University of Idaho - Gem of the Mountains Yearbook (Moscow, ID)

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The Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering The Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, arose from the provision in the Morrill Act, later ratified by the Act of the Territorial Legislature establishing the University, that these courses be included in the work of the College. In accordance with these Acts, the Board of Regents at their meeting in June, 1901, established this Department. During the succeeding year nothing was done toward the prac- tical establishing of the courses, except in the assigning to them of certain space in the new Engineering Building, then under construc- tion. In August, 1902, Mr. S. R. Sheldon, of the University of Wis- consin, and at that time connected with the Western Electric Com- pany of Chicago as an Electrical Engineer, accepted the position of Professor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and at once took up the work of that position. In September, 1902, the course was formally organized with five Freshmen, two Sophoniores, and one Senior registered. With the funds available at that time it was possible to make only a good beginning in the equipment of the courses. However, with the generous appropriation made by the last legislature for the carrying on of this work, it will be possible to put in a very complete and modern equipment, enabling the student to carry on the worx in these courses with the same advantages that he would have in pursuing them in the older technical schools of some of the other states. There is a great demand in the business world for men who have not only a practical knowledge of the construction and opera- tion of machines but who also have underlying this practical know!- edge, a thorough foundation in the principles and laws governing the forces with which they have to deal. If men are to cope with new problems, and to carry out success- ful engineering enterprises, they must have this training. The con- tinually increasing number of applications of electricity is widening the field of Electrical Engineering, and makes the above statements 27 Gem of the Mountains 1904

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ie FURNACE IN MINING BUILDING CRUSHER IN MINING BUILDING ENGINE AND DYNAMO ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT SHOP WORK ROOM

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‘ Gem of the Mountains 1904 especially applicable to this profession, making it more and more nec- essary that he be broadly educated. The general plan of the course is, therefore, to ground the stu- dent thoroughly in the scientific laws which form the basis of his profession, and at the same time to teach him to adapt these laws to practice, to use his judgment, and to apply strictly honest and im- partial methods to his work. While the theoretical work of the course is of primary impor- tance as affording a mental discipline not to be met with in practical research, the latter is made to go hand in hand with the former, it being believed that a broader and more tangible conception of truths is thus gained. With the above in mind the work of the course has been laid out, and throughout the four years of work, the student has the op- portunity of applying in the shops, the draughting room. and the laboratories, the principles studied in the class room.