University of North Dakota - Dacotah Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

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COLLEGE OF MINING ENGINEERING EW' industries or professions require for their success higher technical skill and training than do those connected with mining, metallurgy and allied manufacturing industries, and next to agriculture none contribute so largely to the growth and prosperity of a nation. The College of Mining Engineering of the University of North Dakota aims to give a strong technical and practical training which will fit young men to fill successfully important positions in the various branches of the mining industry. This is made possible in a large way on account of the connection of this college with the University, under which conditions every student has all the advantages of a university with its specialists in the various departments of instruction, its libraries, and its well equipped laboratories and shops. Recognizing the fact that a mining engineer needs familiarity with a wide range of subjects, the course of study, while embracing the more important fundamental and technical subjects, includes also a number which add breadth and versatility. The courses open a variety of attractive fields of work in connection with mining, metallurgy, fuel and gas engineering, ceramics, geology, surveying, and other engineering subjects which the student can emphasize during his college course and in which he can specialize in post graduate work leading to the master's degree or an advanced corresponding engineering degree. During two summer vacations students are required, as a part of their course, to spend three weeks in some mining region for the purpose of studying the geological conditions, mineral formations. the work of mining, milling and reduction. The time is spent under the direction of the professor in charge. DiHerent regions are Visited successive years in order that the student may become familiar with representative mines and methods of Operation in different lines of mineral production. Arrangements are frequently made so that mining students who wish to, can spend their summers in remunerative employment in various mining regions and in work which affords excellent training for them in connection with their future profession. The young mining engineer must not only become familiar with mining operations but he must also be a practical man and one skilled in the manipulation of the appliances used in the various departments of the industries. For this reason careful attention is given to the technical and practical equipment of this college. The best type of apparatus and machinery is provided in the metallurgical, assaying and ore treatment laboratories. The milling laboratory is equipped with a complete model concentrating plant of tie latest type and of sufficient size to run several tons of ore and to make perfect milling and concentration tests. In the operation of this plant the students become familiar with standard methods used in actual practice. The mill room is also provided With a hve-stamp gold mill and amalgamating plates, and a model cyaniding plant, where actual work in stamping, amalgamating ancl cyaniding can be carried on. In addition to these, a variety of other milling and mining machinery is provided. North Dakota is starting on a period of rapid and large development of her mineral resources, especially her coal, clays and building materials. These industries are of great value to the people of our state and deserve the services of the best technically trained engineers which the College of Mining Engineering can produce. Special training will be given to ht men to develop the coal and clay resources of the state, particular attention being given to the best methods of lignite mining,

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CIVIL ENGINEERING NE step in the growth of the University is marked by the formal establishment in the Division of Engineering of the complete course in civil engineering, from which for the first time there are graduates this year. Civil engineering, however, has been by no means neglected in the past, and most of the work has been offered in previous years, so that students thus inclined have been able to prepare themselves to a reasonable extent, even though finally receiving other degrees. This is shown by the tasks that some of our engineering graduates have found themselves able to handle advantageously. Among the men who have been trained at the University are now numbered successful city engineers, hydraulic engineers, railway engineers, contractors, and superintendents of construction. English, mathematics, science, and mechanical drawing are basal subjects common to all engineering courses. The work typical of the civil engineering course is devoted especially to the following lines: First, surveying in its various forms, elementary and adwancecl, This is occasionally a convenient accomplishment for any engineer, and two hundred students here have done elementary work in that line in the past eight years. But thorough proficiency in advanced work is a prime necessity for young civil engineers, most of whom must expect to spend behind a transit a large portion of their first few years after graduation. Second, roofs and bridges and the structural mechanics involved in the design and construction of trusses, arches, and higher structures of all forms. In the present day of huge steel bridges and of steel frame construction for nearly all large buildings, this subject has an importance unclreamed of in the old days of masonry and timber construction. Third, concrete, plain and reinforced, and its use in construction. This material is a product of the last decade, and the knowledge of the principles of its use is taking long and rapid strides, for it is likely to become the chief building material of the future. Fourth, railway location, construction, maintenance, and im- provement. Thousands of American engineers are engaged in that work, both in the United States and for foreign companies, and they occupy a position of equal rank with their brothers, the mechanical engineers in the motive power department and shops of the railway. Fifth, hydraulics, and its application to water-power development, to canal and drainage work, and to irrigation. Sixth, sanitary and municipal engineering, including water supplies, sewerage, and roads and pavements. This course is now upon the same footing as the other courses of the University. Nearly a fourth of all the engineering students this year are enrolled in it, all the subjects have been regularly taught with classes of satisfactory numbers, and all the work has arrived at the desired results.

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handling, storing, burning, briquetting and gas production. The fuel and gas testing laboratories and the experimental gas plant at the School of Mines and the briquetting and larger gas plant and mine at the Mining Sub-Station provide splendid facilities for training in coal and gas work. On account of the importance of the clay products among the mineral resources of the country, and especially because of the large deposits of valuable clays in North Dakota, it has seemed particularly desirable that considerable attention should be given by the College of Mining Engineering to various lines of clay working. For these reasons a Ceramic department has been established in the School of Mines. This department has been equipped with a variety of clay working machinery for making brick, tiles, sewer pipe, etc. In addition to this there is a complete model pressed brick plant capable of producing 10,000 small pressed brick per clay. For the manufacture of pottery there is reproduced on a small scale the essential features of the larger potteries, including crusher, pulverizer, clay mixer, purifier, filter pump, pug mill, jollies, throwing wheels, moulds and glaze making machinery, as well as pottery kilns. The student may thus produce a variety of wares, from common brick and tile to the more artistic pottery. Besides the technical instruction, a large amount of experimental and research work is also given in the College of Mining Engineering. To aid in this work there has been established at the School of Mines an Experimental Station, and at Hebron, in the coal and clay region in the western part of the state, a Mining Experimental Sub-Station. The work of the two stations is carried on jointly. Certain lines of investi- gation which require much laboratory equipment and research will be taken up at the School of Mines, but when conclusions have been reached by experimental work in the laboratories these conclusions will be put to a practical working trial in the testing plant of the Sub-Station, for the purpose of proving their correctness and value on a practical or commercial basis. In this manner, by combining the technical and the practical, it is the purpose of the College of Mining Engineering to serve the state in every way possible, not only by aiding in the investigation and development of its resources, but also by sending out young men who shall be well fitted to fill important places in their profession with credit to themselves and to the University, and who, with a training cultural, scientific and technical, shall have sufficiently broad and high views to become active, useful and noble members of society.