the cabinets of the other schools. To facilitate the practice in Trigonometrical and Land Surveying, it has a specially prepared area, in which the difficulties of plane surveying are presented to the beginner as he is able to meet them, and where is taught practical methods of overcoming them. This area is subdivided by a large number of lines, the position of which are accurately known, but not by the student. He is then required to determine the position of the "corners" by various methods, and to calculate the enclosed areas. Other problems are given in determining inaccessible distances, passing obstacles, avoiding local attractions, etc., for which the ground is prepared. The number of divisions is so large that no two students need have the same problem, and so accurately laid out that the correctness of the student's work can at once be determined. An Astronomical Observatory for meridian observations, and of suitable size for the Practical Exercises in Astronomy, has been erected and is in use. An equatorial telescope has also been mounted for the use of the students. A set of Smithsonian Meteorological instruments has been procured, placed in suitable positions, and observations commenced.

SCHOOL OF MINING ENGINEERING.

OBJECT AND INSTRUCTION.

This School is intended to qualify the student for undertaking mining operations of all kinds. Its instruction consists of a thorough training in the principles of theoretical and applied chemistry, of chemical and blow-pipe analysis, of assaying and metallurgy, and of the engineering operations of mining.

STUDIES AND APPARATUS.

The course of studies will be found in the Appendix. The Cabinet already contains a quantity of mining models, and .-lbout $2,000 worth in addition have recently arrived from Europe.