DEPARTMENT REPORTS 33 



sale. When a package of flour bore this "mark of Cain" on its face, the 

 sale of the mixture as pure wheat flour was prevented. 



A BUREAU OF INFORMATION. 



If all the letters asking for information and specimens for analysis 

 that come to this department in a year were preserved and properly 

 mounted, there would be a volume of "Curiosities of Literature" outrank- 

 ing D' Israeli, and a cabinet of curiosities to awaken wonder. Many per- 

 sons do not realize how much they are asking in making such inquiries or 

 sending samples for analysis. A postal card came to me from Saugatuck 

 containing 143 questions. To answer all of them would require the work 

 of an expert for a whole month. Possibly the man felt he had squandered 

 a cent in buying the postal card to propound questions to which he re- 

 ceived no reply. Another man will send a handful of soil for analysis, 

 asking for report of the analysis by return mail, not realizing that such 

 analysis would require several days of careful work and would probably 

 be of no value to the public, but only gratify the curiosity of one person. 



Some persons seem to get the notion that the College chemist is here for 

 the most part to do these miscellaneous jobs, and they have the right to 

 demand such w^ork of him. They do not realize that the work of the Chem- 

 ical Department is- to teach the classes in chemistry, and to make investiga- 

 tions that Kill he of value to the public. 



In the future as in the past, letters asking for information, and speci- 

 mens for examination, will receive such attention as will not interfere, 

 with the regular duties of the department, but the claims of the College 

 on our time and effort in the line of instruction and experimental work 

 for the public will be first and supreme. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



Metf'orological observations have been carried on at the College since 

 April, 1863. The same were continued through 1898. This is the longest 

 systematic series of such observations ever made in this State. The value 

 of such observations increases with the number of years. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



R. C. KEDZIE, 

 Professor of Chemistry. 

 F. S. KEDZIE,' 

 Adjunct Professor of Chemistry. 

 Agricultural College, Mich., 

 June 30, 1899. 



REPORT OF THE MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



To the President: 



Sir — I have the honor of submitting the following report of the work 

 done in the Mechanical Department during the year ending June 30, 

 1890. 



The work in the class rooms, drawing rooms, etc., has been conducted 

 as follows: 



