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THE GEAR OF

1 Z L , « M.MW I Juniher ■

F A L L , 1 0 5 5

TL © E A R of THIETA TAT

EALIL, 1§55

VOLUME XXV N U M B E R I Theta Tau Fraternity Founded at the October 7 5, 1904 FOUNDERS Erich J. Schrader Isaac B. Hanks W. Murray Lewis Elvin L. V enal

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Fred C offm a n , Lambda T I Grand Regent P. O. Box 1204, Raleigh, N . C. H . H . Hopkins , Beta ’0 8 ...... Grand Vice-Regent 1724 W. Fulton St., , 111. E rich J. Schrader , Alpha ’O S ...... Grand Scribe Box 244, Reno, Nevada Prof . Jamison V awter , Zeta ’1 6 ...... Grand Treasurer 307 Engineering Hall, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois Prof . D onald D. C urtis , Omicron ’1 9 Grand Marshal Clcmson College, South Carolina Prof . J. M. D aniels , Nu Hon. ’2 2 ...... Grand Inner Guard Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburg, Pa. R ussell G. G lass , Sigma ’2 4 ...... Grand Outer Guard 23401 Chardon Road, Euclid, Ohio DELEGATE AT LARGE Prof . R ichard J. R ussell , Epsilon ’1 9 ...... Past Grand Regent Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS Central Ohio— Emmett E. Knorr, 60', > W. Northwood Ave., Columbus, Ohio. Chicago— Dick Van Gorp, Room 700, 910 South Michigan Blvd., Chicago, 111. — R. G. Glass, 23401 Chardon Road, Euclid, Ohio. Intermountain—A. H. Sorensen, 407 Templeton Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. Kansas C ity —R. W . Nusser, 5011 S. Benton, Kansas City, Mo. Soiilhivestern —W. A. Steenbergen, Agrilcultural Eng. Dept., College of Agri­ culture, U. of Ariz., Tucson, Ariz. St. Louis— H. R. Kilpatrick, 216 EIm Ave., Glendale, Mo. (c/o Kirkwood P. O .) T w in City—Frederick C. Tcske, Jr., 4254 24th Ave. S., Minn.

MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL INTERFRATERNITY CONFERENCE ARCHITECTURE, . . CHEMISTRY, . COMMERCE, Alpha , . DENTISTRY. , , . EDU­ CATION, , . , . ENGINEERING. Theta Tau, . LAW, , , Gamma, Sigma No Ph;. Sigma Delta Kappa. MEDICINE, , . , , , , Theta Kappa Psi. PHARMACY, Kappa Psi. Chapters A lp h a , Founded October 1 5, 1904 - University of Minnesota (Chapter house) 324 W alnut St., S. E., Minneapolis, Minn. Beta , Established March 26, 1906 - Michigan College of Mining and Tech. (Chapter house) 233 College Ave., Houghton, Mich. Gam ma, Established November 8, 1907 - - Colorado School of Mines c/o Prof. B. B. Boatright, Colo. School of Mines, Golden, Colorado D e l ta , Established May 23, 1911 - - Case School of Applied Science Theta Tau Box, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio E psilon, Established May 4, 1912 - - - - Box, Hearst Mining Bldg., University of California, Berkeley, Calif. Z e ta , Established April 17, 1912 ------ (Chapter house) 1409 Tennessee Street, Lawrence, Kansas T h e ta , Established May 26, 1914 ------ T heta Tau Box, Engineering Bldg., Columbia University, Io ta , Established February I, 1916 - - -- Missouri School of Mines Theta Tau Box, Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy, Rolla, Mo. Kappa, Established March 25, 1916 - - - - University of Illinois c/o Grand Treasurer Vawter, 307 Eng. Hall, Urbanai 111. Lam bda, Established April 29, 1920 ----- University of Utah Theta Tau Fraternity, Union Building, Salt Lake City, Utah M u, Established January 3, 1922 - - University of Alabama P. O. Box 1279, University, Alabama N u , Established January I, 1922 - - Carnegie Institute of Technology P. O. Box, 114, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburg, Pa. O m icron, Established February 3, 1923 - - - - (Chapter house) 804 North Dubuque Street, Iowa City, Iowa Pi, Established May 26, 1923 ------ R. F. D. No. 4, Charlottesville, Virginia R h o 1 Established February 16, 1924 - N . C. State College of Ag. and Eng. P. O. Box 5394, State College Station, Raleigh, N . C. Sigma, Established November 29, 1924 - - - (Chapter house) 1965 Indianola Ave., Columbus, Ohio T a u 1 Established December 12, 1 9 2 8 c/o Prof. E. F. Berry, College of Applied Science, Syracuse, New York U p silo n , Established April 7, 1928 - - - - University of Arkansas P. O. Box 24, University Station, Fayetteville, Arkansas Phi, Established April 21, 1928 Purdue University (Chapter house) 416 N. Main St., West Lafayette, Ind. C h i, Established A pril 23, 1930 University of Arizona Theta Tau Box, Engineering Bldg., University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz. Psi, Established May 7, 1932 ------Montana School of Mines Theta Tau Fraternity, Care of Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana Omega, Established March 26, 1932 - - - - S. Dakota School of Mines (Chapter house) 1117 St. Joe St., Rapid City, South Dakota Gamma Beta, Established March 16, 193 3 - George Washington University c /o Dean of School of Engineering, George W ashington University, Washington, D. C. {TintAnnouncing t

