134 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



exposure, had taken on a neglected appearance, and suffered 

 a marked deterioration, and others were being injured by 

 defects in the original structure : therefore, money saved 

 from many sources has been expended in this direction. 



The north college dormitory, which had settled in the cen- 

 tre by the decay and " brooming " up of the post-pillars in 

 the basement, has been lifted to its original position, and 

 supported on granite blocks bedded down to hardpan. All 

 the wood-work on this and the other brick dormitory has 

 been thoroughly painted and sanded. The large laboratory- 

 chapel and drill-hall building, the dwelling-house until re- 

 centh^ occupied by Professor Graves, the boarding-house, the 

 Botanic Museum building, the plant-house, the old farm- 

 house occupied by the president, and the dwelling occupied 

 by Professor Maynard, have all been well painted ; and the 

 latter structure has been improved by erecting an addition, 

 which makes it much more commodious and convenient, 

 as well as increases its attractiveness. These special repairs 

 were made at a cost of nine hundred and fifty dollars. The 

 whole work has materially improved the appearance of the 

 estate, and contributed to the preservation of the property. 

 By natural wear, and perhaps somewhat by carelessness of 

 employees, the furniture of the kitchen and dining-room of 

 the boarding-house had become so broken and marred as to 

 be hardly serviceable, or suitable for use. This has been 

 replaced by new, at considerable expense ; the establishment 

 placed under the care of a competent matron who has suc- 

 ceeded in managing its affairs so as to preserve the college 

 property, and make the liouse homelike and pleasant for the 

 students. 



The water-supply of the estate has never been in sufficient 

 quantity, or of sufficient force, to bo of any practical utility 

 in the emergency of a fire, and recently, owing to the grad- 

 ual filling-up of the reservoir with wash, and the decay of its 

 log dam, has afforded a scant supply for ordinar}'- use some 

 months of the year ; and, the Amherst Water Company hav- 

 ing brought it from Pelham to the vicinity, a contract was 

 made for taking any quantity of it which was desired, for 

 one hundred and fifty dollars a year. An eight-inch pipe 

 has therefore been connected with their main and the reser- 

 voir pipe, which gives an unlimited quantity to every part of 



