Page 2 THE BATTALION Thursday, September 30, 1954
MACHINE SHOP—The inside of the temporary mechani
cal engineering shop set up after the Dec. 6, 1921, fire
which destroyed the Mechanical Engineering building. The
shop was set up with the equipment saved in the fire and
other materials from this area. This was the old black
smith shop on the east side of the Mechanical Engineer
ing building. About 700 to 800 students were enrolled at
the time of the fire.
^pwilip Sqm/ why do vo* oeowKA
ME WITU WATTEE. -SOON Afe YO'
Gif We.R.C EVER- TIME YO' Vi-SIT ME
YO' 15 S'POSED TTV RESPECT YO" B»<4
BROTUER. Abl' 14OT A.C.T LUCE J -
- WO AGGIE.'*•/*§>*' J
/TieTgwdy, sloucmQ
The Day The ME Building Burned
REMAINS—This is the remains of the old Mechanical Engineering building which burn
ed on Dec. 6, 1921. The building and most of the equipment and other materials were
destroyed. The Electrical Engineering building and Ross hall are shown in the back
ground. The blurred area in the photo is smoke.
ME Building Ghosts Haunt
The Construction Engineers
By RALPH COLE
Battalion City Editor
The Mechanical Engineering
building was completely destroyed
after a fire broke out at 4:45 Sun
day morning.
This Was the talk of the campus
most of |the engineering equip- sympathizer that might attempt to
ment, supplies and other materials, paint the score of 7 to 3 on it.
The old building was valued at He also won the place of yell
$25,000 and the equipment at leader for the next year by his
$75,000. The building was one of vocal demonstration in spreading
the oldest on the campus at that the news of the fire.
time > and college, officials had The Main building, Electrical
back in 1921, when the Mechanical 136611 considering replacing the Engineering building, Mechanical
Engineering building caught fire k u il c1in g' with a more modern one. Engineering building and the Tex-
early Sunday, Dec. 6. The steam laboratory, a small tile Engineering building all were
Now, some 33 years later, ghosts brick building adjoining the main within a 100 foot radius of the
of the building are coming back to laboratory and containing most of buming structure,
haunt construction engineers. the machinery and supplies used A temporary shop was set up
• The foundation of the building in the instruction of seniors, was by R. W. Downard, now assistant
is now being removed as construe- the only part saved. professor of mechanical engineer-
tion continues on the parking lot The alarm was turned in by Ben in the old blacksmith shop
West of Bagley hall. Even an old Garrity, a student living in Austin which was part of the Mechanical
sulphur well, where Aggies of the hall. After the fire, he said hu- Engineering building,
past got their drinking water, has morously that he had been sleeping Students and firemen fought the
also been uncovered. with one eye on the water tower flame but did not reach it in time.
Fire destroyed the building and to detect any State University Lack of water also hampered the
— crew’s work.
Students and college authorities
raked through the rubble picking
out all equipment that could still
be used. Enough equipment was
saved to set up a temporary shop
for classes to continue.
The new building was planned
by E. J. Fermier, then head of the
mechanical engineering depart
ment. The approximate cost of
the present building was $150,000.
It was never learned what caused
the fire, but it was believed faulty
wiring was to blame.
Foundations were never removed
because of lack of money. They
were covered up with gravel and
the spot has been used as a park
ing lot since.
This summer, construction began
on the lot. Storm sewers were
added to take care of the excess
water during severe rains.
The dot had to be slanted to the
drains, and this is ‘where the trou
ble began. Now, the foundations
have to be removed to level the
lot again.
The Battalion
The Editorial Policy of The Battalion
Represents the Views of the Student Editors
The Battalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechan
ical College of Texas, is published by students four times a week, during
$ie regular school year. During the summer terms, and examination
and vacation periods, The Battalion is published twice a week. Days of
publications are Tuesday through Friday for the regular school year,
and Tuesday and Thursday during examination and vacation periods
and the summer terms. Subscription rates $9.00 per year or $ .75 pei
aaonth. Advertising rates furnished on request.
Bntered as second-class
matter at Post Olfice at
@ollege Station, Texas
under the Act of Con-
»ress of March 3, 1870.