fjam ison Q ^awter or 12lli (^fyiennial (Qonvenhc

Convention

Kansas City Dates M o . December INewoem 28, 29, 30 H otel. 1235

To honor a Thcta Tau who has rendered distinguished service to his fra­ ternity, the Executive Council has designated the coming convention as the J amison V awter or 12t h Bien nial C onvention of T heta T au . Brother Vawter has had an important voice in the conduct of the fraternity for fourteen years. An alumnus of Zeta Chapter, class of ’16, he was elected Grand O uter Guard in 1921. A t the end of the biennium, 1923, he was given the highly important post of Grand Treasurer. In this position he has served w ith rare efficiency for the past twelve years. In addition to his duties as Grand Treasurer, he has made many chapter inspections and has given freely of his time in other fraternity matters. Since the organization of the Profes­ sional Interfraternity Conference in 1928, he has represented Theta Tau on the council of that body and served from 1931 to 1933 as president of the Con­ ference. It is fitting that the fraternity honor Brother Vawter in the naming of this convention which will be held close to his Alma Mater and which will have mainly Zeta men for its hosts. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Kansas City Alumni Asso­ ciation, R. W . Nusser, JO ll S. Benton St., Secretary. cRVlessage From Retiring Fraud Regent

Brother Coffm. i Offers Suggestions A s Ffe Completes Ten Years’ Se /ice O n Executive Council

Brothers in Theta Tau— and tongs, that barely more than five GREETracs: years later my name would be written /^~p

"baby” chapter close of ten years’ was located at Co­ lumbia Univer­ siding body of the sity, and, if my Theta Tau Frater­ memory is correct, nity. They have the total enroll­ been golden years, ment of Theta Tau was 736. Little full of fine friendship and associa­ did I think as I gazed at the c u t of tions, together w ith "memories that the gear wheel with crossed hammer bless and burn.” 6 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

But, all in all, they are years that Chapter at North Carolina State Col­ I shall never be able to duplicate in all lege. It would seem that Theta Tau their fullness on this "money-grabbing lacks something during the undergrad-

The Editors of T he G ear were very bers after graduation. To my mind kind in asking me to submit these re­ a solution to this is to designate some marks. Obviously one cannot be in­national officer to look after alumni timately associated w ith a college fra­ activities and see that their interest ternity, or any other organization, overdoes not wane. This officer should a period of ten years, without forming preferably be the Grand Outer or In­ some very definite conclusions. ner Guard, since either one is usually young in years and therefore more It is said, "The poor we shall have capable of seeing the viewpoint of un­ w ith us always.” To paraphrase this, dergraduate students. "W eak chapters will always be our Thirdly, the election of members to concern.” This is no more a problem the Executive Council should, in a of a professional engineering fraternity measure, be changed. This is not al­ than it is of the academic fraternity; together my idea, but I shall handle it is true of my academic fraternity it in a more detailed manner in my and several fraternities of which I have report to the next National Conven­ intimate knowledge. Certain chapters tion. Suffice it to say at this time will be strong always— others will that as I view the Executive Council have good and bad years, while still in retrospect from a vantage point of others will remain consistently weak. ten years, I feel that outside of our It is toward these consistently weak three "key” offices. Grand Scribe, chapters that we should direct our ef­ Grand Treasurer, and Grand Marshal, forts, taking drastic action if neces­ the other officers should be elected with sary. Dr. R. J. Russell, my prede­ little or no expectation of advance­ cessor, has outlined a field of activity ment. If at the end of one term they which should fit into the scheme of are not advanced to the next office, our chapters which do or do not own no stigma should be attached to the houses. Unfortunately, due to the fact. As I write this, I am reminded depression, this has not met with such that the Jamison Vawter or Twelfth splendid results as the program merits. Biennial Convention is less than six With the return of normal times it is weeks away. In a brief period the my sincere hope that it will succeed. delegates from our various chapters, Secondly, the interest of our alum­ from Alpha to Gamma Beta, will be ni is of grave concern. Some chapters moulding the plastic clay of the fu t­ are able to keep in close contact with ure for Theta Tau. May I ask that their members for a number of years each chapter send its most represen­ after graduation, while others lose tative delegate to the Kansas C ity con­ sight of their brothers almost as soon vention? Please don’t send John Jones as they cease to be seniors. This les­ for political reasons. If John Jones son has been driven home to me most is a member of Peacock Feather and forcibly here in Raleigh, although it Horse Shoe, which is holding a con­ is in no way a reflection upon Rhovention in the same vicinity a t this THE GEAR OF THETA TAU time, let him represent either Peacock and looking forward to meeting a rep­ Feather and Horse Shoe, or Theta Tau. resentative from each of our chapters I trust that the chapters and the at the next National Convention, I am alumni are enjoying the finest fruits Yours in H and T, of their endeavor and the best of every­ Fred Coffm a n , thing in life. W ith kindest regards, Grand Regent

Camma Aden Furnish Their O w n Competition

Carl Morris T,u Couldn’t Lose

The last general election at the dent. Foskett, as runner-up, will be Colorado School of Mines was pretty vice-president. Brother Morris ex­ much of an exclusive Theta Tau affair, pressed the hope that he would succeed but nevertheless, was one of the most as well as the retiring president, George closely contested elections in the his­Reed, Gamma ’35. tory of the school. In another contest at the same time, Brother Carl L. Morris defeated Brother Jack Pardee won over Brother Brother Norm an Foskett by 17 votes Randolph West in the election of a for the office of student-body presi­ representative to the athletic council. Psi 3~tails a ISIew Mome Since the establishment of Psi Chap­ chapter had the absolutely unique ex- ter at the Montana School of Mines in periencc• of moving into a ne'w, modern May 1932, the members have been ty house, equ:ipped from cellar looking forward eagerly to the time to garr<;t, without a nickel of capital expenditure. Theta Tau is evidently held inesteem at Montana, for when the new residence hall vvas being planned, one wing sv'as designed as a chapter house for Psi. The new home was cornpleted late n i Aug ust, ready for occiipation at the beginning of the

