DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 29 



guages, was filled by the election of Thomas C. Blaisdell, A. M., Ph. D., 

 of Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Blaisdell bids fair to prove a very worthy suc- 

 cessor to the distinguished men who have filled this position in the 

 past. 



A few days before the opening of the college year Professor Charles 

 L. Weil resigned his position as professor of mechanical engineering and 

 director of the mechanical laboratory. Professor Sawyer, in connection 

 with his duties as professor of physics and electrical engineering, very 

 kindly took charge temporarily. As it was difiicult to draw a good mala 

 away from his work during the college term, this an-angement continued 

 until the end of the year, at which time all the engineering work was or- 

 ganized into one department, and Professor George W. Bissell, of Ames 

 Iowa, was placed in charge as dean. Professor Bissel is a gi'aduate of 

 Cornell University and, in addition to considerable practical experience, 

 has filled very successfully the position of professor of mechanical engi- 

 neering in the Iowa State College for the past sixteen years. With all 

 the. engineering work centered in the new building; with large additions 

 to laboratory space and equipment, this department enters, we believe, 

 upon a new era of service. It is not the intention to take up new lines 

 of work, but rather to do a high grade of work mainly along those lines 

 which have been followed by this institution in the past. 



The college regTets to have lost the services of Professor Weil. The 

 Mechanical engineering department, of which he was in charge for thir- 

 teen years, developed and became prominent under his control. He 

 brought to his work a high degTee of scholarship, a keen insight into 

 practical affairs, and untiring energy. His ability as an engineer brought 

 to him so many opportunities for outside work that he finally felt called 

 upon to relinquish his connection with the college and give all his time 

 to professional work. 



The college also regrets to lose the services of Dr. G. A, Waterman, 

 who has been in charge of the veterinary department for the past ten 

 years. Dr. Waterman graduated from this college with the class of 

 '91. After completing a course in the Chicago Veterinary College, he 

 held the professorship of veterinary science in Storrs Agricultural Col- 

 lege, Connecticut, until he was called to the position in this institution. 

 Dr. Waterman was an enthusiastic, successful teacher, and is held in 

 the highest esteem hj all those who came under his instruction. He 

 also rendered very valuable service to the college outside of his de- 

 partment. He shirked no responsibility, however arduous and unpleas- 

 ant, and gave much time and energy to furthering the students' inter- 

 ests along religious and social lines. However, he did not wish to grow 

 old in the teaching profession, and having a strong desire to take up 

 the active duties of the farm, resigned his professorship to accept the 

 management of a valuable farm near Ann Arbor, which is owned and 

 controlled by a company of which he and his family are the principal 

 stockholders. 



CHANGES IN COURSE OF STUDY. 



For several years the faculty has had under consideration certain 

 changes in the agricultural and women's courses. It was felt that with 

 the rapidly broadening field of knowledge in agriculture and home eco- 

 nomics, a greater opportunity should be given for elective work during 



