Daily inter mountain. [volume], February 02, 1901, Page 12, Image 12

About Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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I Mont ana*s School of Mines. %
The developers of the mineral resour
ces of the United States in the past half
century have called to their aid the ser
vices of those whose knowledge, gained
generally in the early days in the rude
and haphazard school of experience, tit
led them to secure better economy in
production. The rapid growth of the in
dustry early showed the need of schools
loi the training of men in the sciences
involved in mining, and so far back as
3MÏ the management of Harvard uni
versity established the Lawrence Scien
tific school, which sought to protide the ^
special courses desired. j
Later the other eastern colleges took
up this line of instruction, but probably
not until the establishment of the Colo- ;
rado state school of mines In IST-i was j
there an institution which recognized j
the axiom of modern education; that ;
any school which is to obtain the gieat- ,
est results or returns for the money and
energy expended in its establishment and j
operation, must be situated in a region
which shall, front its very nature, serve
as a part of the real equipment of the j
school. The Colorado school has been
correspondingly successful. It has pro
duced hundreds of m-.n well equipped by
practical training in an atmosphere
harmonizing with their work, whose ser
vices have been eagerly sought, but the
demand for those of high ability has
been greater than the supply.
.In recognition of this fact and in view
of the importance of the mineral re
sources of the state, a school of mines
was opened in Michigan in 1SS5 and this
p, hool also has contributed many valu
able mining experts to the mining tn
1 Mitling men of Montana had for years
recognized the great need of such an in
stitution within the Treasure State, but
until recently a sad lack of available
funds prevented its establishment. In
it he school of mines recently opened Mon
t-na will afford facilities for this special
training in many respects surpassing
tbo.se of any other state; for certainly
no other district presents so many and
so extensive opportunities, all so easily
accessible to pupils, for practical appli
ortion of the subjects taught. The great
value of these in inspiring students with
appreciation and interest in the w*rk |
for which they are preparing themselves
cannot be overestimated.
Within the circle of a few miles the
student can find the richest mines, the
most extensive smelters and metallui
g'.cal works in this country, if not in the
V- rid, with the further advantage of as
sociation with the most progressive and
practical of mining men, employing the
most progressive methods. An ideal
union, in fact, for theoretical and prac
tical instruction.
As compared with the organization and
beginning of both the Colorado and
Michigan schools, Montana's school of
mines starts under most favorable aus-
pices. It has a fine building, erected at
a cost of over $100,000, with an ample
rnd efficient equipment, which equip-
ment will be added to as the need for it
arises. It has the endorsement and
' lu-arty co-operation of the pioneers and
heads of the great Industry which has
given to Butte its just fame and unrival-
led prosperity. It has on hand funds
tivailable for the first year's expenses, the
state having taken the entire $120,000
worth of bonds issued. It has only to de-
monstrate its utility to receive from the
generous people of the state, through
their legislature, any appropriation nec-
essary for its support and expenses. That
it will accomplish this seems already as-
sured. Its general management is in the
hands of a board of directors composed of
men of large business experiencce, who
have seen the development of mining in
the state, from the placer excitement of
lAlder gulch to itsperfectdevelopment.who
arc deeply interested in its welfare and .
.will zealously work for its success. They
arc all men who are interested in min-
ing, understanding it thoroughly. The
'board has selected a faculty they be-
lieve to be thoroughly capable, judging
from their records and recommenda-
tions.
- All the big mining Companies of Butte
are interested in the school, and have
contributed rare and expensive models
end Invaluable collections of ores, crys
tals, etc. They have also assured the
.board of trustees that at stated inter
vals they will allow the students to in
upret their mines, their geology, mineral
•system and general method of opera
tion. In this way the favored students
in the Montana school of mines will at
, ta in' a practical knowledge of the most
scientific mining in the world. There is
no district in the world where the min
ing operators are so thoroughly up to
date, so determined to have the best and
the latest equipment. Montana's insti
tution should in a short space of time
be to the state what the celebrated
si bools of mines in other places of the
union have been to them.
The law establishing the school of
mines under the name of Montana State
-School of Mines was passed ly the 3rd
legislative assembly and approved by
/Icvernor J. K. Rickards, February 17th.
1893.
The law provided for a local hoard of
•tiustees to be composed of five persons;
the law also provided that the state
board of education within ninety days
after the passage of the act "should des
ignate and appoint five suitable persons,
m least three of whom shall be resi
«b nts of Silver Bow county." The board
of education requested Governor Rick
ards to nominate these persons subject
to its approval.
The following were appointed and
unanimously confirmed: Hon. W. \V.