The exterior is surfaced w ith brick and topped by a cornice of white stone. The vertical lines of the en­ when they, like many other chapters, trance lend a pleasing dignity and would have a home of their own.

loftiness to the inviting doorway. A handsome and artistic replica of Theta Tau’s coat of arms fills the central sec­ tion of the ornamental window above Main Entrance the double entrance. Theta Tau Crest in ornamental window W ithin, a short flight of stairs leads This ambition was at last realized this to a wide linoleum-covered corridor fall in an unusual manner, for the which runs the entire length of the THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 9

THE LOUNGE Modern, Comfortjble, Aitracrive wing. The ten students’ rooms, guest tains are supplied to insure a comfort­ room, lounge, shower room, tw o tele­ able and homey atmosphere. There is phone booths, and linen closets all little of this "hanging his clothes on open directly on the hallway. the floor” now that each resident has The students’ rooms are furnished a private closet. with modern, walnut-stained steel fur­ The large well-lighted lounge over­ niture, wash bowls and medicine cab­ looking "The Richest Hill on Earth” inets. Study lamps, bedding and cur­is the special pride of the chapter.

THE DINING ROOM 10 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

The walls are finished in a warm two- The basement floor includes an in­ tone stipple effect. The fireplace will viting private dining room panelled no doubt be a cheering and friendlyin beautiful grained birch, a chapter influence on many a cold and bliz-room, storage rooms and laundry. zardy winter’s evening. Psi members In the words of a Psi member, "O ur will then settle themselves on the com­ chapter derives many valuable benefits fortable sofas and sturdy easy chairs,from this addition to the campus. listen to a soothing orchestra over The home brings about better living their radio, and envy no one. conditions for our members, and, The guest room is expected to see above all, the formation and cemen­ service on such occasions as firesides tation of those friendships which are and informal parties. a part of fraternity life.”

JoL W M steJt1 ColJen Voice of Tlteta Tau I t is unusual to find an engineer appearance on regular daily schedules who is a fine singer; it is extraordinaryover station W. H. B. as tenor soloist. to find an engineer who is a high school teacher and principal; but it is amazing to find a man who is all three, as is Brother John Wahlstedt. Brother Wahlstedt, Zeta ’21, grad­ uated as a mechanical engineer w ith a Tau Beta Pi membership, but his talent as a singer had won him the position as leader of the Kansas Uni­ versity Glee Club while in school. Engineering work with Westing- house and the Kansas C ity Structural Steel Company claimed him for a few years. He then tried his hand as in­ structor in math, science and music in the East High School of Kansas City. Shortly afterwards he was made vice-principal and has been acting in that capacity for eight years. His voice is in great demand in and about Kansas City, as is shown by his THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 11

Studying In Germany

He is attending the Technische Hoch- schule at Stuttgart, studying for Itis doctor’s degree. "Jeff” was one of three members of the class of ’34 to be elected by the faculty and upperclassmen as a candidate for the Montana Society of Engineers medal, having made the honor roll all but one semester. He graduated second highest in his class, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Met­ allurgical Engineering, and was award­ ed a State Bureau of Mines research fellowship for graduate work at the School of Mines. Last June he re­ ceived his master’s in Metallurgical Engineering w ith the thesis, "Alloys of Zinc and Indium.” In addition to English and German, Brother Peretti speaks Spanish and Ettor E A Peretti Italian fluently. He was selected as Whit! No French? Psi’s delegate to the national conven- Ettore A. Peretti, Psi ’34, left last tion in Chicago two years ago, and August for Germany as an exchange has always been an ardent worker for student from Montana School of Mines. Theta Tau.

Alumni Near Rena T>ine With CranJ ScnU Or, FaunJeJs Day While Founder’s Day was celebrated W . O. Vanderberg, Beta ’23 as usual by the actives and alumni of D. O. Fryberger, Lambda ’24 the fraternity, a somewhat unusual A. M. Tweedt, Epsilon ’28 banquet was held at the El Cortez John Steadman, Psi ’32 Hotel in Reno, Nevada, on October Arthur Werner Jr., Epsilon ’32 12. For the first time in years more Clarence A. Wendell, Psi ’34 than one or two alumni were in the vicinity, so a dinner was arranged andOf this group, only two live in Reno. Brother Fryberger drove in attended by the following alumni: from Lovelock, 10$ miles from Reno, E. J. Schrader, Alpha ’OS Brothers David and Benson from Joe David, Beta ’IS Walkermine in Plumas County, Cali­ W m. T. Benson, Lambda ’20 fornia, a distance of 12$ miles, and 12 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Brothers Steadman and Wendell fromthey would meet again in 1936. A Carson City, a meire 35 miles away. letter of congratulations was sent to It 'vas a fine meeting a:nd the mem- Alpha Chapter by airmail and signed bers stayed aroundafter dinner until by all present. the waiters chased them out. AU of the Otlt-of-town mem dro\■e home that E. J. Schrader night. and the hopewas e:Kpressed that October 24, 193 S

