Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-14
STATE COLLEGE.
Annual Report OF the President, Trustee
and other Officers,

and other Officers,
Hon. Abner Coburn, President Of the State
College of Agriculture at Orono, says in his re-
port that indicationsof the growing usefulness of
the college were never more fattering than during
the present year The change in college terms
from three to two, and the Encouragement Of
studies, have had good effect Since the report
OF last year So students have been admitted to the
college. New and important experiments have
been made on the farm. A substantial farm house
has been built the past season, the cost Of which
has exceeded the appropriation somewhat. The
entire cost, including cistern, furnace, grading,
&C., was 81, 03S.o5.
The department of Mechanical Engineering is
important, in its practical application, but is be-
hind the other departments Of the college. The
Russian system Of shop instruction is recommend
cd The system has been tried for years by the
Boston School of Technology, and has proved q
most effective aid to this branch of education.
1t is a fact acknowledged by farmers that the
farming lands of the State becoming less pro-
ductve every year how to arrest this process Of
deterioration is one of the most important eco
nomc questions of the time. In other countries
experimental stations for aiding agricultural
practice have been established. There is a rapid
ly growing sentiment among the farmers Of Maine
Tor such an agency. With the aid Of the extern
sive laboratory at the State College, the cost Of
establishing and maintaining station woald be
comparatively small.
President Allen. in his report, states that pre-
JUDGES have been removed from many minds
the aims and methods of the State College are
better Understood. The enlarged facilities are
giving u broader scope to the education Of work.
Ing men. lie does not favor the lowering Of the
standard Of admission TO the college. Since the
last report, at the commencement of the spiing
term, twelve new students joined the presest
Sophomore class; this autumn thirty five We're
admitted as Freshmen, two joined the Sophomore
class, one the Junior class, and eight have been
received as spec al students. making in all fifty
eight students that have been admitted during
the year. AT the commencement in June, the
degree Of Bachelor OF Science conferred on
eight graduates, Bachelor of Civil Engineering
on five, and Bachelor Of Mechanical Engineering
on four.
AT the session of the Board Of Agriculture at
Alfred the students from the college attended and
made reports the trials OF different fertilizers
which had been conducted by them under the d.
rection of the farm Superintendent. These in
vestigstons should be pursued further.
The various branches OF study spoken of in
detail. There Is need OF additional room to &C.
commodste the classes that are now in the college.
Pres Allen says; "Our recitation rooms are too
small, and there is need OF more apparatus. If q
shop for instruction III the mechanic arts were
erected the upper part Of the building might be
finished for drawing room, aud thus the press
ure for more space for the classes might be par
TALLY relieved. The ornamental trees in the
nursery ought to be transplanted at once to the
lawn, in accordance with the excellent plan for
ornamenting the college grounds prepared by
Prof. Hills and the house vacated by the farm
superintendent should be fitted up for the resi-
dence Of professor. Our library has received
a valuable donation Of books from the Bangor
Library during the past year Standard scientific
works should be added yearly as they are pub
li.hed, that both teachers and students may have
the best facilities for reference as well as general
reading
Prot. NJ. c, Fernad who has charge of the de-
partment OF Mathematics and Physics, reports
the recitations he has attended during the present
year. arc algebra, geometry, trigonometry, anal
ytics geometry, calculus, (difierentisl and inte-
grab and astronomy, and in these branches OF
study the usual degree OF advancement has been
made by the several classes. A small addition
hs, been made to the apparatus
w. A. Pike, Professor of Engineering reports
that he has given instruction in surveying aud in
civil and mechanical engineering. and of the op-
erations in that direction he reports quite fully
lie again calls the attention Of the Trustees and
the Legislature to the matter of workshops, as
necessary IN the making Of first-cls.s mechanics.
Tie Russian system is strongly recommended. as
having stood the test OF ten years trial Russia
and has been In successful operation for more
than year in this county. If the system is ill.,
troducsd at the state College, about Sc 900 will
be needed to fl up the shops and pay Tor instruc
ton for the year.
Prof. c. Il. Fernald has given instruction in
PHI seal geography, human anatomy, physiology
and hygene, by means of textbooks and lectures
in botany, by textbooks. lectures and excursions
In zoology, entomology and comparative anatomy,
by lectures, excursions and cabinet work in de-
terminative minsralogy, by lectures and labora-
tory practice; in geology, by lectures and excur-
sons.
The Chemical department has been under the
direction Of Alfred b. Aubert; the department of
Modern Languages and Military Instruction, in
charge Of Francis ii. Hills (mitary instruction
having been gwen two hours week J Drawing
and Field Work, by q. ii. Hamn. The Farm
Superintendent. }. X. Harrington, reports the re-
suits of useful and interesting experiments. and
the financial condition of the Institution is given
at length by the Treasurer. Receipts, SIS l57;
expenditures, Sl3, sos 49, Receipts on Congres-
sional endowment fund, 81. 1924; expenditures.
Sl2 &C.