186 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XVI. No. 396. 



that the segregation of engineering stud- 

 ies has been carried about as far as the con- 

 dition of the preparatory^ schools permit, 

 but that, essential as the training in gener- 

 al principles is recognized to be, it is ad- 

 vantageous to give some specialized courses 

 of instruction. 



At the Saturday morning session the first 

 paper presented was that of Professor EI- 

 wood Mead on 'Courses of Instruction in 

 Irrigation Engineering. ' He described the 

 magnitude and complexity of the industrial 

 problems connected with irrigation in the 

 West, and the need of engineers with 

 special training not only to properly de- 

 sign the canals and other works with great- 

 er economy than was possible formerly, but 

 also to administer the systems when estab- 

 lished. The information upon which both 

 laws and administrative practice must be 

 based must be largely gathered by the en- 

 gineer. The settlement of the arid region 

 is already creating important problems in 

 statesmanship and economics involving the 

 relations of vested rights and the respective 

 spheres of state and national authority. 

 The State Agricultural College at Colorado 

 was the pioneer in giving special courses 

 of instruction relating to practical irriga- 

 tion and the attendant business, social and 

 legal problems. The paper gave the irriga- 

 tion engineering course recently adopted by 

 the University of California, and it was 

 urged that other western colleges might 

 advantageously adopt a similar course in 

 providing for this need. 



No abstract can give any adequate idea 

 of the admirable paper as to both contents 

 and style, by Professor Edward Orton, Jr., 

 on 'The Subdivision of the Field of Chem- 

 ical Engineering Education.' He gave the 

 relative magnitude and increasing impor- 

 tance of the ceramic and cement industries, 

 as well as those depending on metallurgical 

 processes, and stated the need for men who 

 should have a large part of the usual edu- 



cation of an engineer in combination with 

 that of a chemist. 



In discussing 'Some Abuses of the Lec- 

 ture System, ' Professor A. W. French gave 

 five strong objections to the use of lectures 

 to any material extent in giving instruction 

 on engineering subjects, considering the 

 present ample supply of text-books adapted 

 to the needs of engineering colleges. The 

 fact that the lecture system furnished the 

 easiest method for the instructor to handle 

 large classes was not regarded as a valid 

 excuse, since it is the duty of large institu- 

 tions to provide as adequate class instruc- 

 tion as is done by the small ones. It was 

 recommended that in the few cases where 

 lectures are properly used each student 

 should be furnished with a copy or at least 

 with full notes, so that his entire attention 

 may be given to the thought presented in 

 the lecture room. 



At the afternoon session Professor C. M. 

 Woodward read a paper on the 'Manage- 

 ment of Intercollegiate Athletics,' which 

 described some of the difficulties now en- 

 countered, and aimed at developing a higher 

 moral standard in the actual conduct of 

 intercollegiate athletics. A series of rules 

 relating to eligibility of members of teams, 

 etc., was given. A strong conviction was 

 expressed that in some way the evils of 

 gate fees at athletic contests and the large 

 expenditures incident to training tables, 

 extensive trips, etc., should be eliminated. 

 In the discussion which followed a decided 

 protest was raised against the undue en- 

 croachment of athletics on the legitimate 

 work of many students who could not 

 afford to make the sacrifice. 



'Over-development in Engineering La- 

 boratory Courses' was treated by Professor 

 F. P. Spalding. He stated that the impor- 

 tance of laboratory instruction in all lines 

 of scientific study, and its absolute necessity 

 to any properly organized course in engi- 

 neering, are generally conceded, but that the 



