Thus Mr. Willey, in his instructive article on the cut-glass industry in this number, tersely explains the distinction between glasses. It is rare that anything so recent in its origin attains the artistic distinction that has been accorded to cut glass. It is generally the antique wares, woods, and stones, that hold the admiration of the fastidious to the exclusion of all new applicants for honors. Several of these ancient arts long ago became extinct, and the world mourned as if nothing to take their place could ever be devised. It seemed for a long time that nothing new could ever again attain recognition in the artistic world. Therefore it is gratifying to note the éclat with which cut glass has entered the circle of the super-excellent. Cut-glass might be said to have become one of the classics. In ceramic or decorative art the cut-glass bowl occupies a place alongside the Delft vase, the Dresden coffee-pot, the Venetian Millefiori glass, the Wedgwood pitcher, the Chinese vase, the Majolica plate, the Japanese Satsuma bowl, the Royal Worcester plate, the Rookwood jar, the Henry II. flagon, and other products of artistic handicraft.

Still more gratifying is it to note the prominence the United States has attained in the manufacture of cut glass. At first there was a disposition to deny us recognition as producers of the genuine article in this as in other products, Americans having earned an unenviable reputation abroad as manufacturers only of imitations; but now our cut glass is going to the homes of European royalty in preference to their own products; and the imported cut glass which once met with such a market here-as we, too, distrusted the genuineness of our products has now sunk into disfavor, the American glass being everywhere given the preference.

Rapid Transit Problem NEW YORK'S great achievement in

successfully building a 35-mile subway extending from the down-town district to the remotest suburban districts,

points the way to a solution of the transit problem for all large cities. But it takes unity of interests, and a wonderful determination-to say nothing of moneyto do what New York has done. The subway with its equipment cost $75,000,000. It had to pass under the big skyscrapers and the heaviest buildings in the city. Much of it had to be cut through the solid rock, and treacherous and loose soil was encountered to add to the difficulties of the engineer. Changes had to be made in the city's sewer system. There were underground wires and innumerable other obstacles. For three years and seven months while the tunnel was building, the public had to put up with many inconveniences. But they waited patiently, and now New Yorkers can boast of the finest subway in the world. It will carry 100,000 passengers every hour. Not only does it provide for genuine rapid transit, but at every point guards the safety of passengers. New York is to be commended on the fact that the great object was successfully carried out without any political scandal, trading of franchises, or injury to other interests. The city, the capitalists, the contractors, the engineers, the workmen, and the public seemed to work harmoniously toward the one object of making the tunnel a success. And this they did.

It is doubtful if a better method than New York's, of avoiding congestion of traffic, can be devised. Chicago alone has a scheme that is being rapidly put into execution, which it believes is superior to the New York system. This is to carry the freight underground, and reserve the light and air of the streets for the people. But before Chicago's freight tunnel is completed, there is talk of building another subway on top of it for passengers, the freight tunnel being deep enough underground to permit of the two-story arrangement. It is Chicago's idea to do away with the heavy trucks and teams in the business center of the city, and to have the freight hauled by means of electric cars in the tunnels. Chicago's method solves the freight traffic problem; but that of passenger traffic remains a puzzle.

S

IBLEY COLLEGE of Mechanical Engineering and the Mechanic Arts was founded in 1870, and received its name from the late Hiram Sibley of Rochester, who gave a large amount of money toward its endowment and equipment. Mr. Hiram W. Sibley has since given very liberally toward later additions and improvements. The College is organized, as its name suggests, as a technical and professional college; and its aim is to prepare young men who expect to follow mechanical engineering as a profession. It is recognized, however, that the modern engineer's success is measured in a great degree by his general culture as well as by his professional ability; and students in Sibley College are urged to acquire as broad and liberal a training as possible before taking up the strictly technical work, and to obtain as much culture as possible from the Academic Department during their four college years.

The general entrance requirements to Sibley College include History, English, Plane and Solid Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, French, and German.

These re

quirements insure a liberal foundation on which to build a technical education.

The student of Sibley College is taught chemistry, pure mathematics, and physics in the corresponding departments of the general University. He is thus brought into close contact with the University teachers outside of his own college, and receives the benefit of the best instruction of these well-organized departments. He here receives the necessary mental training which fits him for the work in engineering mathematics which he receives in the College of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. Special attention is paid to the wants of engineering students in these various allied departments,

so that his energies are guided wisely in the direction of his own specialty.

Sibley College now includes seven departments namely, Mechanic Arts, Machine Design, Experimental Engineering, Steam Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, and Railway Mechanical Engineering.

The Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years are practically the same for all courses, including instruction in pure mathematics, physics, and chemistry, given, as already said, outside the College in corresponding departments of the University; and instruction in the Departments of Mechanic Arts, Machine Design, Experimental Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, which is prescribed for all students up to the Senior year. In the Senior year the student may specialize in either Electrical, Mechanical, Marine, or Railway Mechanical Engineering, taking, however, certain prescribed courses in the Departments of Experimental and Steam Engineering. The latter part of the Senior year is devoted to the preparation of a thesis, which each student must present for a degree. All of these departments are well equipped for the special work in teaching required of them, and this large equipment is being continually increased as the needs of teaching and the growth of the art require.

Department of Mechanic Arts

In this department, which represents the practical side of technical education, an effort is being made to impress on the student the great importance of a knowledge of shop processes and methods, not only as regards the actual working of metals, but also as regards general shop systems. The college shop of the past laid all stress on manual training; and

tion, the duplication of parts, cost, wage systems, and kindred subjects, without which the engineer can never attain his greatest usefulness.

Department of Machine Design Recognizing the great importance to the engineer of an ability to make and read good commercial drawings, the instruction in drawing is given under the direction of this department to all students, from the Freshman up to the Junior year, thus insuring a logical and constructive treatment of the subject and enabling the student to work under a welldefined system during his entire course.

Machine Design, and the application of the principles acquired by lectures and recitations to the design of more complicated machines. This course culminates in the Senior year with the complete design of a steam engine or other equally important machine. Throughout the whole course, an effort is made to bring before the student modern methods and systems of drafting-room practice.

Department of Steam Engineering

The work of this department begins with the Junior year, when a course in steam machinery is given. This course treats of the elementary theory of heat