The scope of functions delegated to the engineering department of a typical, progressive metal mine

Nearly every conscientious engineering student will subject his college courses to an occasional critical analysis in an effort to assure himself that the studies he is pursuing will be a valuable aid to him in future practice. Possibly this skeptical attitude is accentuated by published letters of graduate mining engineers who decry the courses of mining schools in general and clamor for more practicability and higher specialization. Pure science as it is taught may at times seem to be very remote from any possible practical application. Mathematics may appear to be highly abstract. It seems quite logical that the degree of enthusiasm with which a student will apply himself will be considerably dependent upon the conviction he acquires concerning the practical value of his studies. It is the purpose of this thesis, therefore, to offer concrete evidence that a thorough and fundamental training in pure and applied sciences, mathematics, English, and drawing is indispensable to the practicing mining engineer. To be sure, a cursory examination of a good mining textbook or handbook might acquaint any prospective engineer with the wide range of problems and tasks which are peculiar to that branch of service. Although these sources are available, they do not apparently completely convince the student engineer that all of his work is essential. However, just as a ship\u27s log reveals the course and events of a voyage, so also might a collection of field notes, drawings, reports, assignments, and problems selected from the log or a typical mining engineering department over a period of a few years acquaint the reader not only with the scope of functions delegated to that department, but also with the range of science and mathematics which is employed in the performance of engineering work --Introduction, pages 1-2