Member of
The Associated Press
Represented nationally by
National Advertising
Services, Inc., at New
York City, Chicago, Los
Angeles, and San Fran
cisco.
“ The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republi-
oation of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Right?
of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved.
* News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444 or 4-7604) or
at the editorial office room, 202 Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be
placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room
£JD9 Goodwin Hall.
BOB BORISKIE, HARR1 BAKER Co-Editors
Jon Kinslow Managing Editor
Jterry Wizig Sports Editor
XJalph Cole, Don Shepard - News Editors
Nora Burge - ... Woman’s Editor
Kerstin Ekfelt.. Assistant Woman’s Editor
Betsy Burchard A&M Consolidated Correspondent
Maurice Olian A&M Consolidated Sports Correspondent
J«hn Huber Advertising Manager
tarry Lightfoot - Circulation Manager
Tom' Sylcr, Russell Reed, Ken Livingston Circulation Staff
SMITH & WESSON
K - 22’s
K - 38’s
KILL CREST
HARDWARE
m |
I IlPlII! | ^
WHAT'S LEFT—The blacksmith shop, which was on the
east side of the Mechanical Engineering - building, was
saved and used as a temporary shop. The shop was set up
by R. W. Downard, assistant professor of mechanical en
gineering.
■T HI UfTF
•m m
SB SSI
iBk g^;
sis a
M mw sit lii ; Sii
m m
*•^nrrrrrrr —^
NEW BUILDING—This is the new Mechanical Engineer
ing building, finished about 1923. The building cost ap
proximately $150,000. These photos were obtained from
R. W. Downard.
Somebody’s Lost
Their Laundry
Approximately 200 unident
ified bundles of laundry have
been turned in since registra
tion, according to Lt. Col. Tay
lor Wilkins, assistant comman
dant.
Wilkins suggested that stu
dents make sure tickets are in
the laundry bag and their
name and laundry mark are
on the ticket before turning in
their laundry.
Bruce To Address
Houston A&M Club
General A. D. Bruce, a former
Aggie who is now the president
of the University of Houston, will
address the Houston A&M club at
its regular noon luncheon, Monday
in the Rice Hotel.
SINGLE ACTION
COLTS
A few good ones
HILLCREST
HARDWARE
On Campus
/with
MaxQhuJman
(Author of "Barefoot Boy With Cheek," etc.)
LI’L ABNER
By A1
YO'SHOULD KEEP
VORE PUPPIES
ON A LEASH,
MA'M.V
MY FIERCEST
WOLVES.7-AN'
HE HANDLES
'EM-LIKE
THEY WAS
RABBITS'/
YO AH HA I N'T NO MAN,
GO MA'M. AH IS
GU MERELY 15^
MA Y'ARS
OLD-
§
P O G O
By Walt Kelly
wen, webU,H?i£NP5/i hops
ENJOVINS THS <5AM6 WHICH IS
BRUNS TO YOU BV CQURTBSY 0?
MB, S&M SAM
WHAT IS SeLUN’ AUMT
GRANNY# BITTBR F-RiTTMS ROOT
GUARA/VEgP TO HELP7HS <
HELPLESS', yOUTWFUUUZis
Pam’ which is mads op
cALoeigs, puAve# '
jpforr
woppva v' rr*$ a
MEAN, OUT? AUNT.ApANNy
[4#
\3
sirrei?
gRimg .
ROOT ^
BLAST
FOLK’S *■
An" rr’s
©OIN’ Gow
MY COUSIN HASKELL
I have a cousin named Haskell Krovney, a sweet, unspoiled country
boy, who has just started college. A letter arrived from him this
morning which 1 will reprint here because I know that Haskell’s
problems are so much like your own. Haskell writes:
Dear Haskell (he thinks my name is Haskell too),
I see that you are writing a column for Philip Morris cigarettes.
I think they are keen cigarettes which taste real good and which
make a pleasant noise when you open the pack, and I want to tell
you why I don’t smoke them.
