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sized parts for machining, and the cre-
ation of unique, decorative effects are
a few of the ramifications of the oxy-
acetylene equipped machine. The ex-
hibition was arranged and sponsored
under the supervision of Mr. Dorrans.
  THE CARILLON TOWER RISES
  Although formal dedication of the
new carillon tower will not take place
until the 1935 homecoming, the corner
stone laying ceremony was held De-
cember 5, in order to permit continu-
ance of the construction.
  President Glenn Frank was the prin-
ciple speaker at the ceremony at which
the university band lent an impressive
air to the occasion with its stirring
music.
  The university radio station, WHA,
broadcast the program to its state
audience.
  When completed in February, 1935,
the tower, located at the Blackhawk
marker northwest of Bascom Hall, will
rise 85 feet and will be 20 feet square.
Graduating classes from 1917 to 1926
contributed $30,000 toward its erec-
tion. The Board of Regents recom-
mended the letting of construction
bids, when the federal public works
appropriation of $11,600 was added
to the fund. Future plans call for the
installation of clockwork to ring the
carillon summoning students to class.
     STATIONARY ENGINEERS
  Senior engineers descended upon the
University central heating station De-
cember 7, for the annual inspection of
the boilers and station equipment.
Each year, as the finale to the Steam
and Gas department's schedule of in-
struction, this twenty-four hour plant
test is run to determine the average
over-all efficiency of the plant under
conditions of actual commercial load.
  Test groups were organized and each
party recorded data for three and a
half hours, the succeeding group re-
lieving at the end of three hours, thus
providing for an overlapping of time
with no disruption in operations. The
men dispersed to the various parts of
the building according to their particu-
lar assignment. High upon the cat-
walk were the water and coal weighers,
while those analyzing flue gases were
to be found behind the huge boilers
seated before the Orsat apparatus.
Others scampered about the boilers
conducting pyrometry tests, inspecting
fire beds and reading the various
gages.
       CONGRATULATIONS
  Should Paul H. West, c'35, appear
somewhat fatigued and incoherent at
morning classes the reason may be laid
to his newly acquired extra-curricular
activity -walking the floor with his
young son, born on November 25. The
Engineer offers its congratulations to
Mr. and Mrs. West.
   TALLEST TALKING TOWER
   The highest self-supporting tower in
the United States used as an aerial has
been completed for the radio station
KOA at Denver. The tower stands
470 feet high and is a departure from
the customary type of radio antenna,
where copper wires were stretched in
"clothesline" fashion between two
towers. It will act as a vertical radi-
A Tower to the Clouds
ator of radio waves.     With the
''clothesline" antenna, a large part of
the electrical energy released flows di-
rectly upward and is lost in space,
whereas with the new type of radiator
installed at KOA a larger quantity of
the broadcast waves radiate parallel to
the earth's surface. As a result, engi-
neers expect a greater signal strength
to be produced at a given distance.
  Slender compared to others of its
kind, the tower is 35 feet square at
the base and tapers to a two-foot
square at the top. It will withstand
a wind of 125 miles an hour, and its
50-ton weight bears down equally,
when no wind is blowing, on four
huge porcelain "eggs" which insulate
it from the ground. This tower was
installed in conjunction with a new
50,000-watt transmitter.
        MORE ON DIESELS
  The topic of Diesel engines and
their latest application in modern en-
terprise never fails to provide a sub-
ject of great interest to the average
engineer. Mr. C. L. McMullen, e'09,
of the Caterpillar Tractor Company of
Peoria, Ill., entertained a representa-
tive audience Saturday, Dec. 8, with
several reels of movies on the Diesel
and its particular adaptability to the
heavy duty requirements of tractors.
Movies illustrating the principals, de-
sign and construction and the develop-
ment of the Diesel from Dr. Diesel's
original engine to the present type
were well received by those in at-
tendance. Discussion and open forum
followed the film presentation.
         FACULTY BRIEFS
  The importance of engineering in
the service of the state was the gen-
eral topic of discussion at the second
engineering research conference held
Tuesday, December 4, in the Mechani-
cal Engineering building. Special papers
were presented by the engineers in the
service of the state departments and
those affiliated with the college staff.
Prof. E. D. Ayres, on leave from the
engineering administration department
this semester, spoke on "Continuous
Inventory Methods for Public Utili-
ties." Mr. Warrick of the state board
of health presented "Public Engineer-
ing in Wisconsin," and Mr. Keown
of the industrial commission spoke on
"Special Engineering Work of the In-
dustrial Commission."
             * * * *
  Prof. G. L. Larson, chairman of the
Mechanical Engineering department has
been appointed to a position on the
state advisory committee of the in-
dustrial commission which will be en-
gaged in the revision of the heating
and ventilating code in effect since
1925.
             * * * *
  Prof. Warren J. Meade, formerly of
the Geology department, is enroute to
China to investigate water conserva-
tion and road communication after a
preliminary study in cooperation with
a group of European engineers repre-
senting the League of Nations.
             * * * *
  Prof. J. R. Price, electrical engineer-
ing department, has been performing
a series of tests on an AC double
speed, synchronous motor.
December, 1934
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