G eologist Crosses Botl I Oceans Frank S. Hudson was born in sity of California where he became one Marysville, California, once^the prin­of the founders of Epsilon Chapter cipal supply point for the placer mines in 1911. of the Sierra Nevada, and later the A fter graduation in 1912, the center of the gold dredging of N orth­Southern Pacific Railroad employed ern California. The boy livinghim as a geologist. In 1914, he went amongst such mining activities, was as one of Dr. George Louderback’s impressed at an early age with the im­ assistants on a two year exploration trip into northern and western China and the Philippines for the Standard Oil Co. of New York. O n his return to California, his graduate studies in geology were in­ terrupted by the World War. During the time America was participating he served under the W ar Minerals In­ vestigation Committee. Afterwards, he resumed his studies and received his doctor’s degree in 1920. After a year of consulting work Brother Hudson became chief geologist for the Ventura Oil Company at , later serving as field manager until that company was absorbed by the Texas Company, when he resigned to become a member of the geological staff of the Shell Oil Company. In 1931, Dr. Hudson was trans­ ferred to the production department and sent for a year to The Hague, portance of the mining industry in hisHolland, and to the oil fields of Rou- native state, so it was but natural that mania. Since his return he has been he should take training in mining en­in charge of exploitation engineering gineering and geology at the Univer­for the Shell Company of California. THE GEAR OF THETA TAU IJ

Aline Expert Finc/s Fime F o W rite Eugene D. Gardner, Lambda, B. S. U ntil he joined the staff of the U. S. ’OS, E. M. ’IS, University of Utah, Bureau of Mines during the World inherited an interest in mines from allW ar, geological and examination work four grandparents who were alreadyin the Northwest claimed him. Since in the West when the gold rush of 192 5 he has been supervising engineer ’49 began. and superintendent of the Southwest After graduation he worked for a Experimental Station at Tuscon, Ari­ short time for the Utah Copper Co., zona, and is also in charge of the work of the Mining Division of the Bureau of Mines in the Western States. Besides being a specialist in mining methods and costs. Brother Gardner believes in the distribution of infor­ mation on advanced methods of min­ ing, and to this end has contributed an imposing list of articles and papers to the Technical Press and the U. S. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars, dealing mainly w ith mining methods and safety problems. Brother Gardner is a member of the American Mining Congress, Sons of American Revolution, and has held office in the Tuscon Engineers Club and in the Arizona section of the A. I. M. M. E. In 1934-3$ he was president of the Southwest Alumni Association of Theta Tau. Eugene D. G ardner Fishing, hunting, and golf are the "First father—" sports he most enjoys, though he con­ then spent the next five years "grow­fides that his golf is hardly good ing up” with the Utah Apex Mining enough to be classified as a sport. Co. of Bingham, Utah, and getting Brother Gardner and his son, George valuable experience working as sampler, Delos Gardner, have the unusual dis­ miner, shift boss, surveyor, chief en­ tinction of being the first father and gineer, and assistant superintendent.son in Theta Tau.

JAMISON VAWTER 12TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI :: DECEMBER 28, 29, 30 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Erick SckraJer Hears From Brotker Bourret, E- 35 Rio Guinobatan, Masbate, P. I. operating off and on since 1915. Pres­ August I, 1935. ent mill capacity is 50 tons w ith 9 D ear Brother Schrader : stamps and all cyanide treatment. A Before I took my final examinations new 150-200 ton mill is under con­ last spring I was fortunate enough to struction and underground develop­ secure a job here in the Philippines. ment is proceeding rapidly. There is Though only here a m onth, I feel that plenty of good ore in sight. I really I am in a very promising mining com­think they have a real mine. My pres­ munity and will benefit from the ex­ent position is shift boss in the mill. perience. I am about six miles inland Would rather be underground but will on the little island of Masbate, near get my chance later. the center of the archipelago. Eleva­ If you write toT h e G ear will you tion is about 600 feet. It is reason­ please send them my new address. ably cool and healthy. This mine isW ith all good wishes, one of several owned by Philippine- Yours in H and T, American capital. Antamok, Gold- W eston Bourret , fields Mining Co. and Parrique Mines, Epsilon ’35 Inc. are others. This property has been

Oojectives o f Profession/ Interfraternity Conference The objectives of the Professional deavors to promote a spirit of comity, Interfraternity Conference are to aid,understanding, and cooperation be­ improve, and strengthen the profes­ tween all college fraternities, and to sional fraternity; to provide a cooper­work in harmony with them in an en­ ative organization for professional fra­ deavor to provide constructive solu­ ternities where their mutual problems tions of the problems involving their may be discussed, and means providedrelationship and operation. I t also for their solution; to collect, publish, provides means for the determination and distribute information and dataof the major principles of professional of value to the professional fraternity; fraternity organization, policy, and to effect a better understanding of the operation, and through mutual action purposes and functions of the profes­ endeavors to effect their observance. sional fraternity on the part of the The Conference also hopes to clarify educational world and the public at the distinction between the profes­ large; to work in harmony and co­sional, the general, and the honorary operation w ith universities in the at­ fraternity, thereby assisting each type tainment of educational ideals, in theof organization to perform more fully promotion of high professional ethics, and effectively its particular function and in the advancement of scholasticin our system of university education. excellence. The Conference also en­ THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Portrait In G il John R. Suman, Epsilon ’12, B. S. technical superintendent of Roxana University of California, College ofPetroleum Corp.; manager of East Mining, started his career as an assis­ Coast Oil Co. of Mexico, and vice- ta n t assayer and surveyor with a min­president and general manager of Rio ing company in California in 1911,Bravo Oil Co. In 1927, he was made director of the Humble Oil and Re­ fining Co., the largest producers of crude oil in the United States; and in June 1933, he assumed the position of Vice-President in Charge of Produc­ tions w ith the same company. N ot only is he successful in execu­ tive work, but he has invented several appliances for use in oil field work. As if this were not versatility enough, he is the author of technical articles on petroleum production engineering and a book, "Petroleum Production Methods” for petroleum engineers. One of the most interesting and unique engineering feats performed in the production end of the oil business in 1933 was the killing of the Conroe crater in Montgomery County, Texas. Brother Suman conceived and super­ vised this program which entailed an John R. Suman Writer, inventor, executive expenditure of about one half million dollars. but after graduation he received a Brother Suman is a member of A. position with the Rio Bravo Oil Co. A. P. G., A. I. M. E., Institute of Pe­ of as assistant geologist and troleum Technologists, and A. P. I. as has concentrated on oil since then. well as Tau Beta Pi and Delta Upsilon. Brother Suman’s career shows steady He says that golf is his hobby, but advance up the ladder of success. He that he doesn’t mind a little hunting has held, among others, positions as and fishing occasionally.

