Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 200]

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in some respects, surpasses other institutions. The apparatus of the College of Engineering consists of the two shops for wood-working and wire-working, with all their machinery, foundry and blacksmith shop partly under our control, the Physical Laboratory with its rich apparatus and the mechanical, mining, and architectural cabinets of models and and various apparatus, together with the sets of instruments for the practical field work of the Engineers. This College, like that of Agriculture, was especially named in the act of Congress, and experience proves its practical value to the great manufacturing interests of tiie State, to which it is destined to give important aid in their coming development.

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE.

The College of Natural Science includes, as at present organized, the School of Chemistry and that of Natural History. The School of Domestic Science has also been catalogued with this College, though assigned by the by-laws to the College of Literature and Science. The College has as its special instructors T. J. Burrill, Professor of Botany and Entomology; H. A. Weber, Professor of Chemistry; D. C. Taft, Professor of Geology and Zoology; Lou Allen Gregory, Professor of Domestic Science; C. G. Hayes, Assistant in Botany; M. A. Scovell, H. M. Beardsley and C. C. Barnes, Assistants in Chemical Laboratory; and G. A. Wild, Taxidermist. The apparatus of the College includes the several Chemical Laboratories and collections, the botanical and entomological collections, the Natural History Museum and Laboratory and a variety of valuable apparatus, both for investigation and illustration. The Chemical Laboratories are among the best on this Continent, and the different collections are steadily growing in value and importance. These Schools, besides furnishing trainings for special departments of scientific and professional labor, afford indispensable aid to all the other courses of instruction. The Natural History of the State, including as it does the study of its material wealth and resources and the conditions of its material progress and improvement, must always demand the serious attention of both Government and people. All the great civilized countries have from time to time appointed Commissioners for repeated scientific investigations of the resources of the soils, minerals and living growths, and such surveys will, doubtless, demand at an early day the enlightened attention of our own Legislature. In such surveys our College of Natural History will prove a valuable if not indispensable aid. To prepare for this, a more vigorous and active work should be instituted to secure as far as possible good specimens, well classified and properly named, in all the departments of Natural History and Geology, The work already done furnishes an excellent starting point for that yet to come. The steps now in progress to furnish the School of Domestic Science with illustrative food collections and other appropriate cabinets for the decorative and useful household arts, will give to this important department increased facilities and higher esteem.

COLLEGE O r LITEBATUEE AND SCIENCE.

This College embraces the two Schools of Ancient Language and Literature and of English and Modern Languages. The special instructors include the Regent, Professor of Philosophy and History; S. W. Shattuck, Professor of Mathematics; E. Snyder, Professor of Modern Languages; J. C. Pickard, Professor of English Language and Literature; J. D. Crawford, Professor of Ancient Languages, and C. E. Pickard, Assistant in English and Ancient Languages. The aim of this College was to meet that requirement of the law of Congress expressed in the words, "Without excluding other classical and scientific studies." It is designed also to give to students in technical courses that literary and scientific instruction, which shall make them better representatives and exponents of their several departments. It affords also to students fitting themselves for the teacher's work, or the service of the press and other literary employments, the instruction that they need, and gives opportunity for general education to that considerable body of students who are not yet prepared to select any special calling. It especially favors female students by affording them fields of education appropriate to their wants and tastes. The Schools of Military Science, of Commercial Science, and of Drawing and Design are special in character and more limited in their course and aim than the regular Schools mentioned as departments under the several Colleges. That of Military Science is required in order to give due efficiency and force to that instruction of Military Tactics required by the law of Congress. The question as to the value and effect of military education in Colleges has long been practically settled for us by the success which has attended this department. With few exceptions the students have met the requirements laid upon them, and the general effect upon their physical development and culture and the discipline and good order of the Institution has abundantly compensated for the small amount of time each student is required to give to the drill. The question of the change of the uniform for one less expensive and more suitable for home use is still agitated and ought to receive attention. The School of Design would not have been recommended, great as is its practical value and importance, but for the fact that the necessary instructors and apparatus are required also by other Schools. The Teacher of free-hand Drawing, required by the Schools of Architecture and Engineering, as also by the several Schools of Natural Science and Agriculture, has always been able to give the special instruction required in the School of Design. In the development of the finer forms of industry, this branch of instruction is of great importance, as is attested by the great manufacturing peoples of Europe, where Schools of Design are counted as the indispensable conditions of success. The School of Commerce, although it has less claim to be ranked among the Schools contemplated by the law, has done good service, affording valuable instruction to a large roportion of the students in the important art of accounts. It is true that the large numer of so-called Commercial Colleges scattered through the country diminishes somewhat the necessity of such a department here, but it is certainly desirable to maintain it so long as the funds will allow without encroaching on more important and legitimate work.

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