We are fortunate in having a Professor and Assistants who have been educated in the department, and are familiar with its spirit and methods, to continue the work. I wish here to express, in behalf of the Corporation and Faculty, the indebtedness of the School to Professor Pickering, and to wish him every success in his new field of labor. The following are the appointments for 1877-78. Silas W. Holman, S. B., Assistant in Physics. W. Bugbee Smith, A. B., Assistant in Mechanical Engineering. Charles T. Main, S. B., Assistant in Mechanical Engineering. Frederick A. Emmerton, S. B., Assistant in the Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories. John Alden, S. B., Assistant in Quantitative Analysis. Albert H. Low, S. B., Assistant in Quantitative Analysis. John E. Hardman, S. B., Assistant in General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis. Henry K. Burrison, S. B., Assistant in Mechanical and Free Hand Drawing. George F. Underwood, Assistant in Architecture. Attendance and Graduation. The whole number in attendance during the year was 315, an increase of 16 over the previous year. For classification and other items, see page 21 of the Secretary's report. The following table shows the attendance of each year since the organization of the school, properly classified, together with the number of graduates for each year. The last two columns give the percentages of those classified as regulars during the first and second years who graduated. Many students enter the school and take the full course during the first year without intending to graduate, and others fail from various causes. The last column probably more nearly represents the true relation between those who have graduated, and those who entered with the intention of so doing. Year. Of 202, the whole number of graduates, 81 have graduated in the department of Civil Engineering, 34 in Mechanical Engineering, 41 in Mining Engineering, 7 in Building and Architecture, 21 in Chemistry, 1 in Metallurgy, 2 in Natural History, 4 in Physics, 9 in Science and Literature, and 2 in Philosophy. Abstracts of the theses by graduates of 1876-77 will be found on pp. 53-91. There have been no radical changes during the year in any of the departments which call for an extended statement. It will be sufficient briefly to note a few points, referring to the Catalogue and past Reports for full details concerning courses of study and appliances. In the department of Architecture there is a steady increase in the number of students who enter upon and continue the regular course to the end of the four years, and take the degree, This full course involves the theory of construction as well as of design, and it is noteworthy that in all the theses of graduates the engineering side of the problem selected for discussion is treated with care and completeness. There is a growing feeling among this class of students that any deficiencies on the 4th year. side of design can be more readily made up after graduation than on the side of construction. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when a large proportion of the students in this department will prefer, and be able, to take the full course. The Steam Laboratory of the department of Mechanical Engineering has been increased by the addition of a mercury column and other appliances, and is in excellent condition. The student has now the means of practically solving all the important questions upon the nature and use of steam which arise in his course of study, or practice. The Mining and Metallurgical Laboratories have been gradually increased in capacity and efficiency. Iron ores have at last been included in the course of practical metallurgy. The processes in ore-dressing have been made almost wholly automatic, and these laboratories are now able to handle ores in large quantities. Besides the education of our own students, they are beginning to be used by the public for the solution of problems in which New England, through the discovery of new mining localities, has a rapidly growing interest. It is but simple justice to refer to the untiring zeal, energy and skill with which Professor Richards has developed this element of his professional work, without in the least sacrificing or lowering the scientific side of the course. He has the satisfaction of knowing that no other mining school offers its students equal practical facilities. The Chemical department, with its increased space in the new building (see cut, page 98), is in a very satisfactory condition; but the main building would be much improved if the department had one of its own, better adapted to its wants; and it is my duty to repeat that it should not be permitted to remain in the present building any longer than can be avoided. The Women's Laboratory has been in all respects a gratifying success, due to the high attainments of its students, and to the time and attention which Professor Ordway has devoted to it, assisted by the zeal and able co-operation of Mrs. Professor Richards. The Department of Military Science and Tactics, in the charge of Lieut. Hubbell, continues to be entirely satisfactory to both Faculty and students. So far as we can learn, it is only in those colleges where this instruction has been made compulsory and efficient, that it has not been a source of annoyance and demoralization. It will be seen from Mr. Kastner's report that the students in the Lowell School of Design, through the kind aid of several loom manufacturers, have now the opportunity to learn how to weave their own designs. This will improve the chances of those who succeed, to secure desirable situations. The new School of Mechanic Arts. It was at first supposed that the general aims of this school could be fully accomplished, and that at the same time the course of studies would be a proper preparation for those wishing to enter the higher departments of the Institute. A brief experience, however, and further consideration, soon showed that the two aims were incompatible. A large proportion of the pupils, who enter this school, have no intention of pursuing an extended course of engineering studies, but desire in the shortest time to prepare for entering upon some industrial pursuit. It has been found best to keep the wants of such students solely in view, and not attempt to provide for the few who may wish to continue their studies. Its exact relation to the advanced work of the Institute may be learned from the report of the Faculty, to be found on page 24. The only aid which this school can render to those wishing to enter the regular courses of the Institute, will be the opportunity to make up special deficiencies in studies embraced in its course of instruction. The Mechanic Art Shops. The plan announced in my last report, of building up a series of shops in which to teach the students in the department of Mechanical Engineering and others the use of tools, and the fundamental steps in the art of construction, in accordance with the Russian system, as exhibited at Philadelphia in 1876, has been carried steadily forward; and I have now the pleasure of announcing its near completion. The proposed shops are: In wood, I, Carpentry and Joinery; II, Wood Turning; III, Pattern Making: in iron, I, Vise Work; II, Forging; III, Foundery Work (moulding and casting); IV, Machine Tool Work. A full report upon the course of instruction in each of these shops will be given hereafter. In my last report I had the pleasure of informing you that the Director of the Imperial Technical School of Moscow had been instructed by his Government to duplicate the exhibit of that school at Philadelphia, for the Institute of Technology. This very valuable gift has arrived in excellent order, of which the following is a summary. The catalogue which accompanies the collection will be printed in detail in connection with my report upon this system of instruction as carried out here, up to and including 1877–78. SUMMARY OF CATALOGUE. I. Collection of samples for the successive learning of wood turning. Part I. Exercise models of various channelings and other simple forms. (Ten samples.) Part II. Casting-mould models of machine details. (Thirty-six samples.) II. Collection of samples for the successive learning of joinery and pattern making. (Thirty-six samples.) III. Collection of patterns for iron castings. (Sixteen samples.) IV. Samples for the successive learning of blacksmiths' manipulations. (Seventy-seven samples.) V. Collection of samples for learning metal-turning. (Fiftythree samples.) VI. Models of drills and countersinks to six times the ordinary size. (Fourteen samples.) |