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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1946)
A cross-section of the University steam tunnel system, one branch of which runs from the main heating' plant to the music building and the other from the plant to McArthur court. Coeds Go Underground To View Heating Tunnels By LAURA OLSON Driven by necessity—either to eat or to go to classes— hundreds of students trudge wearily up and down University or 13th streets each day. Very few of these Webfoots realize that beneath the ground upon which they walk are tunnels which originate in the heating plant. Usually between four and six feet underground, the “subterranean” excavations under mine a good portion of the Uni versity. Built by necessity, the tunnels ate fascinating places to explore. Without them the heating of the dorms and campus buildings would be seriously disrupted. Because of them, the steam lines remain intact and once every few years Emerald reporters, driven mad by their ferocious news-editors, investigate them. This investigation usually brings forth the haunting instincts of the explorers. Consequently Oregon students and faculty mem bers read of sometimes amazing incidents. Work started on the tunnels in January, 1935. The main govern ment agency aiding the University in building them was £he Works Progress Administration, better known as the W. P. A. They are designed to care for all campus services, except sewerage. The two main tunnels run south from the main heating plant lo cated on the northeast section of the campus. One terminates at the music building; the other at Mc Arthur court. These two are joined by connecting tunnels and ducts. They form a loop system. This means any service can be main tained from either direction and repairs are made easily. In case of excess flood waters the tunnels can serve as drainage. Fortunately the recent flood of the Willamette river was not high enough to reach the University. Part of the tunneling system was recently explored by three Univer sity co-eds, Kay Krull, Dorothy Thompson and Laura Olsen, who were guided by Mr. Frank White lock, operator of the heating plant for the past 21 years. The female trio and their guide started from the plant and made their way beneath ground through the longest tunnel, 1800 feet, which is the one burrowing beneath Uni versity street. This one is six feet high and four feet wide in most places. The steam iines are supported on trapeze hangers on the inside of the tunnel loops, while the other services are supported upon steel channel on the opposite side. This EUGENE TAXI SERVICE 2>e Jlutoe jatci Phone Eugene 3232 "Oregon sunshine" may ruin her formal. Give your gal a break and call a DeLuxe Taxi for the "Music Box" ball. COURTEOUS, DEPENDABLE DRIVERS ... GIVING YOU QUICK SERVICE tunnel is well-lighted. An unlighted tunnel branches off about half way through the main one and leads to John Straub hall. Besides being steam heated, all the cooking in John Straub is done by steam. Beneath McArthur court the sounds of basketball practice could be heal’d by the group. Retracing their steps they then made their way through the connecting tunnel which is beneath 13th street. This is unlighted and Mr. Whitelock’s flashlight was put to good use. Without it there was an excellent chance of losing the way. Turning north when they reach ed the second longest tunnel, they made their way to the tunnel which leads to Friendly hall. This is un lighted also and again the flash light was put to use. In this section many interesting articles were found; bit of black cloth, pieces of wood and others. No one knew what they were for, but it added mystery to the journey. The trip ended as the now weary four returned to home base, the Westminster to Present First Panel Discussion Westminster house will present its first winter term panel discus sion Sunday night at 6:30. Five University students will partici pate in a forum with “I Believe” as the subject. ~~ CAMPUS CALENDAR Today Winter rushing continues. Senior ball. Victory queen contestants may pick up their photos from Barbara Wells at the Sigma Kappa house today. Sunday Town and Gown. Alpha Omicron Pi founder’s day banquet. ■ Westminster panel discussion at 6:30. - Monday Heads of houses meeting at 4 p.m. in Gerlinger. Housemothers meeting at 1:15 in Gerlinger. Basketball—Oregon vs. Idaho here. Amphibian initiation at 7:30 in Gerlinger. Orides will meet at 6:30 in Ger linger. heating plant. The entire journey had consumed 45 minutes and as the three thanked Mr. Whitelock they discovered that his two daughters ' had graduated from Oregon recently. Perhaps that’s one reason he was so helpful. He knew Webfoots were curious. Deals Rock (Continued from page five) pleted so far this winter, the Cleveland Indians attempting to rebuild their squad, finally traded that much sought after slugger, Jeff Heath, to the Washington Senators for the speed l>oy of the majors, George Case. Cleveland has also traded Pitcher Jim Bagby to the Boston Red Sox for Pitcher Vic Johnson and cash. The only major deal to come out of the major-minor league meeting in Columbus, Ohio, December 10, was the sale of Johnny Humphries by the Chicago White Sox to the Phillies for $20,000. These above deals do not seem to show any great tendency on the part of club owners to part with their own players, but in the com ing two months business will begin to pick up. And that is no mere statement. Just watch. Infirmary Gives (Continued from page one) vaccine preventive assumes great er importance. If any living organizations de sire to do so, they may arrange for all those in their group who wish the vaccinations to go to the in firmary at one time for the treat ment. To make the Senior Ball a real thrill for her GIVE AN ORCHID One of the most beautiful of flowers for one of the most important occasions. Chase Gardens 58 E. Broadway Phone 4240 Co-op Ask Students To Sell Textbooks Due to the great increase in Uni versity enrollment, the Co-op is running out of textbooks and would like to have students having books they are not using bring them to the Co-op for cash pay ments, Mr. M. F. McClain, man ager, announced. . McClain stressed the importance of securing more books and asked that the students please help the new enrollees by turning in the books they are no longer using. In some cases more orders would take many weeks before they could be filled and in others, the books are no longer being pub lished. Some of the books needed most desperately are listed in the Co-op ad on another page in this morn ing's Emerald. Oregon&Ememld NIGHT STAFF Bemie Engel Lois Hebisen K Mary Ruth Springer Christine Christian Tondy George in Memorium Lee Moritz ADVERTISING STAFF Lay-out staff— Bobbie Fullmer, day manager Beryl Howard, circulation Mary Jane Harrison Bob Chapman Soliciting Staff Jean Jamison ' Dorothy Clausen George Pegg - ■<— START THE NEW YEAR WITH SURROUNDINGS WE .SUGGEST ♦ Mirrors ♦ Pictures ♦ Ash Trays ♦ Greeting Cards ♦ Stationery ♦ Waste Baskets ! All for you at QUACKENBUSH'S 160 E. Broadway "OVER 21" IRENE DUNNE "SHEPHERD OF THE OZARKS" JUDY CANOVA CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE "HIT THE HAY" • JUDY CANOVA "LIFE WITH BLONDIE" ARTHUR LAKE