Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 160]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

163

but t h a t every branch of work which has found a place in so many of these institutions as to be properly considered a distinctive feature of them or of their class, shall be represented in the proposed exhibit, and that, as far as possible, the exhibit shall show the institution actually engaged in some leading branches of its work. I t was thought t h a t such an exhibit would be not only the best method of showing what these institutions are doing for agricultural education, but of exhibiting their various associated lines of work, and would furnish the best possible illustrations of what the government is doing to assist the youth of the industrial classes in preparing themselves for "the several pursuits and professions in life." 2. That each institution should then be left free to make its own exhibit in its own way, in co-operation with its own state authorities or with the national authorities, as might be determined in each case repectively. The first feature of the plan is, accordingly, the only one with which this committee has to deal, and it is necessary to fix the ground plan a t the earliest possible day in order to secure the proper amount of space— neither too much nor too little. There has not yet been time to give much consideration to details, b u t it is proposed t h a t the exhibit shall include the essentials of A biological laboratory, A botanical and horticultural laboratory, A chemical laboratory, general and agricultural, An engineering laboratory, including civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, A physical laboratory, A work shop, showing the elementary operations in wood working and iron working, and A general department showing the range of work in language, literature, philosophy, etc. I n carrying out this plan it is not thought necessary to install a perfectly complete laboratory in every one of these departments. If otherwise feasible, it would be impossible to secure the requisite amount of space: but we hope to present all of them in due proportion. To t h a t end, it will be necessary to call upon separate institutions for special contributions of apparatus or equipment, but not in any case to such an extent as to impair the separate exhibit of t h a t institution in its own place. Besides the exhibit of apparatus and equipment for doing work, it is proposed to exhibit as fully as possible the actual products of work, and it is hoped t h a t many institutions will be able to furnish, as their contributions to the exhibit, specimens of working machinery or apparatus made by their own students. In addition to all this, an effort will be made to present in tabulated form the history and the aggregated results of the work of these institutions. The committee will be glad to receive at once any suggestions respecting either the general plan of the exhibit above outlined, or any point of detail, and all such suggestions will receive due consideration. I t would be especially gratifying if you would be kind enough to indicate the extent to which your institution may be relied upon for aid in making the proposed exhibit. Yours very truly,

GEO. W. ATHERTON.