a proposed Moore School of Business Administration. Unfortunately, Mr. Moore died shortly
after he returned to New York City, and the idea was abandoned.
Alumni Appeal.
In the spring a brochure, "The Better Clarkson," announced an appeal for
$300,000, and asked each alumnus to contribute $260 by June 1, 1926. This appeal was based
on statistics which showed that Clarkson had quadrupled its plant value in 25 years, had
enrolled 819 students, and had awarded 307 degrees. This brochure also stated that it cost the
College $259 to educate each student, of which only $150 was received from fees. This left a
sum of $109 per man which had to be covered by interest from the current endowment of
$360,000; and the College's annual budget of $50,000 was exceeded frequently. One page listed
such pressing problems as old equipment needing to be replaced, professors having to keep part
of the library in their own rooms, the chapel being used as a classroom, students having no
dormitories, and the chemical "lab" having to be divided horizontally to create a second "lab"
on the resulting mezzanine floor of Old Main.
To confirm the value of a Clarkson education, it listed some of the projects that
Clarkson engineers had participated in. One was the construction of John D. Rockefeller's
Pocantico Hills Gardens. Another was the large hydroelectric plant near Chattanooga,
Tennessee, using reinforced concrete pneumatic caissons for the first time, and a third was the
construction of portable and stationary hydrogen gas plants for the government during the war.
Commencement.
Twenty-five BS degrees were awarded in June, along with one professional
degree. Bronze plaques honoring the memory of George Sweet and commemorating the 300
men from Clarkson who served their country in World War I were hung on the walls of Old
Main beside the memorial plaques to Frederica, Elizabeth, and Lavinia Clarkson.
Frederica Clarkson Prize.
By the terms of her will, Frederica Clarkson left money to establish
a senior prize in her name to be awarded each year to a deserving student. The qualifications for
the winner were the same as those for the Levinus Clarkson prize. (See 1906) Its first winner
was Kenneth Gardinier. (See Appendix A for the other recipients.)
Log Jam Lifesaver.
Paul Holcomb, Tech student, underwent a thrilling experience on Stark
Falls, one of the big falls of the Raquette River 20 miles from Potsdam. He fell from the bridge
just above the falls and was carried to the brink. Luckily for him, he was swept into a log jam
and finally was rescued after clinging to the log for several hours. He had fallen into the river
about 7:30 p.m. on a chilly May evening, and was not rescued until after 11.
At a party of young people at the Stark Hotel, Holcomb and several other young men
had been showing off by performing various dangerous stunts on the bridge. He and another
young man were walking on their hands across the iron bridgework, when he lost his balance
and fell into the river. Because the river was swift and filled with many eddies, he was unable
to swim ashore nor could any swimmer have made it to save him. Luckily, an immense rock
almost at the center of the edge of the falls had caused a large number of logs from that spring's
logging to become wedged at the brink. He clambered onto the jam and awaited rescue.
Word was sent to the Hotel and soon help arrived from drivers for the logging
companies. All kinds of vehicles appeared on the scene, shining their headlights on the
unfortunate victim. Systematically, the drivers rigged blocks and tackles, ropes and guys, and
after many futile
