DEPARTMENT REPORTS 79 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ELECTRICAL 



ENGINEERING. 



To the President: 



Siu — I have tlie honor to submit herewith the report for the Depart- 

 ment of Phvsics and Electrical Engineering for the year ending June 

 30, 1901. 



Through the generous action of the Board in creating the position of 

 permanent instructor, and ai»i)ointing thereto Mr. A. H. Taylor, who had 

 served for part of a year in the Department, it was made possible to 

 begin the differentiation of the w^ork for the students of the separate 

 courses; as well as to introduce laboratory methods in each course. The 

 results obtained, in increased interest and in putting the work upon a 

 firmer basis, both of usefulness and scholarship, have been very en- 

 couraging. The pressing need for larger facilities for laboratory work, 

 both in instruction and equipment, has been urged upon your notice in 

 another communication. For two terms of the year it has been necessary 

 to engage student aid in handling the large classes. This expedient, 

 always a doubtful one, should be made unnecessary by the increasing of 

 the teaching force. The creation of an assistantship in laboratory would 

 be a relief from this expedient. 



During the year a card index system for record keeping has been 

 ])urcliased, and the keeping of the record of all students enrolled in the 

 department placed upon a permanent foundation. There has been added 

 the usual complement of new apjiaratus to the extent of available funds. 

 The policy of purchasing a few good pieces, rather than nuuiy indifferent 

 ones, has been continued, even while recognizing that the scope of our 

 work is thereby unfortunately restricted, usually at the expense of the 

 student's time. 



Considerable ex])ense has been incurred in ])roviding adequate means 

 for protecting and preserving the apparatus already belonging to the 

 dejjartment. This end can only be economically and successfully at- 

 tained by removal to especially constructed (juarters, free from damp- 

 ness and corroding chemical fumes. 



The class-work conducted during the year has been carried on in 

 accordance with the following schedule: 



