XX. 



THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL BUILDING. 



Following the stone walk, which leads past the 

 McGraw Building and White Hall, northward, the 

 visitor is brought to the Physical and Chemical build- 

 ing, a handsome structure of red sandstone, adorned 

 with medallions of distinguished scientists. The build- 

 ing was first opened for occupancy in September 1883, 

 and cost about $85,000. It is one hundred and forty 

 feet in length, with a width of fifty and seventy feet, 

 and is three stories high above a well-lighted basement. 

 To one who is interested in the sciences to which the 

 building is devoted, it presents attractions deserving of 

 careful study, of which no adequate description could 

 here be given, while to the ordinary observer the varied 

 apparatus by which the forces of nature are held in 

 submission within its walls seems little less than magical. 

 Entering by the main entrance, a door immediately to 

 the right gives access to a laboratory in the basement, 

 which contains besides a large collection of electrical 

 apparatus, a great dividing engine, the cost of which 

 was about $1800. It is one of the finest ever made, and 

 is capable of ruling perfect lines on glass 30,000 or 

 more to the inch, so fine as to be entirely invisible to 

 the naked eye. In the rear of the laboratory are reser- 

 voirs of oxygen, hydrogen compressed air, etc., con- 

 nected by pipes with various parts of the building. 



