Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 17]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

of Professors Burrill and Morrow and some part of the salary of the Secretary be charged to the University account? I t seems so to me, and t h a t these changes may be made to the amount of a thousand dollars. 2. At the June meeting I referred to the vacancy in the professorship of mining engineering, as one which should be filled, but which then ought to wait until more pressing necessities were supplied. But those were supplied, and I think this now stands properly in turn demanding consideration. In spite of the fact t h a t this chair is vacant, the number of students who are asking for instruction in mining engineering is increasing, especially in the lower classes. I am sure t h a t if the right man can be secured—which I am well aware is no easy task—this department will in a few years grow from the present smali beginning, as the school of architecture has grown in years t h a t are past. 3. The chemical department is rapidly growing in importance, and its work is very varied and elaborate. I think another professor should be put upon this work. I am not sure t h a t I would advise the resuscitation of the old chair of agricultural chemistry, except for the slight advantage of a rather taking name. The really important line of division is between the inorganic and the organic chemistry, which latter portion includes the agricultural chemistry as one of its applications. If another man could take the inorganic work it would then be possible to realize a plan which I have long cherished as of much value, viz: To have two distinct courses of chemistry: one, as now, for the students who intend to take a full course and graduate from this school; and another, quite distinct in its scope and outlines, for a very large class of students from other schools who want an outline of this, as of other sciences, not so full and so elaborately minute as is demanded by one who intends to become a professional chemist, but fitted to supplement his studies in other directions. This, to my thinking, most desirable division has not yet been made, because t h e teaching force has not been adequate to the work of two or more classes, in the same collegiate years. The result has been to give to those who had but small relative time for chemistry, a fragment of a larger course rather than a special course fitted to their demands. The members of the Board who have been longest on duty will remember t h a t these ideas are not now for the first time presented. If they have not had the practical application which they seem to deserve, the reason is now apparent. I t has been suggested t h a t the mining engineer might also teach some of the chemistry, particularly assaying, metallurgy, etc. This he might, at least for a time, but this will not give the relief which I have indicated. 4. I believe it would be an advantageous arrangement to relieve Professor Burrill of the instruction in horticulture. This might readily be done by calling into the work the assistant horticulturist of the Experiment Station, as instructor in this subject, making a proper adjustment of the pay for this duty. Aside from the changes involved in these four suggestions, my. own observation, supplemented by diligent inquiry of the heads of the several departments, leads me to believe t h a t no other changes are now needed in either of the three technical schools. I t will be remembered t h a t the school of engineering, especially, received very considerable additions to its instructive force at the last meeting of the Board. These additions, if made, will more than fill up the quota of expenditures which can rightfully be claimed as required by the specific statements of the land grant and Morrill aid acts. Let us turn now and examine the needs of the literary side of the University. 5. The time seems to me a fitting opportunity for meeting the request once made by the State Teachers' Association, and urged by the most eminent educators throughout the state. I refer, as you have already divined, to the establishment of a chair of pedagogy—or, as I should pre-