two hundred and forty-three illustrations, and twenty-two fullpage plates. The intention in preparing it was to bring together sufficient and appropriate material to meet the needs of the regular first-year students, to permit of specialization when desirable for a particular professional Course, and to take care of students required to make up deficiencies in Mechanical Drawing. As regards the regular work, the detailed treatment of the various processes and topics which the book offers has in a measure compensated for a necessarily somewhat deficient individual instruction.

The work in Descriptive Geometry has progressed favorably. Lectures are given as usual in Huntington Hall. For this work a series of some sixty to seventy wall charts, four feet by five feet, will have been prepared by the end of this year. The lectures are supplemented by printed notes and cuts. During the past summer there was prepared and printed a set of study plates in Descriptive Geometry containing some twenty-five sheets of data.

An important step was taken this year in the forming of a class in Descriptive Geometry for students entering with advanced standing. Heretofore these men have been obliged to make up deficiencies as best they could, often beginning with the second-year class at a point two-thirds through the subject and making up the preceding portion by tutoring or attendance in the first-year class. The result has been for obvious reasons generally unsatisfactory. In the special class, held daily, except Saturday, after four o'clock, the subject is taken up at the beginning and the whole ground is quickly covered in the first term. Some twenty-eight students joined the class. Attendance and interest in the work have been thoroughly satisfactory, and it is expected that there will be a marked proportional increase in the number passing the subject.

The special difficulty which the first-year class has in mastering Descriptive Geometry should again be pointed out. This difficulty appears to be due to lack of imagination on the part of the student, coupled with insufficient time for the subject

and too little individual teaching. The subject is taught from the standpoint of its application in engineering and architectural drawing. The methods followed in the lectures are those believed to be most readily assimilated by the beginner, and correspond in the main to those adopted in. the French schools. The subject, however, is at best difficult for the beginner. The student's lack of imagination, the kind necessary to visualize the solution of geometrical problems in space,-is probably due to the entire absence of preparatory training calculated to develop this power. Perhaps in no other subject is the want of preparation so keenly felt. The remedy appears to be an entrance examination in Projections, which might also include a requirement in elementary instrumental execution. As bearing upon such a requirement may be quoted a recent remark of the State Agent of Drawing: "When the Institute requires an entrance examination in drawing, the demand will undoubtedly be met." As to individual instruction, there should be enough teachers to make it possible to divide the class into sections of not more than twenty students each without giving too many sections to an Instructor. The number of teachers at present is nearly twenty per cent. less than it was two years ago. The smaller class this year makes the loss less noticeable, but much which might be accomplished with a larger teaching force must be left undone. This is particularly the case with the written criticism which should be placed on all drawings and exercises. It is desirable that a way be found to lighten the work of the teachers, and to make the compensation such as will enhance their interest in the Department as well as make it possible to secure the best men to fill vacancies. On the whole it may be said that results are as good as can fairly be expected under present conditions of equipment and teaching force.

Attention may again be called to the poor equipment of the Department. Huntington Hall is for several reasons not suitable for the lectures. The main drawing-room, which is used by some three or four hundred students, including all

sections, is the worst lighted of any drawing-room in the Institute. Many of the drawing tables are of an inconvenient, obsolete type. Cases are needed in which to place the drawing models now scattered about the room. More models and of a better type are needed, and also a blue print outfit. A large number of examples of drawing to be placed on the walls await framing. An improved equipment would materially assist the teachers in the performance of their work.

During the past year Messrs. Eugene S. Foljambe and J. Russell Putnam have resigned. Their places are filled by Messrs. Stephen A. Breed, S.B. '94, and Samuel E. Gideon. The latter is engaged for half time.

CHARLES L. ADAMS.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANIC ARTS.

The total number of students receiving instruction in the Mechanical Laboratories is three hundred and thirty-one. Some of these attend in more than one class, the numbers attending in the several subjects of the first term being as follows:

Students taking work in two or more classes, and counted

more than once

Total number of students

92

43

91

46

68

6

346

15 331

The total number of students attending last year was three hundred and fourteen. Many students have been excused from attending the Carpentry, Wood Turning, and Forging classes, and a smaller number from Pattern Work, on account of satisfactory work done in preparatory manual training schools.

The proportional number of excuses granted in these earlier subjects is increasing from year to year, but very few students come sufficiently well prepared to permit excuse in the later subjects of Chipping and Filing and Machine Tool Work.

The attendance in the Summer School was forty-eight, a number which shows a falling off of twenty-two as compared with the maximum attendance reached last year. The numbers in the several classes were

The proportionally large attendance in Machine Tool Work will probably continue, on account of the tendency of thirdyear students of Courses II. and XIII. to anticipate the Mechanic Arts of the fourth year, and thus to secure free time for thesis or other departmental work.

No additions have been made to the equipment during the past year. To maintain the present high standard of work fourteen engine-lathes and a planer purchased in 1876 should be replaced by new and modern machines. A universal grinding machine, a universal milling machine, and a small radial drill are very much needed to carry on successfully the general class-work in the Machine-Tool Laboratory.

The renewal of the equipment in the Forging Laboratory, while desirable, is not recommended, on account of the probable early removal of the Mechanical Laboratories to a new location.

Instruction ampitheatres have been provided in the Wood Working, Forging, and Chipping and Filing Laboratories, and have been found a very great convenience to both students and Instructors.

As stated last year, it is believed that instruction in Foundry Work should be given to every student in Mechanical Engineering, because of the value of a thorough knowledge of this im

portant subject in many industrial works. The course is now optional and the large classes show a demand for this training. It is again earnestly recommended that a new and larger melting plant be installed, as under present conditions it is extremely difficult to obtain good results. With a larger and improved plant the students might make many of the castings now purchased outside. Should the course be required of students in Mechanical Engineering, an additional Instructor would be needed.

A much-needed improvement has been made in the roof of the laboratory building. The ventilation has been decidedly improved, leakage obviated, and the lighting remains nearly as good as formerly. To remedy still further faulty former conditions an electric lighting plant should be installed in place of the present inadequate gas lighting system, and a new solid plank floor should be laid in the Machine Tool Laboratory. PETER SCHWAMB.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH.

Several changes have been made during the past year in the details of instruction in English. The distribution of time in the second term of the first-year course in English was altered so that the time allotted to the subject-two hours a week— was all used in the class-room. The result has been most satisfactory. The study of literary form in preparation for second-year Literature was carried forward more successfully than ever before; and the change will be adopted permanently.

The first-year class was also given a drill of two weeks in the use of books of reference. The machinery of this drill need not be described in detail; it is sufficient to say that the effort has been to make the students actually use as many reference-books as possible, and to call their attention to all others in the Library.