Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 199]

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202

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

TESTING LABORATORY.

The testing laboratory for the college of engineering is still poorly equipped and should have before long large expenditures made for it. The most urgent wants just now are for appliances for use by Professor Talbot's students in hydraulics. He asks for—

Pump Water motors Water meters Several small pieces Specimens, etc , for t e s t s Total

ftfPR.nft t.n

$225 00 80 00 140 00 55 00 25 00 8525 00

DRAUGHTING ROOMS FOR MECHANICAL E N G I N E E R I N G .

The mechanical engineers are seriously in need of better draughting rooms. A petition to this effect is submitted with this from the members of the sophomore class. I t has been impossible to provide enough room of any kind for the students in these classes and the available space is not well suited to their work. University Hall was designed for classroom recitations and for small numbers in other work. For these purposes the plan is admirable and the building continues to be useful. But the methods of instruction have been much modified in certain subjects in ways that necessitate more room and different arrangements. The relief afforded by the new science building will remedy the present trouble only to a very limited extent. If possible some further provision should be made, before the opening of another year. According to the professor in charge, the room used for the classes in art and design is also a poor one for the best work in the department. Northern light is required. I t is quite possible t h a t some exchange can be made which will more satisfactorily meet the required conditions.

N E W BUILDINGS.

The general subject of new buildings has been earnestly considered by the Faculty, and after much discussion the following were pronounced to be urgently needed now:

A building for the college of e n g i n e e r i n g A library building A m u s e u m building ~. $75,000 to

$150,000 100,000 80.000

I t was voted that no order of precedence should be made among these three, but t h a t all are demanded at the present time for the essential uses of the institution. I give herewith a short table showing the increase of students by numbers and by percentages for the years 1885-86 to 1890-91, prepared by Professor Talbot from the catalogues. From this it will be seen t h a t the number of students in the engineering courses has considerably more than doubled during the Ave years shown. The increase for the last two years is 26 per cent. I t will be two years before a new building can be provided if the initial steps are taken now. According to this rate of increase there will be over 300 students to care for in these courses two years hence. The probability is much greater if adequate provisions are made for instruction. This ^cannot be done without a new building and equipment.