DEPAETMENT REPORTS. 157 



There being no funds for the erection of a boiler house, a building 3(5 by 30 

 feet, with a board roof and a lean-to room for the engineer, was erected at a 

 cost of $145. This cheap building is troublesome; it leaks in rainy 

 weather, and during cold, freezing weather it has been difficult to pre- 

 vent damage to our pumps and water pipes. Considering the value of the 

 machinery, it will be economy to construct, as soon as the funds can be pro- 

 vided, a building that will protect the steam works from rain and frost. 



Our furnaces and chimney were constructed with especial view to burning 

 wood, for which they are well adapted. During the past year, for some 

 reason, wood was not provided, and coal had to be used in its stead. For such 

 fuel our draft proved in a measure inadequate. If we are to continue to use 

 coal, the cost of a good-sized brick chimney will be more than saved in two 

 years over our present small smoke stack. The present outlook is not favor- 

 able for securing wood, and for that reason I would urge the construction of a 

 brick chimney as soon as funds can be secured for its erection. 



The buildings at present heated by steam are — 



Wells Hall, containing 201,000 cubic feet. 



Williams Hall, containing 147,420 cubic feet. 



Library and Museum, containing __ 105,600 cubic feet. 



Chemical Laboratory, containing 62,520 cubic feet. 



Total 517,140 



For heating these buildings we have ample boiler capacity, yet in extreme 

 cold weather it is all necessary. We have in our boilers 2,208 square feet of 

 heating surface, or one to each 234 cubic feet of space to be heated. The 

 College Hall, containing 165,000 cubic feet of space, should be heated by 

 steam. To do so will require one additional boiler the same size of each of 

 the four we now have. 



FIRE PROTECTION. 



I desire to call attention to the fact that we are without efficient means of 

 fire protection. We have a Worthington duplex pump, with a capacity of 

 three barrels per minute, and we have from this pump a two and one-half 

 inch water pipe to Williams Hall and to the Library and Museum. We have 

 about 100 feet of small hose, but none of any especial value in case of a fire. 

 Up to the fall of 1881 we had no pump except a small one for feeding the 

 boilers. We were enabled to purchase the present pump with the savings 

 affected by the construction of certain works by myself, assisted by students. 

 We should have pipes leading from this pump to various portions of the 

 grounds, and especially to the various barns. The barns being nearly in one 

 group, surrounded and filled with inflammable mattar, and open without restric- 

 tion to the public, represent what would probably be considered a maximum 

 fire risk. Under the present conditions, were fire to get started in any one, 

 the group including cattle barn, horse barn, sheep barn, and tool house, with 

 contents, would probably be entirely destroyed. 



The cost of a complete system of water works, including a large steam 

 pump, large tank in tower of Williams Hall, and pipe of suitable size laid 

 near each building, hydrants and suitable hose and carts, would be covered by 

 $6,000, or about two per cent of the property protected. 



