The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-24


the students giving about one-third OF
their whole time to these studies. The
work of these six natural sciences is
related, and in a large part the same
students are taught. and they use the
same books and employ similar appar-
atus. Many economies of time and
money would be effected by bringing
them together in single building. Yet
these departments occupy parts of no
less than seven buildings scattered ov-
er the whole campus.
All buildings In which these depart
ments have permanent quarters are
old; badly lighted. for the most part
unventilated, and in every case so un-
suitable that. except in the Easements.
instruments of precision can scarcely
be used in them. None of these build
ings can be put To modern laboratory
uses. Many of the rooms used for
this purpose are reached through mar
row, dark halls. and by way of rickety
old stairs The rooms are low. poorly
ventilated. i'll lighted and in case of
fire breaking out. the danger Of loss of
life. and of serious injury to many.
would be great Not only are the
rooms used for the sciences scattered
and untitled for modern laboratory use.
but they have long been over crowded
1t is no longer possible to find room
for the constantly increasing body Of
students. The discoveries of modern
science demand that new lines of work
be initiated. This is being done in
other universities. but ii is impossible
here under present conditions. Elk
perimental work in animal and plant
breeding is being carried on in other
universities, and it is of vast economic
Importance. 1t cannot be undertaken
here for II requires specially equipped
buildings. with appropriate appliances.
Researches by professors and advanced
students on these and other subjects
go far toward making the reputation
of a university and are often of great
economic Importance TO the state
Without adequate rooms and equip
ment they cannot be carried on.
Neighboring state universities are
not suffering for the proper housing
and equipment for the study OF the
natural sciences. Iowa state Univers-
ity. for instance, has natural science
buildings valued at $S45,OOO, Nebras-
ka's are valued at 100000. Ohio State
in addition to scattered quarters has
buildings worth s12s,OOO for these sci
ences and beside is asking her legis-
lature for an extra appropriation of
1901 900 for two new science buildings.
Illinois, exclusive of quarters for psy-
chology and forestry has science build
ings valued at s265,OOO. and is asking
for S65.OOO more for wing TO one of
the buildings. Minnesota's science
buildings are valued at $4,000 and
she as asking for $S5O,OOO additional
for another science building.
This for the state universities while
Chieago's buildings for this purpose
cost 1851, OOO Some of the high schools
normal schools and colleges of the
state have buildings for natural his
tory work better adapted to the re-
quirements of their students than has
the University of Michigan.
The conditions found at the Univers-
ity of Michigan are causing serious
loss of opportunity to the students OF
the several departments directly con-
cerned. and on the basis of conserva-
tive estimates, building costing not
less than s25O.OOO is absolutely and
Immediately necessary.