Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1873 [PAGE 45]

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41 lishing the grade, setting slope stakes, determining the amount of earthwork, designing the buildings, bridges, culverts, etc. The drawings will include alignment, profile, plans and sections. The estimates will give the cost of ground, earth-work, structures, rolling stock, etc. ; expenses of operating the line, and estimated income. A memoir will also be required at the opening of the fourth year upon an allowed subject, and a project in engineering construction will be executed during the year. See also "Thesis," page 34.

APPARITUS.

The school is provided with both English and American instruments for the different branches of engineering practice, and for the astronomical work of higher surveying. It has numerous models for illustration of its specialties and access to the cabinets of the other schools. To facilitate the practice in trigonometrical and land surveying, it has a specially prepared area, in which the difficulties of plain surveying are presented to the beginner as he is able to meet them, and where he is taught practical methods of overcoming them. This area is subdivided by a large number of lines, the positions of which are accurately known, but not by the student. He is then required to determine the positions of the "corners" by various methods, and to calculate the enclosed areas. Other problems are given in determining inaccessible distances, passing obstacles, avoiding local attraction, etc., for which the ground is prepared. The number of divisions is so large that no two students need have the same problem, and so accurately laid out that the correctness of the student's work can at once be determined. Some expensive and accurate instruments are being added to the cabinet, which are being made by the instrument maker of the U. S. surveys. These are the first of a complete set of geodetic and astronomical instruments, which, with a few stations, will make possible practical instruction in geodesy. An astronomical observatory for meridian observations, and of suitable size for the practical exercises in astronomy, has been erected, and is in use. An equatorial telescope has also been mounted for the use of the students. A set of Smithsonian meteorological instruments has been procured and placed in positions for* making observations. Since January 1, 1873, these have been regularly made and recorded by students J. A. Ockerson and S. J. Eussel. A summary is published each month, and the whole series will be carefully preserved and continued for future publication.

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