'I concluded that there may be nothing left to support'

摘要

I received a short note from-Al Nesbitt, E.M. '38, about the Mining Engineering Department and the future thereof, as well as a solicitation for support from another source sponsored by two students. Of course I support the continuation of a strong mining department at CSM. However about two years ago I came to the conclusion that there might be nothing to support. This was when there was a strong movement afoot to change the degree to "Excavation Engineer." This title with little alteration could be conferred on any civil, mechanical or electrical engineer, especially for employment in today's open pit mines. I was outraged by the suggestion. Not too many years ago I was told by a high executive in one of the major copper companies, big in open pit mining, that all they wanted was a good basic engineer and they would teach him all they wanted him to know about mining. For better or worse I think that the Colorado School of Mines no longer turns out the versatile E.M. of the late '30s and early '40s period. Perhaps there is no demand for him (and he was always a "him") and perhaps there is so much to know that it cannot be acquired in four years.