Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 200]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

PROCEEDINGS

OF

BOARD

OF

TRUSTEES.

203

I N C R E A S E O F S T U D E N T S I N T H E E N G I N E E R I N G AND O T H E R C O U R S E S , 1885 TO 1891. P E R CENT. GAIN P e r cent. Total OVER PREVIOUS YEARS. E E n g . s t u dn g .t s with en c o u r s e college. Eng. All of all specified specified c o u r s e s . college. O t h e r s

Year.

Total students

1885-1886 1886-1887 1887-1888 1888-1889 1889-1890 1890-1891

.

332 343 375 418 469 519

310 312 336 399 442 492

123 141

158 200 215 252

40 45 47 50 49 51

1 8 19 11 11 10

15 12 26 8 17 15.6

—9 4 12 14 6 5

Av. p e r cent, of i n c r e a s e .

The library now has, according to the accompanying report of the librarian, 21,216 volumes, besides a large number of pamphlets and papers. The room is a waiting and reading room for students—the only place of the kind we have. I t is impossible to keep the two things together in desired order and convenience. More space is required for both purposes. To keep abreast with the times special rooms are absolutely essential tor what is called seminary work in connection with the library work by students among books and documents, analogous to the laboratory investigations, of the science students. And above all the library should be in a fire-proof structure. ISTo argument can be needed upon this point. The large collections of many years, and we hope much larger additions in the years to come, ought not to be exposed to the dangers of fire to which they are now subject. If the University makes the efforts proposed for the World's Fair, there ought to be secured a very large amount of museum material. The promise of a suitable building for its safe keeping and adequate display will strongly influence donors as to the disposition they make of- their specimens. A proper museum structure ought to be provided, and by January 1, 1894, it should be filled with the richest collections of the world. This opportunity should not be let slip, at least through any want of activity on our part. Other buildings are desired. An assembly hall, capable of seating 3,000 persons, an astronomical observatory, a gymnasium, and other structures are really wanted; but it is the opinion of the Faculty t h a t the three named are the most essential for this time. The mechanical shop as at present arranged is decidedly unsatisfactory; especially is this the case with the parts devoted to blacksmithing and foundry work. The forges are very inadequately ventilated. The smoke and fumes from the fires are intolerable, unbearable by students and instructors and a nuisance to the rest of the shop. Improvement in some way is urgently demanded, and as soon as practicable. The instability of the upper floor upon which numerous machines and machine tools are placed, should also have attention. I beg t h a t this may be referred to a committee for such action as may be deemed wise. If the tremor and dirt would not too much interfere, it may be possible to provide a good draughting room in the shop building for the mechanical engineering students. This also is worthy of consideration at this time. If deemed best to use the room for this purpose, its immediate refitting would afford relief where it is decidedly needed. This is, however, only advised if it proves t h a t accommodations can not be secured in University Hall, after the natural history departments are vacated. I t has been somewhat roughly estimated t h a t $70 will refit this room.

E L E C T I V E STUDIES.

Though no formal vote has been taken upon the subject, I believe it is unanimously thought by members of the Faculty t h a t the courses of study can be much improved by the introduction of the elective system, instead