JAMISON VAWTER 12TH BIENNIAL CONVENTION KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI :: DECEMBER 28, 29, 30 1« THE GEAR OF THETA TAU Sn JWemortam W illiam A. Sm ith , Epsilon '34 ing work there, he received a very good W i I I i a m A. promotion and substantial wage increase plus t Smith,Epsilon ’34, a bonus. He died there very suddenly as the died in April, We of his class in the fraternity feel that 1935, at the Ben- we have, in Bill’s sudden and tragic death guet Mines in the at the outset of his career, lost not only a very loyal and likeable friend, but also a sort Philippines. He of ideal of what university men should be was also a mem­ like—and so seldom arc. He meant that much, and more, to us who lived our college life ber of Scabbard with him. and Blade and Phi Ph;. Bernard R. Bowron , Jr.

W m . V. H anks , Xi ’23 The editors feel that the picture of William V. Hanks, Xi ’23, died on Brother Smith given by extracts from May 20, 1935, in London, England, his friend’s letter is too sincere to give following an emergency operation. In in any but the original words. the fall of 1934 he and his family moved to England where he took the Dear Sirs* July U' 19” ' post of director of the Standard De­ The parents of Wiiliam A. Smith asked me to reply to your letter desiring informa­velopment Company’s foreign interests. tion for an obituary notice, as I have been Brother Hanks received his doctor’s a friend and fraternity brother of Bill's, anddegree in chemical engineering at Mas­ they felt I could tell you what you wanted sachusetts Institute of Technology, and I know that it is little better than trite to since then had been employed by the refer in glowing terms to a dead friend’s popularity. Nevertheless, it is in Bill's case Standard Oil Company in establishing so true that it has to be said regardless of a laboratory at Baton Rouge, Louis­ triteness. He was, literally, a favorite every­iana, and as assistant to the vice-presi­ where he was known. His circle of friends was really enormous. He had the most charming dent in New York, before being trans­ personality and disposition imaginable, andferred to England. his capacity for living his life right up to the Besides his parents he leaves his wife, hilt without musing a particle of its color and taste was enviable. In this respect I haveLouise Haley Hanks, and tw o children. never met anyone like Bill. He had a really glorious love of life and the complete living Ben ja m in J. C urtis , Alpha ’13 Being this sort of person. Bill naturally did The death of Brother Benjamin J. Curtis, Alpha ’13, in Chicago on May president of our house—Abracadabra, a very 19, 1934, took a successful and dis­ old local on this campus. I suppose no presi­ dent hasever done a better job than Bill— tinguished member from the frater- certainly no one has ever been better liked. Bill graduated with a B. S. in Mining, and About 20 years ago Brother Curtis shortly afterwards went to Manila as an employee of one of the mining companiesbecame an engineer for the Chicago at Baguio where he did so well that shortly Sanitary District. He made such a THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 17 splendid record in this work that whenorary. During his senior year he served the present Mayor Kelly succeededon the University of Virginia Honor Anton J. Cermak he asked Brother Committee as president of the Engi­ Curtis to take charge of the city’s neering School, and received his street system as commissioner of bachelor’s degree in civil engineering streets and electricity. Previously heat graduation. Jack accepted a posi­ had handled a large share of the CWA tion with the C. & O. Railroad Com­ supervisory work in Chicago in which pany as a member of a field party, 50,000 men were engaged. He worked staying with them until shortly be­ long hours organizing this huge force fore his death, September 24. Sur­ to the serious detriment of his health. vivors in his immediate family are W hen he became street commissioner his father, S. J. Doswelll and his sis­ the reorganization of the department ter, Mary Elizabeth. further exhausted him and was in part responsible for his later death. His wife, a daughter, Mary Emily, a brother, Tom, and his parents survive

E rnest T. Bros , Alpha '17 Ernest T . Bros, Alpha ’17, vice- president and general manager of the William Bros Boiler and M anufactur­ ing Co., died on February 21, 1935, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was attend­ ing a meeting of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association. Those of his immediate family remaining are his wife and two children; four brothers, Raymond, Alpha ’19, Ben, Chester, and Kenneth Bros; a sister, Mrs. W il­ Marion Mercer, Gamma ’30 liam Walsh, and his mother, Mrs. Marion Mercer, Gamma ’30, died William Bros. September 22, in , Mexico. After graduation, Brother Mercer Stonewall J ackson D oswell joined the staff of the Museum of Pi ’34 Science and Industry, Chicago, and Stonewall Jack­ was responsible for the design of the son Doswell, Pi Museum's full-sized operating, bitum­ inous coal mine, the present feature Ashland, Va., May exhibit. He also organized the dia­ 3, 1912. During mond exhibit presented by the Chicago his university daysJewelers Association both years of A he was on the Century of Progress. „ . ' Dean’s List of Brother Mercer was a member of Distinguished Stu­ Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Delta Psi, and dents, active in Theta Tau, Tau Beta president of the student association, Pi, and the Raven Society, local hon­A. I. M. E. The GEAR of THETA TAU OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FRATERNITY

n '21 and J. W. Howe,Omicron '24 EiUon 211 ENGINEERING HALL

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VOLUME XXV FALL, 193 J NUMBER I

WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK N ext we were impressed w ith the beautiful job of rushing reported by For the benefit of any who turn Sigma Chapter. Sigma maintains a first to this column for the front page house, and it is no secret that men who news let us announce that the Jamison can pay a fraternity house bill have Vawter or 12th Biennial Convention been few and far between during re­ of Theta Tau will be held in Kansas cent years. Despite the evidence of City, Mo., on December 28, 29 and returning prosperity, this situation is 30. The Kansas C ity Alumni Associ­ not markedly changed this year. Hence ation will be our hosts, assisted, no Sigma has tackled the hardest job of doubt, by most of the actives of Zeta them all and has delivered in con­ Chapter. Convention headquarters will vincing style. Better ask your con­ be in the Newbern Hotel. vention delegate to have a talk with We shall expect to see delegates from the Sigma representative. There must every active chapter and alternates be a system there. from many of them at this conclave. Beta Chapter gave us our final We are hopeful, too, that every alumni thrill. To read of the things those association may be represented there. men have done in the generous spirit Any others who can attend will be of fraternity loyalty gives one a most welcome. May we especially urge vicarious feeling of pleasure in their that you alumni in Kansas C ity sit in accomplishments. Between the lines on as many of the sessions as possible, one can sense the existence of a gener­ for "the more, the merrier.” ous enthusiasm in the chapter, and can feel the pride in their fraternity and ORCHIDS TO THESE loyalty to it which these men must In preparing this issue we were im­ pressed by three chapter letters which For a different reason in each case, could be profitably read by all chap­therefore, we commend these brothers ters. The Phi correspondent wrote for a job well done. in the best style we have seen in many a moon. Considering the uniformity there must necessarily be in chapter STUDY! STUDY! STUDY! reports and the apparent dearth of un­ Do you ever think, "What’s the use usual happenings in ordinary chapterof studying this dry subject? I’ll life, a report such as this one is refresh­ never use it.’’ If you don’t, you are ing. W e'd call it a bull's eye. different from us when we were crack­ THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 19 ing the books and burning the mid­ numbers of present day students are night oil (too infrequently, we findlosing the greatest asset of youth— now ). But seriously, the time will enthusiasm— and substituting for it an probably come when you will wish affectation of sophistication and in­ most fervently that you had dug infallible wisdom. If this is true, it is deepest and hardest on just the sub­ regrettable. The world knows very ject you may think yourself the least well that youth is not sophisticated concerned with today. We may studynor extremely wise. It takes years diligently on railroad curves, andand experience to bring these qualities, bridges in college, then wind up later and four flushers are always called spending most of our waking hours when they become too obvious. W hat worrying about machine design, boiler the world wants from young men is efficiencies, or hysteresis losses in trans­ enthusiasm, courage, determination, formers. honesty and courtesy. These are the A t no future time can knowledge qualities that underly success. The be absorbed as easily or to better ad­ superficial "wise guy" attitude never vantage than in these college years.pays big dividends— so why not "skip True enough, if later it becomes nec­ essary to bone up on a particular un­ familiar subject, you can do so. But T H E GEAR the effort required can unquestionably Since the last conventionT h e G ear be minimized if you have previouslyhas undergone considerable New Deal­ studied the fundamentals of the sub­ ing, more noticeable in some respects ject in good text-books and with to the editors than to the others. How­ sympathetic instructors ready and anx­ever we have tried, so far as seemed ious to clear up difficult points. practicable, to revamp the magazine A doubting Thomas may ask anyin line w ith the criticisms and sug­ practicing engineer what his experience gestions offered at the Chicago con­ has been. W e’ll venture the guess vention. To some, the innovations that seventy-five per cent of themhave been distasteful; to others, pleas­ are almost daily using knowledge theying. Comments received for the "Get sniffed at disdainfully in college asIt Off Your Chest” page have been something they would never need.most favorable and have encouraged And the other twenty-five per centus in the steps we have taken. If you could name several subjects they wish have any further criticisms, send us they had pondered over more seriouslya letter or mention it at the conven­ when the opportunity was offered. tion, for we are trying to makeT he G ear interesting to you.

SKIP IT Perhaps it's hardening of the arteries PUT YOURSELF ON THE SPOT and incipient baldness which prompts Last spring we published an ex­ these remarks, but we have felt this cellent address by Brother Borquist on coming on for some time and must Engineering Ethics. Subsequent cor­ unload. It seems to us that increasing respondence indicates that many Theta 20 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Taus appreciated Kis remarks and are could spare a part of his services. Was interested in this subject. W ith the he justified in accepting such work, kind permission of Professor D. W. and why? Mead of Wisconsin, we are presenting 4. A company which had employed some situations drawn from his rich in engineer to prepare plans and spe­ experience in which questions of cifications for certain work became ethics are involved.,f Decide what youdissatisfied and uncertain as to the would do were you confronted withsafety of the plans he had proposed. these situations. Ask the older men In the absence of the engineer, and in the profession whether or not they without advising him as to their in­ agree w ith you. tention, they called in another engi- 1. A young engineer applied for ieer, explaining in their letter that a position that was to last six months, they desired him to check up the plans and secured the appointment in activeand advise them as to their safety and competition w ith several others. A fter sufficiency. Should the second engi­ he had worked at the job for a month, neer accept or decline the service, and he was offered an opportunity to on what grounds? greatly better his salary in another 5. A manufacturer offered an city. As he was financially irrespon­engineer ia commission of ten per cent sible, he could easily leave w ithout fear on all the material that might be used of legal action. Should he accept or de­ •tract, provided his special cline the new offer, and why? brand of material was specified. If 2. Assume that an engineer were the enginieer knew or believed that an applicant for a certain position andthe material was equal to any similar were asked concerning the standingmaterial

