UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 150]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876
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150

Of this number, 20 have entered the College of Agriculture; 17 have entered the College of Engineering, in some of its several schools, and 6 have entered the schools in Chemistry or Natural History. The remainder entered the courses in Literature and Science, or hpecial courses of study. The whole number of students in attendance during this term is: Males 264 Females 68 . Total 832 There have been employed in the teaching force : The Regent and Professors . 12-13 Instructors in charge of departments '...'. 6-4 Assistants 8-8 Foremen in shops, farms and gardens 4-4 No especial changes have been made in the courses of instruction, except that the entrance upon service of Dr. Miles as Professor of Agriculture has given somethiug more of regularity to the instruction in that department, and the erection of the new veterinary building has enabled the students in veterinary science to do regular work in the direction of domestic animals. I believe the Board will be gratified with the changes introduced by Mr. Miles in the barns and in the general management I feel a new encouragement in my hopes for the final triumph of a n elevated and systematic agricultural education. . The enlargement of the capacity of the Chemical Laboratory was found to be none too soon to accommodate the incoming number of students in Laboratory practice. The number in attendance in the two Laboratories this term has been . The necessity for a new Laboratory is becoming constantly more pressing, and I would recommend that inquiries be instituted to lay before the next Legislature plans and estimates for such a Laboratory as the wants of the institution will Ultimately demand. The work in both shops has been carried on with a good degree of effectiveness. During most of the term there has been a full supply of lab >r in the Machine shop, part of the time crowding it to its full capacity. The other shop has also been able to furnish labor to most of those who have desired it. It is gratifying, certainly, that both the farms and the shops are paying their own way, b u t I trust that if at any time this shall not continue true of any of our practical departments, their value as means of instruction will secure for them whatever appropriations may be necessary to keep them in operation. Were they not needed for educational uses, you would not support them at all. . Having these uses they should receive such generous treatment as will give them the highest efficiency. To this end skillful and efficient foremen are absolutely essential and they must be had, even if their wages shall exceed all. the income of their work. I would insist .upon the closest economy, but I would insist, also, upon the highest efficiency.

THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.

In accordance with the vote of the Board, we prepared and sent to the Inter-State Exhibition of Chicago, a variety of articles from our shops, laboratories and class rooms, illustrating the work of the University. The space occupied in the Exhibition was about 12 by 19 feet. The exhibit attracted much*attention, and I believe that it was fully worth its cost as an effective advertisement.

THE CENTENNIAL.

The preparations authorized by you for the University exhibit at the coming Centennial at Philadelphia, are already in active progress. It having become necessary to send in our application for space, I made such application for an area of 20 by 40 or 800 square feet of floor space. It is understood that the University exhibit will be made a p-»rtof the educational exhibit of the State, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, actively aided by the leading educators of the State, is engaged in collecting funds and making arrangements for such an exhibition as shall be worthy the fourth State in the Union. Our Chemical Laboratory has already completed sixty out of the one hundred specimens of chemical manufactures proposed to be shown by them. In the machine shops one of Professor Robinson's thermometer graduating machines is in a good state of forwardness, and it is proposed to add to this twenty-four models of machines and mechanical devices. The Architectural Department will prepare a model of a grand stair-case, and several other models, including casts in plaster of capitals and other architectural ornaments, designed by the students and modeled by them in clay. The School of Architects is also preparing portfolios of drawings, designs, and plans of buildings, as also drawings of our own buildings, showing ground plans, perspectives and interiors. The School of Civil Engineers are preparing specimens of their work, including well executed drawings and plans, etc , in all departments of engineering work. Th^y are also busy preparing maps of our grounds and farms, besides a relief map or plan of the grounds about the new building. All the other departments are also busy in arranging to present portfolios of students' work, together, with specimens or drawings of whatever practical work is usually executed by students in that department. The Agricultural Department will exhibit, besides its specimens of agricultural products, a set of casts in plaster, illustrating ancient and modern plows and agricultural m i d l i n e s . We have also been asked by the State Commissioners to undertake to make an exhibit of the woods and minerals of the State and some progress has already been made in the collection required for this exhibition. Generous offers of gratuitous aid iu making these collections have been made by Gen. J. C. Smith, of the State Commission, Hon. Peter Dagey, Land Commissioner of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and Robert Douglas, th3 eminent nurseryman of Waukegun; and Mr. Walker, of Champaign, has generously offered a collection of valuable woods already polished, and other important assistance in preparing the exhibition. ,