DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 51 



EErORT OF THE DEPAKTAIEXT OF MATHEMATICS AND 



CIVIL EXOIXEERIXC;. 



President J. L. Shyder: 



Dear Sir — There are a large nnmber of considerations wliicli com- 

 l»ine to form a l)asis of reconnnendations conceriyng the needs and con- 

 duct of tills department. That all of these shall have their jjroper 

 measure in determininji i'niure policy, it is desirable to make note of 

 them when circumstances upon which they depend are in active. opera- 

 tion. Accordingly, I ha\e addressed several communications to you 

 during the year which have dealt with existing situations and I need 

 scarcely mention the subject matter Of those earlier re])orts. The fact 

 that most suggestions made with a view to future welfare take the 

 form of complaints is not to be wondered at. There is not time to 

 commend all things which work satisfactorily in our general plan. 

 Progress is built on discontent and the discovery of improper condi- 

 tions. 



If there is any element of satisfaction in the year's work just passed, 

 it arises from the reflection that we have been able to do so much not- 

 withstanding hindrances. We regret that there are any unsatisfactory 

 results, and I have no doubt that you share our regret. The unpleasant 

 augury for the future consists in the regularly increasing increment of 

 futility or of capable eifort that is barren of results. 



In many respects, the conditions for work have been chaotic. Com- 

 bined to produce such a situation were lack of class rooms, laboratories 

 and drafting rooms, poor ai-rangement and equipment of the rooms pro 

 vided, lack of facilities for storing and protecting our instruments, 

 inadequate provision for issuing and checking the return of equipment 

 and im])erfect condition of the instruments, caused not by their manner 

 of use, but by accumulations of dirt in a repository unfitted for the 

 purpose. These matters, as well as our need of a mechanicians' labora- 

 tory, more suitable office accommodations, and better janitor service, 

 have been discussed with vou during the rear. Fortunatelv for the 

 successful prosecution of de])artment work, a new engineering building 

 seems to promise some relief, and the solution of a number of difficult 

 problems connected with the situation. It is to be regretted that an- 

 other year must pass- before the promised relief can be realized; also 

 that more generous ])rovision of class room and laboratory s])ace has 

 not been made in the design of that building. A very small increase 

 in the demands upon us for technical instruction in civil engineering- 

 will result in over-taxing the (piarters provided by the time they are 

 available. 



Throughout the college vear, the staff of the dej)artment included the 

 following: Associate Professor A\'. Babcock and Histructors A. E. 

 Jones, C. Gundersen. A. K. Alger, S. C. Haddeu, (t. James and S. 

 Hinds. These gentlemen have satisfied all demands made u})on them, 

 and have all contributed to the rear's successful results. Mr. Hinds 



