Thayer School News
Several alumni have visited the school since my last letter, and at the time this is written we are looking forward to a considerable visitation at the time of the Cornell game here next week. At that time the overseers will hold their regular fall meeting.
The second regular meeting of the Am. Soc. C. E. student chapter was held early in November, a paper being presented at that time by the writer on the subject of soil mechanics and foundation engineering with slides of current bridge foundation work. The next meeting is planned for Thursday before the Cornell game with Otis E. Hovey presenting a paper on steel dams. The book which Mr. Hovey has recently completed, and which has been published on this subject is reviewed by Professor Fletcher elsewhere in this ALUMNI MAGAZINE.
Edson W. Keith '11 of the Central Aguirre Sugar Co. in Central Aguirre, Puerto Rico, visited the school with his son on November first. He was interested in the new equipment and set-up at the school and was looking for a Thayer School graduate to join the group in Central Aguirre, consisting at present of himself, Lewis Waterbury '13, Dick Mooney '28, and Tom White '29.
Commenting on a recent discussion in the press regarding the oldest graduates of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, an article in "Civil Engineering" says in part, "While Robert Fletcher is in ninthposition as to age, only four men precedehim in academic position. Dr. Fletcherjoined the society in 1874, which date giveshim senior rank among all members."
Professor Fletcher was interested to receive last month a letter from an engineer in Dehra, Northern India. This man is an expert in the treatment on timber by preservatives to promote the continued use of treated timber in bridge construction in a frontier country where steel bridges would be much too costly. He had read Professor Fletcher's and Mr. J. P. Snow's paper on "A History of the Development of Wooden Bridges," and wished advice regarding the use of preservatives, particularly in bowstring trusses. Professor Fletcher's reply set forth the common American practice of the past and present in some detail.
A fine letter from Jerry Updyke '30, froim Manila, P. 1., came to Dean Garran last summer. Jerry has been in Manila for about a year and a half with the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Co., and while there has been in design work for all kinds of structures from bridge piers and superstructure to apartment buildings. Our tardy congratulations to Jerry on his marriage on April 12 last to the former Miss Frey of Ambridge, Pa. Jerry is doing interesting work, and it is the hope of the writer that we may have more letters from him.
Ed Hill '35 recently wrote to Dean Garran from Amherst, Mass., where he holds the position of town engineer. His most recent work has been the supervision of a bituminous-macadam road construction through Amherst. He was surprised according to his letter to be called on to figure vertical curves for the road, and to find that he was able to do so. The next job 011 his list is the preliminary survey and cost estimate of a sewer project in North Amherst. His work sounds varied and interesting, and he says he's enthusiastic about it, which was apfwrent from his letter.
Phil Rising '3O dropped in for a visit at the school last month while he was on his vacation. Phil was much impressed by the changes in the school, but seemed to get the erroneous impression that the mechanization of certain laboratories made possible by such things as hydraulic testing machines, mechanical concrete mixers, at al., has decreased the amount of work done by the students. I finally convinced him that the students actually work harder, and that the faculty are the ones who profit from the mechanization. He left shaking his head in bewilderment.
BILL KENDALL MARRIED
Dean Garran recently received an announcement of the marriage of Lucile Woodson Hayworth to Bill Kendall '33, on October 31 in Bristol, Va.
A letter from Ed Brown '35 tells of work on a standpipe and pumping station job in Concord, N. H., and of his present position in the experimental sewage treatment plant on Deer Island in Boston Harbor, where he is engaged by the State Board of Health.
Don Phinney '34 keeps us posted about the Quabbin Reservoir progress, and says that he and cousin, Jack Macdonald '14, intend to come to Hanover for the Cornell game this week.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all you who are forbearing enough to read this column. Christmas presents in the form of news of yourselves and friends will be gratefully acknowledged. Until 1936, then.