get It O ff Your Chest Charlottesville, Va., Oct. 3 tempt to make it a branch of one strong national engineering society. only is t' We would welcome the opportunity to Iy and important join TH E AMERICAN ENGINEER­ Engineering Ethics”, ING SOCIETY which at present ex­ What's Your ists only in the minds of a few pro­ all Theta Taus, individually and gressive engineers. nily, must inaugurate and push some plan for the organization of all engineers, as you suggested. The best work in this line is being West Lafayette, Ind., Nov. I, 1935 done by the Engineers Council for ProfessionalD ear Brothers : Development—standardization—but this work should come after, not before, consolidation. happened to "The Sweetheart of Theta Tau” Theta Tau is certainly an ideal group to get behind this consolidation, for are not the attributes of true engineering ethics expressed ipy made? We enjoy readingThe to their highest degree in the oath, ritual, and Gear and find it very interesting. customs of Theta Tau? If Theta Tau should Thomas McCreadie , Scribe, Phi Chapter orary engineering fraternities and start this , it would encourage the engineering o combine, and after all, the final The "Sweetheart of Theta Tau” was action must be taken by these latter. It seems sacrificed to the late depression. The money which was to have financed us to do some real good for the engineering her publication was swept away in a Another thing—you will notice in our let­bank failure a few days after the ter a brief mention of the Engineering Read­motion passed at the IOth biennial ing Club. This is one of the signs of the agitation among the students here for a broader convention. A t that time the cost outlook for engineers. Suggested by a pro­ was estimated at $150. Individual fessor, this club was organized and is operated by students. The books we buy and read arccopies were to be sold at twenty-five entirely non-technical in content and includecents as we remember it. fiction of the present time. This is an activity that we believe should be taken up in all Schenectady, N. Y., Oct. I, 1931 other engineering schools, for it gives the stu- D ear Sirs: About a year ago I lost my badge and slide rules and tables long enough to find out Ivhat the rest of the world is reading and

Yours in H and T1 H. Stanley Shott Howard B. Edwards

A wide awake "gentleman from Vir­ Write Grand Treasurer Vawter. ginia”, w ith constructive ideas. O ur feeling is th a t consolidation of our Kansas City, Missouri, Oct. i D ear Brothers : profession must come from the young­ er men who have not yet become so loyal to one of our 90 engineering societies that they will block any at­ 22 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

[hat I may pass it on to members of our is $1.00; two years, $1.75; three years, want w^b'scribe^'l^underst'and'that^some 52.50; five years, $4.00; life subscrip- lf them now receive it on a life membership tion, $15.00. Those initiated after plan, inaugurated after I left school at K. U. 1930 pay a higher initiation fee than R W N ussek ^ormer initiates and receive T h e G ear as long as they keep us supplied Thank You. A year’s subscription w ith a mailing address.

IT SHO IS APPLIED HYDROLOGY A Virginia fraternity was training "Tell me, what’s a sure sign of a colored lad from the country in his duties as fraternity handy man. On answering the telephone the first day he brought the message: AFTER THE GAME WAS OVER "T w arnt nobody, Mr. Bird, jes’ a lady sayin’ 'I t’s long distance from First Gridiron Comber: Where’d all New York’ and I says, 'Yes, ma’am, these grapes ’round here come from? Second G. C.: Them’s not grapes — them’s eyeballs.

“My son, I wish you’d steer clear of wine, women and song when you According to one of the professors, get out of college." the fellow who gives in when he is "Okay, dad, I’ll probably be sick of wrong is a wise man, but he who gives ’em by that time, anyway.” in when he is right is married.

Every Chapter of Theta Tau Should Have BAIRD’S MANUAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE FRATERNITIES Edited by Francis W. Shepardson The Thirteenth Edition, just out, contains up-to-date and complete information on all fraternities and sororities. It is the first edition since 1930. The Best Available Reference Book on The Fraternity System Price, $4.00 Postpaid SEND YOUR ORDER TO THE EDITORS OF THE GEAR Letters From the Chapters

Alplta Actives and Alumni Are “Just Adile That”

JBeta JAoes Some Interior Decorating \Spirits’ Are N o t Alcoholic

THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Theta Is Superstitious THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 27

W onder WrIioi Those Iota Alen Inspected?

