100 years ago: Students celebrate Engineers’ Day with parade, picnic, baseball

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 16, 1913:

  • “Today was Engineers’ Day. And the feature of the day was the annual parade…. The floats were very good and the engineers, togged out in their regulation soft shirts, khaki trousers and boots added a touch of realism to the scene…. The two floats of the Civils portrayed the H. A. Rice Bridge Co. and the ‘Daddy’ Dalton Consulting Engineering Co. The Sanitary Engineers took a gentle fling at the Lawrence water in their float. A mimic reservoir of the Water Company was shown and some of the various animals that are sometimes said to inhabit it. The Sanitaries also showed some of the street cleaning apparatus of the city. The Mining Engineers had a very clever display, representing the miners in ’49…. The Electricals had a complete plant in operation. One portion showed an immense water wheel, generating the power in a large motor which was distributed by a system of wires and other electrical apparatus. The Chemicals displayed their laboratory as in times past, but the perfume which has characterized their float on previous occasions was missing this morning — much to the relief of the bystanders…. The second part of the Mechanicals display was one of the best parts of the parade. It consisted of a railway locomotive built around an automobile. The engine was complete in every respect, even to the tender trailing on behind and a smooty-faced engineer pulling away at the bell cord. The parade was very good and was the result of lots of hard work on the part of those in charge of the various floats. At noon the Engineers served lunch to all the students of their school at McCook Field. Immediately following their lunch the afternoon’s events began. The Mechanicals played the Civils a game of baseball and the Chemicals took on the Miners. In addition there was a large number of field events, including a tug-of-war and a boxing match.”
  • “The automobile owners in Lawrence are all guilty. It may be that one here and there does not violate the city ordinance regarding speed, but so far as reported they all do. The city has been lenient, but the privilege is being abused every hour in the day. The automobile owners in this city ought to see that the speed ordinance is enforced. The ordinance is a good one and unless there is an effort made to enforce it on the part of the automobile owners it will mean the arrest of several offenders.”
  • “At noon today, at the stable, in a mix-up with his team, Everet Hill of 1722 Kentucky street, was run over by his delivery wagon breaking his left leg above the ankle. Dr. Hopper placed the injured member in a cast. It will be several weeks before he can go back to work.”
  • “Hon. Sheffield Ingalls, Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, has accepted the invitation of the Kansas University Alumni Association to deliver the annual alumni address here during Commencement week…. The alumni address is always a feature of the Commencement exercises on the hill. Many of the old graduates return to Lawrence during this week for the reunions of the various classes. One day is especially designated for this purpose and on this day the annual alumni address is delivered by some former student of the school.”