Uix.jn. Hon. F. K. Sargeant, W. Good
ale. J. H. Leyson. John Gillie.
f l he list of names given above as con
stituting the board of trustees and com
mission is not as originally appointed.
Judge Kirkpatrick being a member when
1 he board was first appointed. On his
death one of the above named gentlemen
vas appointed to succeed him.
The 4th legislative assembly enacted
the law providing for the "erection, fur
nishing and equipping" the school of
mines, and "created a board to be known
•ls the state board of mines commission;
said commission shall consist of five
persons, each a qualified elector, and not
more than three belonging to one polit
ical party, all of whom shall be forth
with appointed by the governor by and
with the advice of the senate, and shall
hold office until said buildings have been
erected and equipped and accepted by
the state."
This act was approved March 7tli. 1S95.
Gov. Rickards appointed the above men
tioned gentlemen to constitute this com
mission.
The commission awarded the contract
for the construction of the building to
the firm of Riddell & Roach. During the
construction of the building the firm was
dissolved and Joseph A. Riddell com
pleted the building.
The legislative assembly enacted a law
providing for he sale of the school of
mines' bonds, the object being that from
the sale of these bonds the warrants
which had been issued by the state to
these contractors should be taken up and
paid. Inadvertently, the interest bear
ing clause of the law which had provided
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for the payment of Interest on the war
rants was left out. This serious over
sight was not discovered until after the
legislature had adjourned. The con
tractor could not dispose of his warrants
as they were not drawing interest, and
work on the building was brought to a
standstill. As there was no relief to be
had and the attention of our people being
called to the unfinished and unsafe condi
tion of the building if allowed to stand
exposed to the elements until the next
legislature should convene, the public
spirited men of the community sub
scribed to a fund sufficient to complete
the building: the subscribers signifying
their willingness to take the warrants
as they were issued to the contractor and
hold them looking to the state for their
payment. Had it not been for the enter
prise and public spirit of the subscribers
for that purpose the state would have
unfortunately lost several thousand dol
lars by reason of the damage done to the
building during the fall and winter
storms.
Mr. Rickards himself is responsible for
the subscription ever being raised, per
sonally taking it in hand and going from
citizen to citizen until the amount neces
sary was raised.
The building impresses the careful ob
server as being a well arranged and con
structed building. It has about it an air
of solidity that cannot fail to Impress
one.
The architect who drew the plans for
the building was J. C. Paulsen. Upon
his death the commission appointed Wm.
I,. Donovan to superintend the construc
tion.
Miss Clara Clark, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. H. S. Clark of this city has the
honor of being- the first student enrolled
Miss Clark is not a beginner In this
rattier unique field for a girl—-assaying,
chemistry, mineralogy and metallurgy—
but lias progressed far enough to be con
sidered pretty well up in that most diffi
ciiit science, mining. Miss Clark was a
student at the Butte High School and her
interest in chemistry was greatly
strengthened by the interest Professor
McKay took in her studies. In all the
experiments, no mater how difficult or
hazardous, he knew he could count upon
one student 'to assist him, Miss Clark.
At this time she went on a trip through
the park and while there the party were
joined by a geologist and he opened new
lif-kls to Miss Clark. He was continually
showing rocks and explaining their ori
gin. etc. Upon Miss Clark's return to
Butte she took up the study of geology in
earnest and the more shq studied the
more deeply she became interested.
Three years ago she went to Deer Lodge
for a year; then two years ago followed
the course at Bozeman college. She has
finished the assaying course and will
perfect herself, if possible, in the school
of mines in mineralogy, metallurgy and
geology. She is pretty well versed in
mineralogy, her teacher being Professor
Frank Traphagen, of the Bozeman col
lege. Miss Clark is an associate member
of the American Chemical association,
551 Putnam street, Brooklyn, New York,
a high honor for a girl of her years ta
attain. Upon her graduation from
Butte's school of mines she will present
her certificate of graduation to the So
ciety and become a furl fledged member
thereof. Miss Clark lias had a good deal
of practical experience In assaying, ami
when her brother, Arthur Clark, estab
lished himself in the assaying business in
Qibbonsville, Idaho, Miss Cljirk assisted
him in putting in his plant and worked
with him some tittle time. She is very
modest in her estimate of her own
knowledge, but to the average layman
her intimate acquaintance with eco
nomic geology, inorganic and organio
chemistry, etc., is simply wonderful. Sho
intends to go on absorbing all the knowl
edge going and after completing her
course at the school of mines will decide
to what use to put her know ledge,
w. g. king.