ROLL* IO Tau Beta Pi-

(he A. S. M. E.; Brother Fisher is vice dent of the A. I. E. E., and also dcct chairman of the St. Pat's Board. ES

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Lam ida Ldoves TLot Alidnigit O il 28 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

A Ju ^Sponsors Spread o f Culture o/lviators, “Flinders , and W kat !Slot A t Pi 30 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

Ton Is M ostly “Bolts" Earthquakes Fail To Rattle Psi Chapter THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

(Dmeya Is A t Strato Flight Base THE GEAR OF THETA TAU THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

JCansas Cily A. A. Lookin3 Fonsarcl ,0 C onvention

latest initiates 3 3 = 5 = ~ = = = = s»s" =5 = 5; -S-SsSI = = ? = *; ======5 ======51 = 35 ER F HEA TAU ETA TH OF GEAR E H T THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

William K. Carey, St. Albands, L. I., 99 Arthur E. Magee, Tucson, Ariz. N. Y. 100 Claude C Hampshire, Dunbar, Nebr. Wyndham E. Folds, Sioux Falls, S. D. 101 Richard Bennett. Pheonix, Ariz. James R. Richardson, Lead, S. D. 102 Harry H. Clayton. Santa Ana, Cali/. William J. Gremmels, Sioux Falls, S. D. 103 Howard L. Fink, Tucson, Ariz. Will A. Burleson, Lost Nation, Iowa 104 John R. Anderson, Hayden, Ariz. Jacob F. Davis, Buffalo Gap, S. D. 10! Thomas E. Hall. Litchfield Park, Ariz. Orvall E. Skog, Rapid City, S. D. 10(1 John D. Hiller, Tucson, Ariz. John A. Trantina, Wagner, S. D. 107 Elliott M. Cushing. Edwardsville, III. Ralph E. Atwater, Rapid City, S. D. 108 Howard J. ClitFord, Tucson, Ariz. Howard L. Hcald, Rapid City, S. D. James W. Brown, Elk Point, S. D. 110 Jack C. Pierce, Carlsbad, N. M. Robert V. Flint, Watertown, S. D. 111 Waldo D. Freeman, , Calif. Harold C. Foster, Newell, S. D. 112 Robert G. Morrison, Jr., , Daniel O'Keeffe, Pierre, S. D. Robert M. Hernan (hon.), Rapid City, 11) Charles E. Morrison, Jr., Great Neck, S. D. N. Y. 114 Edward P. Mathewson, Tucson, Ariz. James F. Burk, Aberdeen, S. D. Harold W. Buus, Lennox, S. D. OMEGA Robert P. Hunt, Rapid City, S. D. 08 John |. C. Dorwin, Gregory, S. D. James E. Lind, Vincennes, Ind. 69 George R. Swearingen II, Lakewood, Ohio Donald F. Matson, Burke, S. D.

Brother J. K. Anderson Knows H isL U tA fe U J. Robert Anderson, Delta ’14, presentation of industrial practice, former member of the Executive metallurgy, and theory. Brother An­ Council, Met. E., D. Sc., and Consult­ derson has also translated "Aluminum, ing Engineer in Cleveland, Ohio, hasIts Manufacture, Properties and Uses” made himself an authority on alumi­ by H . Sainte-Claire Deville, late pro­ num and is the author of several books fessor at the Sorbonne. Deville’s work on this metal. "The Metallurgy of laid the foundation of the modern Aluminum Alloys” is one of his out­ aluminum industry, and his account standing works, and the Sherwood of the early development is a classic Press of Cleveland recently announceddocument in the literature of alum­ two new books by Brother Anderson. inum metallurgy. Deville’s book, "Secondary Aluminum” is a treatise first published in France in 18 59, is on the handling and utilization ofnow available in English through scrap and wastes, giving a thorough Brother Anderson’s translation.

PUZZLED "What’s your son’s average in­ "How is your boy Josh getting come?” along at college?” "From two to two thirty A. M.” "H e has us puzzled,” said Farmer Corntossel. "H e’s a football player and also a female impersonator in the Editor: This line is devoted to dramatic club. W e don’t know wheth­ Philip. er to treat him like a roughneck or a Clerk: Philip who? lady.”— Fraternity Month. Editor: Philip Space. G u t In the Gruel W o rld ALPHA THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

EPSILON THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

ZETA THE GEAR OF THETA TAU THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 41

IOTA THE GEAR OF THETA TAU THE GEAR OF THETA TAU 43 44 THE GEAR OF THETA TAU

James Forchtner, ’3?, is now chief Safety Director for W. P. A. His office is at Aberdeen, South Dakota. J. C. Spencer, '3 3, upheld the good old cus- Richard Grow, '3 3, and Noel Gacstetter, tom of Omega men marrying Rapid City's '34, are employed by the Bell Telephone best. He tied the tight knot with Miss Company. They can give no permanent Connie Conlan shortly after graduation, address as both are being shifted about He is at present in the electrical department considerably. of the Homestake Mining Co. at Lead, South J. H. Shipke, '33, is employed in the Plans Dakota.

GAMMA BETA Wm. J. Ellenberger, '30 and '34, resides at 13 39 Parkwood Place N. W., Washing- ton. D. C

Employment JerviceSer RULES 1. LENGTH: Notices are limited to 40 words. 2. DEADLINE: Copy for the FallG ear must reach the editors by November I and for the Spring Gear by March 13. !■ CHARGE: A fee of 3% of the first month's salary will be charged those men who are successful in securing a position through the service. . REPEATED NOTICES: A notice will be published once unless a request to reprint ic is

M M— 3—B. S. in Metallurgy, Missouri School of Mines. Age 25. Employed in expediting casting and rolling mill practices to lower costs and produce higher quality non-ferrous alloys, particularly phosphor bronzes and brasses. Desires responsible position anywhere.

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CHARACTER & DEPENDABILITY RING TRUE

Nearly a quarter of a century of service and devotion to American College Fraternities is a distinction in which we take great pride. That we have demonstrated our integrity and proved our dependability is attested by the fact that today we serve with few exceptions all of the Greek letter fraternities and sororities as Sole Official Jeweler. Let us serve you even better this year. Send for your copy of THE 1936 BALFOUR BLUE BOOK Chritlmae Ciifr Suggcsnont in I wide price ringr

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