Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn - Polywog Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 29 text:

-- , flag ,-L , Til.. -,-,,. PIB C Q Ill Fl S Eg E , JU, A lf - ' .!li'igi1.? Q!! flf 'ffl llil The Course of Civil Engineering is intended to meet the requirements of students desiring to enter the profession of civil engineer, and it aims to equip the student with the theoretical and practical training requisite for successful independent work. The instruction demands much practice in the field and the drafting room, and a thorough mastery of all the instruments required for use in the profession. The general principles underlying engineering science are surveyed by means of lectures and recitations. The Field Work commences with the steel tape, pins, and ranging poles. Chains ot' former patterns are exhibited and discussed, and dynamometer and thermometer attachments are considered. A field party consists of four members, to each of whom special duties are assigned, one being director of the party. This elementary practice is designed to familiar- ize the student with the instruments, and to demonstrate their range and their limitations. Only methods which are of prac- tical utility are used. Some of these applications are :-check measurements of distances, to insure skillful manipulation and avoidance of sources of errorg erection of perpendiculars at given points on a line, and running perpendiculars from given points to located linesg running of parallelsg measurements of anglesg laying out curves 5 and survey of area by distances and intersections. Students next enter upon the practice of surveying with compass and transit. The instruments are thoroughly mas- tered, and all their adjustments perfected by the members of

Page 28 text:

25 serve to supplement the laboratory experience of the student to his infinite advantage. In addition to the benefits so derived, and to those accruing from the regular subjects of study, problems of-research are assigned in order to develop the student's ability to prosecute individual investigation, the end sought being to arouse his interest and assure him at once that he can acquire the skill successfully to carry on chemical enterprises with independence and confidence. Those completing the Chemical Course are equipped to undertake professional responsibility immediately upon grad- uation, and the range of options presented in the Senior year is intended to facilitate specialization with a view to definite preparation for the student's chosen department of future professional activity. For the Freshman year there are prescribed courses in English and debating, in trigonometry, in analytical geometry, in French or German, in drawing, and in general chemistry, with an optional course in oratory. In the Sophomore year the history of the English language, the outlines of English literature, French or German, descrip- tive geometry, mechanics, qualitative analysis and blow-pipe analysis constitute the subjects of prescribed courses, and Spanish is offered as an option. In the junior year the prescribed subjects are general oratory, heat, sound, light, electricity and magnetism, quanti- tative analysis, mineralogy, metallurgy, and industrial chem- istry. In the Senior year there are given prescribed courses in general oratory, organic chemistry and theoretical chemistry, with the thesis investigation, and in addition there are offered optional half-year courses providing specialized study and practice in oil and gas analysis, in water analysis, in medical chemistry, in the testing of fabrics, in advanced inorganic chemistry, in the assaying of gold and silver, in electrolysis and electro-synthesis of organic compounds, and in the deter- mination of molecular weights.

Page 30 text:

27 the sections. The students are practiced in so handling their instruments as to reduce to a minimum the errors due to con- struction and wear of bearing surfaces. Each party consists of a transit man, two chain men, and a pole man, the transit man being in charge. The work consists of determinations of distances from measured bases, and heights of inaccessible objectsg check readings of angles, and means of repeated angles to insure careful manipulation 3 extended meanders to illustrate methods of surmounting difficulties: complete sur- veys of two or more farms, with location of buildings, intersect- ing fences and roads. In these surveys, magnetic bearings, true bearings, azimuth from assumed meridian, and deviation angles are used. If the error of survey exceeds Mlm the work is not accepted. A simple triangulation of a river, a lake, or harbor is also given. In the Practice of Leveling, the adjustments of instruments and sources of error are learned. The Boston, New York, and Philadelphia rods are used. A working party consists of a leveler, a rodman, and two or more chainmen, as the character of the work may require. Difference of level of two points is determined 3 section levels for profile are run 3 determinations of overflow contours for river and mill work are requiredg grade contours for railroad, and contours for topography are taken. The precautions necessary to secure desirable results are dwelt upon daily. Throughout the Sophomore and Junior years, at least two weeks of each summer vacation are devoted to work in the field. Upon completing the Course in Civil Engineering the student, in addition to his theoretical knowledge, should possess a thorough mastery of all the instruments which he will be called upon to use in his profession, and at the same time should have acquired the elements of a liberal education, sanity of judgment, and the ability successfully to undertake and control engineering enterprise of magnitude.