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Circumstances, of which you are well aware, have hitherto prevented us from making formal
suggestions respecting the precise aims and methods to be pursued in the "School for the
application of Science to the Arts," which the
Civil Engineering, although in practice it requires more or less acquaintance with all that man can
know of the material world around him, yet has certain definite, indispensable acquisitions, which
experience seems to dictate as attainable in only one way. We therefore propose that the course in
this department be as follows. The pupils shall be required to possess a competent knowledge of
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, & Trigonometry. With us they shall be instructed in,
descriptive Geometry and its applications in determining, the rules for shades, shadows, perspective
and the representations of Machinery, Field works &c — Analytical Geometry, and
the Calculus. To these severer studies shall be joined instruction in drawing, mechanical and
landscape, the use of instruments in field work and the making of plans and necessary calculations
The text books to be used we would take from the set used at
The apparatus peculiar to this school, necessary for the present and additional to what the College already has, will be a Theodolite & Compass Plates to be copied in drawing, drawing stands and boards, costing perhaps, five hundred dollars. We suggest only what is indispensable at first, expecting that gradually from various sources, our means of instruction by instruments, models and pictures may be very ample. The pupils will be expected to provide themselves with drawing instruments and material, costing on an average twenty dollars.
It will be seen that we do not now offer to teach Natural Philosophy as in general it is understood. Engineering strictly teaches us how to control the forces of Nature, not how to obtain them. Our pupils should be acquainted with Electricity, Magnetism, Optics &c, but we, as others do, must refer them for information on these important subjects to the Academic course of the University. Nor have we time or ability now to teach practical Astronomy, besides we have no Observatory and hence may be relieved from considering it at present.
As to the department of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry, we would suggest that for admission
to its teachings, pupils be required to possess a general elementary knowledge of the objects and
subjects of Chemistry, such as may be obtained from some one of the many good books now published,
or better still such
The apparatus necessary for the commencement of our labours will as far as we can learn cost from
seven to eight hundred dollars. The most costly article will be a furnace contrived to furnish a
sand bath, evaporating chamber, hot and distilled water. Prof. Norton contrived one for for a beginning. The Prof. in this department would like to know what is
the sum he will be allowed to spend on his laboratory. It will be altogether the cheapest to import
Chemicals, glass, & porcelain ware, & many of his instruments, as they are admitted
duty free when intended for literary & Scientific institutions. This is the common practice
of the Institutions in this part of the country, and it is of importance to have these things at the
beginning of our instructions. These remarks will apply but not so forcibly to the procuring
instruments for use in Engineering.
As to the fees to be required of the pupils, we would leave them to be settled by the wisdom of
others. At
These necessarily crude and imperfect suggestions we would make to you and our brethren of the
Faculty, to excite attention and discussion, hoping to receive in return your own suggestions and
decisions. Many points of importance and interest we have not touched. For instance, to what extent
unscientific, empirical students shall be encouraged to apply for instruction & improvement.
Hoping to hear from you soon and at full length we are —