Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 132]

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REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT O F INSTRUCTION.

135

But the relief which the removal of the boiler will give will be scanty and temporary. The ideal thing to do would be to build new shops, in a different part of the University grounds, better lighted, better arranged, and so designed that they could be easily extended without disturbing the general plan. I t was a mistake to put the shops so far away from the main building, causing so much time to be wasted in travel to and fro. An alternative plan, and one not without merit, would be to secure the construction of a new drill hall upon the ground, separated from the shops, and to fill the upper story of the present shops with machinery. This may be deemed the more feasible plan. I t could easily beso modified as to afford a more convenient place for commencement exercises than we now possess. The school of mining engineering is gradually making its way. Another year will probably see all its classes in operation. The arrangement of the metallurgical laboratory is going forward, and the machinery getting into place. When the boiler house in the rear of the main building was designed, it was intended that the heating boiler under the chemical building should be removed thither, and that all the heat for both buildings should be generated at one point. The appropriation for this purpose was so cut down as. to prevent this plan from being fully carried into effect, and the design has not since been resumed. I have always been of the opinion that economy in fire service would result from such a change. Now it appears that if the boiler could be removed the room which it occupies would be particularly desirable for the construction of model furnaces for the reduction of ores, etc., purposes of great importance in the metallurgical courses. Full investigation of this subject, with proper estimates, will be presented in my next report. The testing laboratory is now in working order, and the first class, under Assistant Professor Talbot, Is receiving instruction in its operation. The work of the

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERS

remains under the immediate direction of Professors Shattuck^ Bicker, Baker, Comstock, and Woods, assisted by Professor Talbot, and instructors Kimball and Parker. Full details will be found in their several reports.

IN THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE

the only change during the year has been the opening of the electrical laboratory, and the instruction of a class in electrical measurements. There is more iron in the room than we could wish, and absolute determinations are not possible; yet it answers the purpose of instruction fairly well. One or more brick piers must be put in before the fall term begins.