Professor King is a member of the fac
uHy whom the mining men, not only of
Butte, but of the state know personally,
and th-eir knowledge of his sterling quali
ties resulted in .his election to a position'
in the faculty. For two years he was
professor -of chemistry at the College of
Montana ait Deer Lodge and the past four
jeais he has spent in Butte, as assayer
and chemist, three with the Parrot com
pany and nearly two with the Montana
Ore Purchasing company. Professor
King graduated from the "Western Re
serve University of Cleveland with the
degree of A. M., and he -is also a grad
uate of chemistry from the Cooper In
stitute of New York. He subsequently
took a post graduate course in chemistry,
at the School of Mines of Columbia Col
lege. He also spent three years as an in
structor in chemistry at the "Case
School of Applied Sciences," in Cleve
land. He is a hard worker and much is
expected of his work in the School of
Mines. This faculty he showed in the
wide experience he had in analytical
chemical work when he acted as assist
ant chemist of the Ohio state dairy and
food commission, and also for the city of
- Cleveland. He is a. married man. his
family residing in Butte.
NATHAN R. LEONARD. \ ^
Nathan R. Leonard is professor of
mathematics and acting president of the
school. He lias had long years of experi
ence as an instructor, most of them in the
chair of mathematics and astronomy *in
the State University of Iowa. He was
horn in Ohio where he received his earl
iereducation. In IS,77 lie went to Harvard
college where lie took a two years special
course in mathematics under Professor
-Benjamin Pierce who became one of his
most -intimate friends. From there lie
went to the Iowa University. This was
at file time that University was young
and crude and the work mapped out for
Professor Leonard was difficult and he
received warm praise for his energy in
helping build up the university. When ho
first took the chair iie was a good deal of
-the 'time acting president and official
head in which way he gainer recognition
everywhere as an educator. For the past
six or eight years Professor Leonard has
not been actively engaged in scholastic,
work. He is now 67 years of age. Ha
was over twenty years in the University,
of Iowa.
ALEXANDER WÏNCHELL.
Alexander Winehell, who will teachi
mineralogy, geology and mining is one of
the faculty of whom much is expected..
The -name of Winehell is famous among
scientists all over the world and that ha
will add new luster to the name is cer
tain. While young in years, Professor
Winehell has already gained a reputation
many would be satisfied to rest upon.
He was graduated from the University
of Minnesota in 1S96, but before gradua
tion he was engaged in many important
scientific investigations for the govern
ment. In 189S he went to Paris studying
under tihe famous Lecroix, where ha
gained Wie degree "Doctor of University
of Paris." When engaged for Ihe Butta
School of Mines, Professor Winehell was
acting- as an assistant for F. J. V. Skiff,
who was in charge of the mineral exhibit
at the Paris exposition as mineralogical
expert whioh position he resigned to coma
to Butte. His endorsement by all the
eminent scientists and instructors as
sures the students of the school of an
instructor second to none. He has been
trained from in fancy almost in scientific
paths, he .having shown at an early age
that fie ,was ty-^e VVinchell. His uncle
Prof. Alexander Winehell, of world wide
fame as a mineralogist, and connected
for years with the University of Michigan
died in 1891. Hisfather is state geologist
of Minnesota. His brother H. V. AVln
chell is a well known -geologist, and con
nected with the Anaconda, company in
that capacity.
CHARLES H. BOWMAN.
The chair of mechanics and mining en
gineering is occupied by Oharies H. Bow
man, who was graduated from the State
University of Iowa in 1895 at the age of
23. He has since been engaged in the
same university as an instructor of phy
sics, electricity and electric dynamics.
Every summer vacation lie has attended
the Chicago University, studying physics,
mathematics, and the construction of
physical apparatus. Some time ago ha
was offered a position as assistant in
structor at the University of Chicago, hut
declined it. He was connected with the
electrical repair shops of the Tri-City
railway company and installed electrical
plants during two vacations for the Mor
gan-Gardne-r Electrical company of Chi
cago. This company offered .him a good
position and liberal salary, but as he had
decided at the beginning of his career to
become nu instructor he declined the po
sition. When Prof. Yeblen. of the Iowa
University was ill for many months.
Professor Bowman occupied his chair.
Professor Bowman -has, young as he is,
establish« 1 an enviable reputation as
a most capable and interesting lecturer;
as an instructor he possesses the faculty
of easily and dearly imparting knowl
edge and he is a hard worker.
.JOSEPH V. LONG, TRUSTEE.
This is not the first time Mr. Tarn g
served the Butte public. He was a mem-