It all started the very first day I arrived at college. I had just
gotten off the train and was walking across the campus, swinging
my cardboard valise whistling snatches of Valencia, Barney Google,
and other latest tunes, admiring statues, petting dogs and girls, when
all of a sudden I ran into this fellow with a blue jacket, gray pants,
and white teeth. He asked me was I a freshman. I said yes. He asked
me did I want to go places on campus, make a big name for myself,
and get pointed at in fashionable ballrooms and spas. I said yes. He
said the only way to make all these keen things happen' was to
join a fraternity. Fortunately he happened to have a pledge card
on him, so ho pricked my thumb and I signed. He didn’t tell me the
name of the fraternity or where it is located, but I suppose I’ll find
out when I go active.
Meanwhile this fellow comes around every week and collects his
dues which are $100. Lately he has been collecting $10 extra each
week. He says this is a fine because I missed the meeting. When I
remind him that I can’t go to meetings because I don’t know where
the house is, he twists my arm.
J have never regretted joining the fraternity because it is my
dearest wish to be somebody on campus and get pointed at in spas,
bit you can see that it isn’t cheap. It wouldn’t be so bad if I slept
at the house, but you must agree that I can’t very well sleep at
the house if I don’t know where the house is.
I have had to rent a room. This room is not only hellishly expensive,
but it isn’t the kind of room I wanted at all. What I was looking for
was someplace reasonably priced, clean, comfortable, and within easy
walking distance of classes, the downtown shopping district, the
movies, and my home town. What I found was a bedroom in the
home of a local costermonger, which is dingy, expensive, uncom
fortable, inconvenient, and I don’t even get to use the bed till six
o’clock in the morning when my Landlord goes off to mong his costers.
Well, anyhow, I got settled and started going to classes. But first
J had to pay my tuition. This came to a good deal more than the
advertised rates. When I asked the bursar what the extra money
was for, he told me lab fees. When I said I wasn’t taking any labs,
he said I was taking psychology which counted as a lab because
they used white mice. When I offered to bring my own mice, of
which there are plenty in my room, he twisted my arm.
So I paid the man and went to my classes where I found that
all my professors had spent busy summers writing brand new text
books. Over to the bookstore I went, saw the prices on the text
books, and collapsed in a gibbering heap. At length I recovered and
made indignant demands to speak to the proprietor, but they told
me the Brinks truck had already taken him home for the day. There
was nothing for it but to buy the books.
Next I turned to romance—and found it. Harriet, her name was—a
great, strapping girl. I first spied her leaning against the statue of
the Founder, dozing lightly. I talked to her for several hours without
effect. Only when I mentioned dinner did she stir. Her milky little
eyes opened, she raised a heavy arm, seized my nape, and dragged
me off to a dimly lit place called The Trap where everything was
a la carte. She ordered cracked crab ($1.75), sirloin Chateaubriand
($7.00), a scuttle of french fries (18^ the french fry), an artichoke
(30b the leaf), and compote (80b fhe prune).
After dinner she lapsed into a torpor from which I could not rouse
her, no matter how I tried. I banged my glass with my fork. I did
bird calls of North and South America. I pinched her huge pendulous
jowl. I rubbed the legs of my corduroy pants together . . . But nothing
worked, and finally I had to sling her over my shoulder and carry
her to the girls dormitory, to the vast amusement of everybody
along the route.
.But it was not the jeers of bystanders that bothered me. It was
the hernia. Fortunately, medical care for students is provided free
at the college dispensary; all I had to pay for were a few extras,
like X-rs^s, anaesthesia, operating room, forceps, hemostats, scal
pels, sponges, catgut, linens, towels, amortization, and nurses. They
would not, however, let me keep the nurses.
So, dear, cousin, if you see me these days without a Philip Morris
cigarette, it is not because I don’t like Philip Morris cigarettes. 1
do. I flip when I taste their mild rare vintage tobaccos. But I can’t
afford cigarettes. I can’t even afford matches, what with fraternity
dues and room rent and lab fees and textbook prices and my girl
Harriet and medical care.
Well, I’ll write you again soon. Keep ’em flying.
Yr. Cousin,
Haskell
©Max Sliulman, 1954
This column is brought to you by the makers of PHILIP MORRIS
who think you would enjoy their cigarette.