APPENDIX XI REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE SIBLEY COLLEGE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANIC ARTS To the President of the University: SIR-I have the honor to submit the following report of the work of Sibley College during the year 1907-1908. A large part of the work has been carried on as usual and this report deals, first, with those things that are in process of change; secondly, with certain needs of the College which must be supplied to insure that in the future the best technical training shall be offered here. SHOPS The changes in the shop instruction indicated in the last annual report have been carried out more fully. Two molding machines have been installed in the foundry and their operation has very greatly increased the effectiveness of the instruction by showing the students the methods of producing castings in large numbers at low cost. A change in the sequence of the shop courses is proposed and will be made next year. The work in the foundry and forge shop, hitherto given to sophomores, will be given to freshmen and the pattern making will be transferred from the first to the second year. It is believed that the student who has used patterns in the foundry for the producing of castings, will be able to accomplish more in making patterns because of a better understanding of their purpose. It is also proposed to modify somewhat the instruction in the blacksmith shop. The growth of the electrical manufacturing industry has necessitated the introduction of many new processes for the cold-working of metal and it is hoped that it may soon be possible to introduce machines which have been developed in response to this need. All of the essentials in the teaching of hand forging will, however, be retained. The teaching of the "principles of manufacturing" in the machine shop which was recently introduced was continued very successfully, and the accompanying class room work has gained in breadth and effectiveness. MACHINE DESIGN In the department of machine design a development has been going on for several years the object of which is to concentrate into three years of the course all of the necessary fundamental training in drawing and machine design. This plan, which is now practically complete, leaves the senior free to elect his work in design from among a number of special lines of work. Thus, he may take electrical engineering, where the work of design is chiefly computing, or he may take naval architecture including the design of ships, or railway mechanical engineering with the study of the design of rolling stock, or internal combustion engine design, or the design of steam turbines or of reciprocating steam engines; or, if he does not care to specialize, he may take a general course in design. EXPERIMENTAL ENGINEERING In addition to the regular work as it has been carried on heretofore in experimental engineering, there has been installed and put into operation during the past year the electrical apparatus required for a junior course in electrical laboratory work. This course is required of all students. Although this is the first year that this work has been given it has been carried on very efficiently and it is a very desirable addition to the engineering course in Sibley College. Last year the York Manufacturing Company presented to the University a large refrigerating plant designed especially for investigation and laboratory instruction. Other firms have generously contributed auxiliary apparatus and material making the plant complete for operation. The installation of this plant cost the University about $750. The value of the complete outfit is probably about $10,000. The installation of this machinery makes it possible to give effective instruction in another very important main division of mechanical engineering. Also during the year a Babcock and Wilcox boiler of 100 horsepower capacity, of the marine type with superheater, has been purchased and installed. The manufacturers generously furnished this boiler at about half the regular purchase price. The installation of this boiler brings our steam making equipment up to the most modern practice, and gives ample capacity. The establishment of the laboratory for internal combustion engines and accessories, which was described in last year's report, has increased the capacity of that work and has relieved slightly the crowding in the main laboratory. The equipment of this laboratory has been increased during the past year by the gift of a Franklin automobile engine and by the installation of a small "suction gasproducer." POWER ENGINEERING In response to a demand due to a growing use of the internal combustion engine, two lecture courses and a design course have been given for two years past. This subject is of such great importance that it is necessary to provide for a large number of students who wish to elect it as a specialty. Hence this work will be developed more fully along the line of class work and design during the coming year and this work will be carried on in cooperation with the laboratory work on internal combustion engines. Following the example of the department of electrical engineering, we have, during the past year, introduced into the senior work in power plant design the use of "computing periods." Instead of working out assigned problems outside of the University, the students now assemble in sections in a large room under the care of an instructor, where they do all of the work in connection with the lecture course. This plan has the advantage of holding the men up to their work at a specified time, and also makes the work more effective because of discussion among the members of the section with each other and with the instructor. It is hoped eventually to introduce this method into all work where it is possible to use it. GENERAL The reading and assembly room in the first floor of the middle section of Sibley College has served, during the past year, for the students who wished to study at the College and it has also been useful during the interval of change between hours for social purposes. In connection with this room the department reference library has been established with an attendant who is always present during University hours. The portion of this room that is partitioned off for the library is supplied with large tables where students may consult the books. When possible several duplicate copies of much used books are placed on the library shelves. It is thought that the accessibility of these books will help in the training of the students of the College in collecting and organizing published material. PRESENT NEEDS Sibley College today has two pressing needs requiring considerable expenditure. First, is the need for a new building for housing the machine shop and the wood shop. In the present location, which is necessarily temporary, there is naturally a good deal of hesitation about installing machines or systems with an idea of permanence. The machine shop especially needs many things which have developed in the modern shop practice which cannot be had in the present quarters. This, however, is not the most important thing connected with the providing of a new shop building. Vacating the present building would render space available for the expansion of the experimental laboratory which is now the only crowded department of Sibley College. The electrical experimental work is given in widely separated rooms and it is believed that all the apparatus should be brought together in order to produce the best results. A shop building for the accommodation of the machine shop and the wood shop, of fireproof construction and with all necessary modern improvements, could be built and the transfer of apparatus could be made in addition for a sum not exceeding $50,000. The second need is for an annual appropriation for research. It is believed that it is very desirable for a technical school to have research work constantly under way because, first, it is thus doing its part in the making of additions to the data of engineering; secondly, because a laboratory of research is a most stimulating influence both to students and teachers. In some western institutions generous appropriations are made for work of this kind. Thus, at the University of Wisconsin an annual income of $5,000 is available for equipment in purely mechanical engineering work. At the University of Illinois a laboratory of experimental research has been established and is maintained by the state. If Sibley College is to maintain its position and prestige it will be necessary to make provision for work of this kind. If an annual income for this purpose of $5,000 could be made available it would be possible, with our present equipment, to produce results that would be of very great advantage to the engineering world and to Sibley College. Respectfully submitted, Director of the Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts. APPENDIX XII REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE SUMMER SESSION To the President of the University: SIR: I have the honor to present my third annual report as Director of the Summer Session. THE TEACHING STAFF The teaching staff of the present year consists of fourteen professors, twenty-five assistant professors, twenty-two instructors and seventeen assistants. Of the thirty-nine teachers of professional grade thirty are members of the Cornell University Faculty, and nine come from other institutions. Of the nine there have been here prior to this year Professor George E. Condra of the University of Nebraska, Mr. Arthur D. Dean for the past two years engaged in special investigation of industrial conditions in Massachusetts and in the organization of trade schools there, Mr. Charles W. Furlong, long and favorably known to the Cornell University community, and Mr. Charles M. Stebbins, teacher in the Boys' High School, Brooklyn. Mr. Dean has just been appointed Chief of Division of Industrial Education in the New York State Department of Education. In this way he becomes officially connected with an important branch of education in this State. Mr. Dean has worked with energy and with good judgment in the developing of manual training as a part of the work of our Summer Session. In this he has been most successful. We are sorry to lose him from our Faculty but welcome him as a co-worker in the larger field. We have had the cooperation and assistance this year for the first time of Mr. James H. Van Sickle, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Baltimore, Md.; of Professor J. L. Meriam, of the University of Missouri, who was formerly a member of the graduate school of Cornell University; Professor James A. Woodburn of Indiana University; Mr. Paul B. Mann, a graduate of this University and now teacher in the Morris High School, New York City; Mr. W. W. Clendenin, teacher in the Wadleigh High School. Further we have had a most efficient assistant in the department of |