Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 150]

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EEP0RTS OF DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION.

153

In the fall and winter terms of the junior year, civil engineering students pursue analytical mechanics and resistance of materials in common with other engineering students. These studies are in the immediate charge of Assistant Professor Talbot. The time of recitation is one hour daily. The instruction is wholly by textbooks. I n the spring term the students of all courses pursue descriptive astronomy, a text-book being the basis of the instruction; during clear weather the telescope is in constant use. The instruction is given by Mr. Boyer. In the winter and spring terms, the civil engineering students study bridges, in the first term giving attention to the calculation of strains, in the second to proportioning of parts and to designing. In the first term instruction is given by blue-print lectures, in the methods of determining the strains in the parts of the ordinary forms of bridge trusses due to the weight of the structure and the moving load, and also those due to the action of the wind. The student solves a number of problems. I n the spring term the main object is to instruct the student in the principles of economy of design, and to give him some idea of the market forms and qualities of the materials he is to use, and of the limitations imposed upon the design by the requirements and customs of the processes of manufacture. Each student makes a complete design of a standard form of bridge truss, works out all the strains, and designs each detail. There is absolutely no text-book on this subject, or even any part of it. The instruction is individual, aided by a small collection of actual sections, eye-bars, etc., and by a large collection of actual working drawings from several of the best bridge works in the country. The change made last year by extending the time of daily recitation of the second term of bridges, proved very satisfactory. I t not only gave an opportunity to do considerable more work in bridges but also gave the student practice in expressing his ideas in graphical language. Although the instruction is given under the nominal head of bridges, the principles have a far wider application. Blue-Print Lectures.—One of the serious difficulties which meets the instructor in technical subjects is the lack of suitable text-books. Higher technical education is comparatively new, and naturally there is a dearth of good text-books. The professor is under the necessity of supplying this need. I n some subjects this may be done by lectures, of which the student takes notes, and by indicated supplemental reading. The method is fairly successful only with mature students; and experience shows that it is not at all suited to our students and the class of subjects dealt with in the college of engineering. For several years the professors of this college have tried to meet this difficulty by writing out their lectures, and placing a copy in the hands of a student, ap-

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