142 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURB. 



All but the Physics department will return to the new Engineering 

 Building some time this next 3'ear. It remains to be seen what perma- 

 nent quarters can be provided for this department. I do not know that 

 there is any occasion for my discussing the possibilities of the new loca- 

 tion at this time, since the department was separated on the first of July 

 from the Department of Electrical Engineering, and the physics work 

 will now be carried as a separate department. 



I wish at this time to put on record my appreciation of the way in 

 which all the members of the department have carried this extra burden 

 and made possible a minimum of disturbance in the work of the depart- 

 ment. 



The Department of Electrical Engineering also suffered the loss of its 

 quarters on March fifth, and has been housed temporarily in the For- 

 estry Building. ,As in the case of the Physics department, the work has 

 gone on with a minimum of interruption, the same ground being covered 

 during the spring term, as was usual. Considerable apparatus belong- 

 ing to the Electrical department, was saved. 



The department has for some time been considerably interested in 

 helping the farmer to make use of electricity to assist him in his daily 

 life. The two electives in physics, namely: 4a and 4c, were instituted 

 to make an opportunity to study the situation and participate in the 

 matter of providing electricity for the farmer. Now that the two de- 

 partments are separated and that work goes with the Physics depart- 

 ment, I cease to have active connection with that problem but expect to 

 continue activities along that line in some other way. 



The development of electric generators automatically controlled so as 

 to keep a storage battery charged on a automobile for operating the 

 electric starter, suggests that the same thing can be done on a little 

 larger scale for the farmer. In this case a varying speed drive, namely, 

 the windmill, can be used similarly to keep a battery charged. This has 

 been an attractive problem for many years but has not so far been satis- 

 factorily solved. 



Another matter that is worthy of consideration, is providing the peo- 

 ple throughout the State with texts which will enable them to acquaint 

 themselves with the handling of electricity. We have many calls for 

 such information from people who find it impossible to take a course in 

 college. I am inclined to think that bulletins could be written jiretty 

 much along the lines of self help books intended for mechanics who are 

 unable to take advantage of school facilities. I quite believe that short 

 course work could be done along this line to good advantage, either in 

 the winter or during the summer. 



Respectfully submitted, 



A. R. SAWYER, 

 Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering. 



East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1916. 



