STEPHEN MAHONEY, Fireman. FRED. C. BOWMAN, Carpenter. EVAN R. PRITCHARD, Leader of Choir. All of these employes except the first two named were students, who depended upon the compensation received for these and other labors for their support. OFFICIAL CHANGES. During the session of the Legislature, Regents Gibson, Lamprey, and Chute were reappointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, for the term of three years, and Hon. D. Burt having been reappointed to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, continued to be regent ex officio. First Lieutenant John A. Lundeen, of the Fourth U. S. Artillery, whose appointment to the position of professor of Military Science and Tactics was referred to in the last report, entered upon the duties soon after the beginning of the year. Professor Lundeen has given valuable assistance in the departments of mathematics and astronomy. The Board are gratified to state that at the date of filing this report the total enrollment of students for the new college year has risen to above three hundred and sixty. The Board attribute this increase to the improved financial condition of the State, the result of the late bounteous harvest, and to the system of examiinations for admission held under authority of the Board during the past summer in several of the cities and larger villages of the state. COURSES OF STUDY. At the spring meeting of the Board, revised courses of study in the several departments of the University carefully prepared by the General Faculty, were, after suitable deliberation and scrutiny, adopted. The greater number of changes from the previous schedules were merely transpositions of subjects from term to term in order to distribute the work of the several professors and instructors more equally. The Board are of the opinion that under the new arrangement a large increase of students can be instructed without mater al increase of the teaching force. GRADUATES. At the Fifth Annual Commencement, held in June last, sixteen degrees were, upon recommendation of the Faculties, conferred upon the same number of persons; thirteen gentlemen and three ladies. This is the largest class that has yet been graduated. There is every reason to believe that this number will be equalled if not exceeded by succeeding classes. The whole number of graduates up to date is thirty seven; thirty-two gentlemen and five ladies. Upon the occasion referred to the Board were again placed under obligations to Major Gen. Sykes, U. S. A., for the use of his headquarters band, that of the 20th U. S. Infantry. The attendance upon the occasion was very large and the performances of the candidates were highly creditable to themselves and gratifying to the Board. ATTENDANCE. The attendance of students for the year (1876–7) ending in June last, is shown in the following tables: * In the calendar for 1876-7, one name was counted twice by mistake, making this total 304. BUILDINGS. The buildings of the University, although seemingly spacious, are at the present time completely occupied, and in several instances the class rooms are inadequate to the suitable accommodation of the classes. It can not be long before the space now occupied by the Assembly Hall, the Library and the Museum in the main building, must be given over to instruction, and those establishments transferred to other quarters. We respectfully and earnestly renew the recommendation of last year in regard to a drill hall and gymnasium, the need of which is more and more apparent and pressing. In the Agricultural College building a new class room has been fitted up for the departments of Physics, Chemistry, etc., the room formerly in use being too small to admit the classes. A small room for the storage of apparatus has also been partitioned off in the corridor of the upper story. The two buildings have been connected by a line of telegraph, and the Instructor in Physics, Mr. L. W. Peck, has lately constructed an experimental telephone. The plant house, first opened late last season, has been successfully managed, at a moderate expense, and has proved valuable as an aid to scientific instruction. LIBRARY. Including the books and pamphlets turned over by legislative authority from the State Library, the accessions of the year have been considerable. Unfortunately so many of the works of the lot referred to were damaged by loss of volumes belonging to sets, that its value was greatly diminished. Upon the urgent recommendation of the General Faculty, the Board ventured last year to raise the appropriation for the increase of the library to one thousand ($1,000) dollars, which sum has been judiciously expended. There is still a great need of books for some departments, especially the scientific and mechanical, and the Board sincerely regret that they have no present means for supplying this need. The report of the Librarian is referred to for details. GENEAL MUSEUM. In order to display the collections of the Geological Survey, and render them available for purposes of instruction and investigation, the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars was set apart some months ago to construct cases and fit up an additional room to contain them. This work will soon be completed and the specimens properly classified and displayed. The Board regret that, owing to delays incident to the mounting of the large Megatherium, it has been thought necessary to keep the present room closed for some months past. For a detailed statement of accessions in amount and value, reference is made to the report of the Curator, Prof. Winchell. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. The liberality of the last Legislature in appropriating the sum of eighteen thousand ($18,000) dollars for the enlargement of these grounds, has enabled the Board to purchase upon equitable terms the following property: 1. The land of Mr. G. D. Perkins, lying south of University avenue and Twelfth avenue southeast, for the sum of nine thousand ($9,000) dollars. 2. The equivalent of six lots in Thatcher's Addition of Mr. A. R. Camp, for the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars. 3. Sixteen lots in Thatcher's Addition, of various parties, for the sum of $ Proceedings for the condemnation of the remainder of the property necessary to complete the proposed enlargement, as shown on map in last report, page eleven (11,) are still pending but are held in abeyance for lack of ready funds to deposit in court, and thus to obtain indisputable title. It would be manifestly unfair to the owners of this property to exclude it from market in this manner indefinitely, and the Board sincerely trust that means will soon be afforded them of carrying out the policy fixed and inaugurated by the State of securing for this institution a campus commensurate with its needs, and isolated from unsuitable surroundings. It is highly important that this indispensable enlargement be consummated before the adjacent property shall have risen in value, and while the owners are willing to dispose of it upon reasonable terms. For the Campus, Drill Hall and Gymnasium and other objects hereafter mentioned, we would respectfully ask for an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. The operations of the survey have been confined in the main to the counties of Ramsey, Rice, Rock, and Pipestone. For detailed accounts of this work reference is made to the report of Professor Winchell. Upon invitation of the State Board of Health, Professors Winchell and Peckham were authorized, in June last, to accompany Dr. C. N. Hewitt, representing the Board of Health, to investigate the water supply of the Red River Valley. The views and conclusions of these officers upon this subject will be found in their respective reports. A number of minor investigations and reconnoissances conducted by Professor Winchell and his assistants, will be found in their proper connection. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM. The detailed report of Professor Lacy herewith transmitted, shows the nature and extent of the various changes and improvements as well as the experiments which have been prosecuted. The number of farmers sons in attendance seeking instruction in general science and letters, is as heretofore very large, while the number of students of scientific agriculture does not increase, and probably cannot materially be augmented until our agriculturists learn to diversify their products and cease to raise for market a single staple. The Board feel themselves indebted to Mr. Lacy for his energy and intelligence in exhibiting the productions of the experimental farm and the plant house, at the late State Fair. The exhibition appears to have been very generally appreciated by the public as in a high degree interesting and instructive. FINANCES. The resources of the University consist of lands granted by Congress for the endowment of the University and of those granted to the state under the law of July 2, 1862, donating lands for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The State Auditor reports the following sales of land during the fiscal year, with other statistics, as follows: Balance in State Treasury Dec. 1, 1876... Received during the year on account of Appropriation from State Institutions Fund..... $ 1,182 34 .$12,000 00 1,275 08 .$8,154 03 |