It will be seen by this that in the literary department, which is by far the most costly of all departments, has a less proportion of the non-resident students than either of the other departments; and it will also be seen that the department of medicine, which with its present corps of professors is capable of giving instruction to almost any number that may seek admision, would cost the same if the 157 non-resident students who now pay to the University $5,745 were to leave; and the same may be said of the law department, which has a

greater proportion of non-resident students, and without whose fees-amounting to the sum of $5,590-the department would not be self-sustaining, or pay any more dividends toward the support of other departments of the University, as it has done for several years in the past. And right here we would state that not only are these professional departments nearly self-sustaining, but they contribute to the growth and strength of the other departments.

It will be seen by the following table that soon after the addition of each of these departments, the University in its other departments received an impetus in its growth which it had not received before such department was established. SUMMARY of Students in Attendance at the University of Michigan from its Organization to the Present Time.

By this we confidently believe that we have clearly shown that it would be a very poor policy to disestablish the professional departments, and your committee most earnestly believe that it would prove detrimental if not fatal to the best interests of the University.

THE MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEM OF EDUCATION,

As far as we are capable of judging, seem to be everything that could be expected within the means at the disposal of the authorities of the University; and your committee do most heartily approve of the course of the present adminis

tration in regard to the discipline in the University, the wholesome effects of which can but be seen in the orderly bearing of the students; and the change for the better in the order which prevails throughout the city is very perceptible to any one who has been acquainted with the city of Ann Arbor in the past.

THE DEPARTMENT OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND THE ARTS

Contains several courses of instruction, among which are the classical, the scientific, the Latin and scientific, engineering and mining engineering,-all of which are under able and experienced professors, who seem to be earnest in their several departments, and anxious to place this institution in the front ranks of the Universities of the world. By an act of the Legislature of 1875, a school of mines was organized and established in connection with the University. This was done in view of the vast mining interests of the State, especially of the Upper Peninsula, which are being so rapidly developed; and in consideration of the large burden of taxation which this portion of our people sustains, it seems to be just that their interests should receive this recognition in the University. It is to be hoped that at no distant day the students in the mining school may be able to spend their vacations in the mining regions, and there get a practical illustration of the theories which they are taught at the University. This would obviate the necessity of establishing a school of mines, as has been suggested by some, in the Upper Peninsula, and could be accomplished at a far less expense than it could be to maintain a mining school separate from the University. This school has at present 23 students, besides several in other courses, who have chosen practical courses of instruction in mining engineering or assaying. This is considered a very fair beginning for this school, considering the time that it has been organized; and your committee recommend the renewal of the appropriation, which was given two years ago, of the $8,500 for professorships and $2,500 each year for apparatus. We also recommend that the unexpended balance of $3,000 for professorships and $300 for apparatus, which was granted by the Legislature of 1875, may be drawn by the Board of Regents from the treasury and expended in this school in such manner as the Board of Regents may direct.

Until the present time

THE CHAIR OF GEOLOGY

has been filled by the professor of mining engineering, and makes more work than should be placed upon one professor. We therefore recommend the appropriation of $2,500 for professor of geology. There is not probably in this whole country an institution bearing the name of university or college but that is better equipped with philosophical apparatus than is this department of the University. There are many union schools, even, which are better furnished in this respect; and we most earnestly recommend the appropriation of $1,500 for the first year and $500 for the second year, for the equipment of a philosophical laboratory; also $2,500 for a professor of physics.

By an act of the Legislature of 1875

THE SCHOOL OF DENTAL SURGERY

was established in connection with the medical department of the University, and is considered by the friends of the University a great acquisition. It has this year an increase of 50 per cent. in students over the first year, which makes in all 33 students at present receiving instruction in this department.

This school, together with the homeopathic college, now occupy one of the buildings erected for a dwelling house on the University grounds, and for several years previous to 1875 used as a hospital. Owing to the present great success of both these schools, and the increase of the number of students, it will be impossible for both schools to occupy this building together any longer. They ask,-and we do not see how they can get along with less,-$4,000 for an addition to the present building. They ask $4,500 for professors' salaries, $1,000 for apparatus for the first year, and $500 for the second year, all of which your committee believe to be a reasonable demand, and willingly recommend the same.

THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,

which has been so long a source of annoyance to some and amusement to others, to anyone unacquainted with the warfare of the medical schools would seem in a flourishing condition, notwithstanding there has been a perceptible falling off in the number of students in the old department, while the homeopathic college, established by an act of the Legislature of 1875, has increased its numbers from 24 in the first year to 51 in the second (or more than 100 per cent), and that, too, against the opposition of a large number of the homeopathists themselves, and in face of the excited action of certain gentlemen of the regular school. While many of us were opposed to the admission of homeopathy to a place in the University, yet we must confess that the visions of conflicts and trouble which have been so plausibly pictured to us have, to a great extent, given away, and we find, prejudiced as we have been, that there may good reasons exist for keeping this school there, especially since the people who, through their Legislature, have said "hands off and fair play;" yet there is no disputing the fact that the position in which the regular medical school is placed is taken advantage of by rival schools of medicine, and, to as great an extent as possible, used to the injury of the medical department of the University, and ere long, if this warfare continues, it may work the complete ruin of this school of medicine. By an act of the Legislature of 1875

THE STATE HOSPITAL

was located at Ann Arbor, and, according to the terms of the act, in connection with the University, and not with any particular school of medicine; yet we understand that the pavilions which have been erected have been used exclusively by the old medical department of the University, by the action of certain of the authorities, and admission virtually denied to the Homeopathists. There is nothing in the terms of the act to authorize such a procedure, much less is there any justice in it; and arrangement should be made for equal rights in this institution. Still, it will be necessary to make a small appropriation for the equipment and maintenance of the hospital. We therefore recommend the sum of $1,000 for each year for this purpose.

Such an institution as

A PHYSIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

in the medical departments has not yet been known; and instruments, such as microscopes (for microscopical investigation) seem to be an indispensable necessity in such a department for scientific research; and we therefore recommend the sum of $1,000 for a physiological laboratory in connection with the medical departments.

THE LAW DEPARTMENT

is the only self-sustaining department in this institution; and that it is thus self-sustaining and independent of aid is no doubt in a great degree owing to the able and distinguished men to whom this interest has been intrusted. They ask no appropriations, but would be very thankful for the room now occupied by the general library, thus giving them complete possession of the whole law building. They have a very carefully selected library in connection with this department, consisting of about 6,000 volumes.

For the purposes of a

GENERAL LIBRARY

there should be a fire-proof building of sufficient capacity to supply the increasing demands made by the rapid growth of the University. A library is an indispensable part of a great University, and above all things else, should be provided for. Heretofore the State has made no appropriation for the library, its only support being derived by an annual appropriation of $1,500 from the general fund of the University. There is probably no library in the west, if there is in this country, that is brought into more constant use by the students than is the general library of the University; and under its present able and careful management, we believe that it demands very careful and earnest consideration at our hands. It now has some 24,000 volumes of books and 10,000 pamphlets; and owing to the scanty allowance upon which it has been compelled to exist, it does not by any means comprise what it should of the works of our national authors, and much less of foreign literature. Your committee would most earnestly recommend the appropriation, which the general librarian has asked, of $2,500 for each of the coming two years, for the purchase of books for the general library.

And in this connection this committee would submit for your consideration a proposal, made by Hon. Levi Bishop of Detroit, the substance of which proposition is this: That he will give to the University, for the purpose of constructing a fire-proof building for the general library, the sum of $45,000, provided that a life annuity shall be paid by the State on this sum of eight per cent during the lives of himself and present wife, and five per cent per annum after the death of either, provided further, that the State will grant for the same purpose, the sum of $15,000. This proposition is considered by those who have investigated the matter, to be equal to a gift of $20,000. Your committee will make no recommendation, but leave this matter for your careful consideration.

THE MUSEUM

is one of the most interesting features of the University to the people of the whole State, and at the same time is one of the most important, especially for the sciences. It consists of about 255,000 specimens, from all quarters of the known world. The Beal-Steere collection, which is one of the most valuable of its kind in this country, if not in the world,-containing many new and rare species, consists of 100,000 shells (land and sea), 3,000 birds, 8,000 insects, 1,000 corals, 100 mammals, 2,500 botanical specimens, 300 specimens of ancient pottery, 1,700 specimens in the general archeological collection, 1,000 minerals, and 2,000 specimens in spirit. This collection, almost invaluable as it is, can be purchased at the present time on the most reasonable terms, and your committee recommend that it receive your most favorable consideration.

Probably no department of the University, or anything connected with it, has done so much to win for it a reputation at home and abroad as has