save the college and merchants of the
town an immense amount of expense
incurred by the hauling of freight, coal
etc. Also, as there will be only a small
demand for a station where the present
one is, the passenger trains can be run
in to the college regularly, thus making
it very convenient for those going to
or via. Bellefonte, who now have to take
the hack via. Lemont. This is an ad
vance in the right direction, and when
completed, will be one of the most use
ful of our many improvements which
are now progressing rapidly.
AN old adage says that it is a poor
time to lock the stable after the
horse has been stolen.
Fortunately this does not exactly ap
ply to us in speaking of the recent fire
which broke out in the main college
building, for it was discovered just in
time to prevent its becoming of destruc
tive proportions. Some things however
ought to so present themselves to us,
that we will take precaution against all
possible danger by fire.
In the first place, all students and oc
cupants of the dormitories should exer
cise great care to properly extinguish
matches, cigars and all fire used by
them. It has occurred a few times, that
through carelessness in this way, we
have seen what might have been de
structive fires had they not been prompt
ly noticed and put out.
It has besn rriore than twp years since
THE FREE LANCE.
fire companies were organized among
the students ; and, as most of the pre-
sent body of students have entered since
that time, there are a very few men
among us now who are organized and
trained to act intelligently in case of an
immergency. A little attention given
to drill in this direction might be of
great benefit in the future.
Our fire escapes which are few in
number and poor ones at that, were
partly removed while improvements
were going on about the building, and
have not yet been repaired. A better
system of fire escapes would insure
greater security, and draw from visitors
less unhappy comment than the present
system does.
IT has been but a short time since the
sentiment was prevalent that our
library consisted of little more than the
name. Although this was false, we cer
tainly had nothing of which to boast.
But we are glad to note that such is not
the state of affairs at present. This li
brary has had large and frequent addi
tions of valuable works on Civil, Elec
trical and Mechanical Engineering, Ag
riculture and reference books of many
kinds. A very valuable set of works,
the gift of Andrew Carnegie—which has
been previously announced—is now at
hand. There are now 6500 volumes,
seemingly a small number if we do not
consider that they are largely modern
works on scientific subjects, such as sl