DEPARTMENT REPORTS, 57 



the fall term, 1907, the- enlarged facilities provided by the new engineer- 

 ing building will enable the mechanical department to carry on the work 

 in a very much more satisfactory way than it has been possible for the 

 past few years. 



In addition to the work of directing the department of mechanical 

 engineering, the writer was called upon to supervise the installing of 

 the heating apparatus for the new engineering building and also the in- 

 stalling of the automatic telephone system all of whicli tended to make 

 the year a very busy one for this department. 



The number of students in the department this year has been practi- 

 cally the same as for the last three years owing to the fact that we have 

 been unable to accommodate more than this number of students. The 

 number of engineering students in the year of 1903-4 was 363, the number 

 in the year 1904-5, 395, 1905-6, 393 and in 1906-7, 384. 



Respectfully submitted, 



A. R. SAWYER, 

 Acting Professor of Mechanical Engineering. 



Agricultural College, Mich, June 30, 1907. 



REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND MODERN 



LANGUAGES. 



President J. L. Snyder: 



My Dear Sir : — In my first report relative to the department of English 

 and Modern Languages, I wish to congratulate the college on the 

 efficiency of the department when it came under my care. Its organ- 

 ization was so satisfactory both as to courses and as to plans that I 

 have found occasion to make practically no changes of any kind dur- 

 ing the year, and for the coming year to arrange for only those made 

 necessary by the new courses in Agriculture and Domestic Science. 



I found a helpful and hard working corps of assistants. Each of 

 them throughout the year has made the welfare of the department his 

 first thought, with the result that I have only praise for their work. 



One who was especially useful to me in becoming acquainted with 

 the affairs of the department. Miss Bertha M. Wellman, has resigned, 

 her resignation taking effect with the close of the year. Her familiar- 

 ity with every detail was invaluable to me, as her efficient teaching 

 during her years in the department must have been to unnumbered 

 students. Every member of the department regrets her resignation, 

 and wishes her only sunshine in the duties which she assumes. 



The new courses of study reduce more than one-half the required 

 work in this department. This means that the required work must 

 be maintained at the highest degree of efficiency on the practical side, 

 and that the electives must be given a clearly evident bread earn- 

 ing as well as cultural value if students are to get the training nec- 

 essary to a well-rounded education. 



In one of his later reports my predecessor expressed his regrets that 

 large classes made impossible the written work necessary to satisfac- 

 tory results. Not only the papers of students, but also letters from 

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