Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 152]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

EEP0KTS OF DEPAETMENT OF

INSTEUCTION.

155

several freshmen have expressed their intentions to adopt the regular course. There have always been applications from students, outside of this school for admission to the classes. There being no suitable text books, and the lecture system alone having but limited application in my work, the methods of instruction by means of blue-print notes has been largely adopted. Our course of study is very near that of the leading mining schools, as is shown by the comparison given in Professor Richards's tables recently published.* A full statement of our aims and methods read before the American Institute of Mining Engineersf has elicited so much favorable comment that I feel warranted in saying that but little is needed to adjust our curriculum to the wants of such as will seek training in this schoolWhat we have already accomplished has been done .at much disadvantage, owing to the lack of appliances such as are in useelsewhere, but this difficulty is now largely overcome by the special grant from the legislature at its last session. The fitting up of the new laboratory in the basement of the chemical building is going on, and all the funds available this year will soon be expended. The selection and adjustment of the machinery purchased have been made with reference to that portion of the appropriation which will be available after next July (1888). Thus far we have obtained from Messrs. Fraser & Chalmers, of Chicago, one Dodge crusher, one set Cornish rolls, the necessary sizing screens, jigs, separator and slime table for complete dressing of a variety of ores of silver, lead, copper, zinc, etc., besides, a set of apparatus for chlorination and leaching for gold and silver ores. With this machinery we can handle consignments of" from 300 pounds to several tons of raw material, and thereby illustrate a considerable range of metallurgical methods. The additions proposed when the remainder of the appropriation shall become due, are of such a character as will afford us many new facilities, and I trust that we shall then be able to undertakework of benefit directly to the inhabitants of Illinois. There is no class as yet prepared to work in this laboratory, but there will be use for it next year. We shall be able to make some trial runs before the June meeting of the Board of Trustees, at which time some proposition with reference to a possible means of sustaining this department by public work may be forthcoming. There are now fifteen mining schools in the United States, ours being the thirteenth in order of establishment. Prof. Richards, places us among the ten "leading schools." Only five of these in 1886 exceeded the number of students now pursuing the course i n mining engineering here.

^Transactions American Institute Mining Engineers, vol. xv., 1887, p. 406. Presidents address, Bethlehem, Pa., meeting, May, 1886. •^Transaction, vol. xv., p. 589. Paper read at St. Louis meeting, October, 1886, by Theo. B. Cornstock.