Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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THE CIVIL ENGINEERS ' The civil engineering Course has had a most colorful existence since it was founded in 1839. It was the original course at the Institute, and it was introduced through the aid of Colonel Claude Crozet, a prominent French engineer and scholar who graduated from the Ecole Polylechnique in France. In 18.58 General Francis H. Smith, at that time the Superintendent of V. M. I., went to Europe for the purpose of studying the methods of instruction and recitation in the foreign technical schools. Upon his return to the Institute, he introduced a curriculum based on a thorough general study during the fourth and third classes with a tendency toward a more rigid specialization during the first and second class years. Lender this system the Civil Engineer gains a fundamental knowledge of the cultural subjects before applying himself rigorously to the strictly engineering subjects. In his report to the Board of Visitors made June 24, 1859, General Smith made the following proposal relative to the Civil Engineering Course: I propose the erection of a Model and Drawing room for the Department of Civil Engineering, and the introduction of suitable models, etc., as shall make the course of study eminently practical, as well as thoroughly scientific. The models procured by me while in Europe, which I have selected with great care, will exhibit, in part, some of the advantages likely to result from these special arrangements. With these facilities supplied, the School of Civil Engineering will be organized upon a basis which will tend to elevate the grade of engineers who will leave it, and must tend to increase the reputation of this department of the institution, already reflecting high credit upon it. • As he predicted and in accordance with his wishes, the Civil Engineering Course has become increasingly practical during the seventv-four years which have elapsed since the first Superintendent of V. M. I. made this proposal. While the standards have been raised in strictly theoretical instruction, the facilities for a practical appli- cation of the knowledge obtained in the classroom have been enlarged from time to time. Perhaps the greatest step forward was taken with the occupation of the new Nichols Engineering Hall with its modern equipment. The laboratories for the testing of Materials of Construction have added to their already sufficient equip- ment until it is now one of the most completely equipped testing laboratories in any of the technological institutions of our country. Since structural design plays such a large part in the curriculum of the Civil Engineer a model room containing many varied types of structural models has been initiated. Many of the model bridges and trusses have been made by the cadets during their spare time, and in this manner they have gained some familiarity with certain details of structural design that would have escaped them had they relied solely upon iheir class room instruction. Another of the laboratories which engages a great amount of the first classman ' s attention is the Hydraulics laboratory. Many practical tests are made relative to water supply and sanitary engineering. There is perhaps no other course that can equip one for more varied pursuits than Civil Engineering as it is taught at the Institute. During recent years courses in Business Law, Economics and Public Speaking have been added to the curriculum of the first class year. Not only must the Engineer be well trained in the funda- mentals of business, but he must be able to express himself clearly and effectively. A great number of Civil Engineering graduates become business executives after they leave the Institute and for this group a general knowledge of Business Law and Public Finance is necessary During the fourth and third class years the Engineer is well gromided in the

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FACULTY— CIVIL ENGINEERING Colonel James A. Anderson Professor Lieutenant-Colonel Robert A. Marr, Jr. Associate Professor Lieutenant-Colonel Henley P. Boykin Associate Professor Major John H. C. Mann Assistant Professor INSTRUCTORS Captain Stanton F. Blain Captain H. St. G. T. Carmichael Captain Curry T. Guinn, Jr. Captain James C. Hanes

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fundamentals of Mathematics and Physics. He receives courses of instruction in Algebra, Plane Trigonometry, Solid Geometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Caculus and Integral Calculus. Co-ordinated with these subjects are the cultural subjects such as English. Modern Language, and History. This broad preparatory course provides an excellent foundation for the work which is to follow. Beginning with the second class year the advanced Mathematical and technical courses are given. These are comprised of Analytical Mechanics, Advanced Physics, Resistance of Materials. Materials of Construction. Differential Equations, Geology, Theory of Structures and Advanced Surveying. During the first class year, work is specialized to a greater extent and those courses dealing with the phases of Engineering of which the practicing engineer must have some knowledge, are pursued. These courses are: Highway Engineering. Thermodynamics. Advanced Structures. Bridge Design, Rail- road Engineering, Reinforced Concrete Design. Sanitary Engineering and Hydraulics. Parallel with the courses in Surveying and Railroad Engineering one afternoon each week is devoted to Surveying Field Work. This practical work is continued from the third class year to the first class year and the student becomes thoroughly familiar with Surveying methods and practices. A well equipped drawing academy is avail- able for the work in Mechanical Drawing which is begun the third class year and continues throughout the first class year. Since the course was instituted it has been progressing steadily each year. Each graduating class has been somewhat better equipped than the class which preceded it. The graduates in Civil Engineering may be found in many varied fields and in many different countries . . . always attaining prominence and living up to the standards of excellence that are characteristic of a thoroughly trained Engineer. MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT J. F. Allen H. L. Armistead G. B. Ax G. Baylor W. 0. Brayshaw W. E. Buist P. W. Calliham L. M. Capei ' ton S. 0. Coxe S. G. Crews FIRST CLASS S. C. Curtis S. A. Douglass M. E. Doyle R. W. Fink J. W. Gaiy J. H. Gould ' R ' . S. Grant A. B. Hannah B. P. Harrison A. G. Hill O. Holstein A. F. Hubbard E. C. Hudgins G. Kerr J. S. Kirk J. P. Lea R. A. McCoy S. H. Meem A. S. Patteson W. H. Pettigrew A. H. Ponzanelli P. C. Roberts A. B. Taylor C. M. Taylor J. D. Vance R. F. Vaughan W. C. Weaver B. T. Whited E. M. Young SECOND CLASS T. A. Adams J. Armstrong W. A. Burruss R. P. Bunvell C. V. Carson S. E. Collins C. R. Dorrier A. H. EmeiT H. H. Finlavson W. Goodwin J. A. Goshorn J. B. Hardin E. J. Hejrdt . C. Holmes J. C. Jones W. P. Kiethley T. M. Keller W. S. Luck C. P. MacDonald C. F. McCallum N. A. Meador M. M. Milton C. A. Niedengard G. P. Page J. W. Palmer P. R. Roper G. A. Royce R. B. Rust P. Z. Rutschow S. B. Scott G. R. Sledge W. E. Smith C. E. Straub G. B. Swindell W. C. Tyler W. B. Tyree F. Way W. K. Weaver