Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 139]

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Mechanical Department—-The communication of Prof. Peabody gives notice of a donation of a valuable steam pump from the Knowles steam pump works of Warren, Mass. The improvements recommended by Mr. Kimball are very desirable. The new ceiling of the shop has heretofore been brought to your notice, and only put off for want of funds. I hope it may be possible to make this improvement. Prof. Peabody should be authorized also to make the necessary expenditures from the appropriation for the Physical Laboratory. Library.— The Librarian desires permission to procure the binding of about 100 volumes of periodicals and other unbound books now in the library. I would also respectfully ask that the committee, consisting of the Regent and Librarian, be authorized to renew the subscriptions for periodicals, and to expend the balance of the library appropriation in the purchase of the books selected by the several departments, in due proportion, as in former purchases. Chemical Department.—Trot. Weber's report asks for certain purchases for the Chemical Laboratory. As these are the ordinary purchases* they do not need recommendation. He asks also for an appropriation to fit up furnace room. This seems needful and proper. Domestic Science.—M.iss Allen requests the expenditure of $30 for the purchase of a collection of food materials to illustrate her lectures on the Chemistry of Foods. I have not inquired into the proper cost of such a collection, but think its purchase should be authorized. Commercial Department.—Mr. Parsons desires an appropriation for the purchase of a set of books and a dating stamp for his practical business department, which is having good success. The amount required will be $25. The request seems reasonable, and is recommended. Natural History.—I respectfully ask your attention to the report of Prof. Taft in regard to the operations of Mr. Wild, our taxidermist. As the expenditure of the State appropriation for this museum has heretofore been entrusted to the committee named by Prof. Taft, it may be wise to leave the settlement with Mr. Wild and the expenditure of the balance of the appropriation to the same committee. As Mr. Wild's services will still be needed in mounting the specimens procured, and in teaching the class in taxidermy, and also, perhaps, in the preparatory classes in geometry, I recommend his employment at the salary named, $60 per month. I also recommend that the salary of Mr. Charles Pickard, who is on his third year of service with us, be raised to $60 per month. I wish also to call the attention of the Board to the circular prepared by Prof. Morrow for the Agricultural lectures to be given at the University the last week in January. The course given the last winter was so favorably received that we may reasonably expect a still larger success this winter. As has been the case in its entire career, the University is leaving no effort untried to promote the cause of true Agricultural learning. In this connection, I may mention the continued success of the valuable work of Dr. Prentiss in his lectures on Veterinary Science. His clinic is visited by animals brought from a great distance, for treatment in the presence of his class. Nearly fifty cases have been treated this term. A good class in Agricultural Chemistry has been taught by Mr. Scovill, whom you appointed instructor in that branch. Mr. Scovill has also been doing some valuable work in analysing the soils of the State. In the absence of Prof. Webb, the classes in Civil Engineering have been successfully taught by Mr. Baker and Mr. Clark. Prof. Peabody, who was finally employed by your committee to fill the place vacated by the resignation of Prof. Robinson, has been on service since the 10th of October, and is winning the confidence and respect of his classes in an unusual degree. The report of Prof. Dinwiddie will inform you of the progress and condition of the Military department. I recommend that the usual small appropriation be made for the expenses of this department, being the pay of the Adjutant and Armorer. The several other departments of instruction left unmentioned in this report, are doing their accustomed good work, which will show in the general result. I ought also to mention to the credit oi our students, that a young Apache Indian was brought here in September by Major Ingalls, of the Indian Territory, and his education has been undertaken by the body of students. They have raised money by contributions among themselves to pay his board, and several of them have volunteered to give him instruction to prepare him to enter the classes of the University. When he shall be ready to enter, I recommend that the usual fees be remitted in his case.

STATE APPEOPRIATIONS.

As the General Assembly will meet before the next session of this Board, it becomes necessary at this time to consider the appropriation to be asked for. Some of these are so established as regular appropriations that they do not need discussion. Such are the following: 1. For payment of taxes, per annum $3,000 Total for 2 years $6,000 2. Repair and care of buildings,, per annum. 2,500 " '* 5,000 3. For Chem. and Phys. Laboratories, per annum 1,000 '* " 2,000 4. For shops and shop practice, per annum 1,500 " * * 3,000 It is important also that the appropriation of $2,500 per annum be asked again for library and cabinets. The diminution in our annual income leaves us little or nothing for these important purposes, and the best interests of the University must suffer seriously by any failure to maintain in full efficiency these important instrumentalities of its work.