The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-10-13
Middi.burv College.

Under The administration Of President
Hamlin great many improvements are
noticeable about this venerable institution.
Besides the new library in Painters Hall
the old Chapel has been transformed aud
greatly improved Among the changes
the follosing arc noted in \ recent copy OF
the Middlebury Register: The old library
room in the chapel is now used for the
natural history collections. All tho al
coyes have been furnished with convenient
shelves TO hold them. The shelves IN the
northwest alcoye are arranged TO hold
botanical specimens, ample room beng
provided for future collections. There
are not many mounted specimens now he.
longing TO the cabinet. but it rs hoped
that students and others will in time give
a complete sot Of the plants OF Vermont at
least, The remaining alcoves on the north
side are TO be occupied By the geological
specimens, arranged in due order, begin.
ming with specimens OF the lowest azoic
rocks on the'west and ending with the sur
face rocks on the eastern shelves. The
shelves IN the middle nlcoyes are TO CON
tain the Indian relies aud the minerals Of
Vermont. The alcoves on the south side
are toeo0tain the meteorological specimens.
These are now being arranged aud labeled
by Prof D. Il. Koon Of the Connecticut
State Agricultural School, at Mansfield, in
which institution he occupied the chair Of
Natural Sciences. He began his lsbors
last Monday, but can command but one
month OF time for the present, which is
but a fraction Of, what will be required for
the work. The cases containing the veri-
Gus classes chronological specimens occupy
the open floor between the alcoves. The
cases and drawers lave undergone all need
ed repairs A stairway leading down into
the old cabinet room has 'beeh built ON the
west side, between. the middle and south
ern alcoyes which is surrounded on two
sides by large glass cases with shelves.
Descending these stairs To the room be-
low we find q wonderful change Two par
tons put across. this floor from north to
south divide it into three rooms, OF which
the middle is about nine feet wide and the
remainder OF the floor is about equally
divided between the two end rooms.
These rooms are all devoted TO the classes
in chemistry and natural science, under
charge OF Prof. Seely. The west room is
fitted up for the lecture room. 1t is fur
nished with convenient seats with arm
desks for the students, large amply fit.
ted operating table for the lecturer, and
all otherneeded conveniences, including h
large glass chamber with ventilatnr for the
performance OF experiments with chemi-
calls evolving noxious or unpleasant gases
The narrow middle room Is used for the
storage OF chemicals and apparatus, aud it
is well furnished with shelves and
drawers, The east room is fitted up as q
students working room. There are four
tables With copper water tanks let into the
tops, aft shelves over them for placing
bottles and apparatus out Of the way, there
being room ct the different tables for ten
or dozen students. to work at the same
time. There ARE waste jars, . sink with
faucet supplied with water from . tank
above, which tank is filed from the els
tern south of the chapel by means OF a
force pump; ventilated chamber for dan.
gerous cases. and other conyepiences.,
The Philosophical room has series Of
shelves from floor to. ceiling and extending
nearly the whole lsnghth of the north side
which are protected by sliding glass doors.
Here is stored nearly all the old and new
apparatus. One Thousand dollars has been
expended for new apparatus. in the differ
ent departments of mechanics, acoustics,
electricity and magnetism. Most OF it has
been received. Itcompgises several splen'
did and costly pieces. The, SELECTION by
Prof Bfainerd,' has been very judlcious
and cannot fail TO greatly promote the in
terest of the students in these studies
Much credit is due Prof Brainerd for thu
pains he has taken in putting the old APP
paratus in clean and working order.
The two rear rooms on the first floor o.
the south division of Painter Hall are nov
being converted intoa reading room fol
the students, by taking away the. Partition
and building ono across the ball. TN
rear door Is to be replaced by two win
dows. . IT. will. make . convenient ans
comfortable room much more accessible
than the old reading room on the fourti
, floor of the chapel.
These, with the new library and gymna
stun, are some Of the changes which thu
reforming energy Of Pres. Hamlia ha
brought iabcnt, and they will commend
themselves rs emenently. iudicious ant
valuable TO every alumnns Of the college
What further changes there may be tn
future wit.tell; but all will join in tn
hope that fuads may he forthcoming tina
will enable the president to continue th
efforts which have hitherto been 80 excel
lently directed. There, il evident life ii
the old institution.