The University

To Hon. Daniel B. Briggs, Superintendent of Public Instruchon : The undersigned, in fulfillment of their office, have just concluded a somewhat protracted visit and careful inspection of the State University, and now beg leavo to present to you, and tlirough you to the people of the State, this, our annual report. We may say that we havo had tho freest possiblo aooess to tho several departmenta : we have gone into tho recitation roomsas far as we could, and witnessed the exercises of the classes in tho ordinary daily work ; we havo listoned to several public lectures in tho law and medical departments. Our visit has been made without any previousannouncement on our part, as we preferred to see the workings of the institution as thoy are in ordinary, so that no bias has boen given to our minds by any special preparation on tho part of the University ; we have endeavored to arrive at the facts as they may appear to the observor at any time, and henee be able to submit a report in the largest degreo truthful. In the steward's departinent also we havo beenkindly shown all the books and vouchers involving the expenditure of the funds of the University. The president, J. B. Angoll, LL. D., and the various members of the faculty whom wo had the pleasure to moet, uot only received us with tho utmost courtosy, but invited the most careful investigation of all tho matters pertaining to the management of the Üniversity. TUE morEKTY. The landed property of the University of Michigan consists of a square forty-acro plat of ground in the city of Ann Arbor, suitably enclosed by a fence on all sides. These grounds are well planted with trees, which seern to be thritty, and are laid out with walks wherever thoy are demanded. In our judgment, when time shall have given growth to these trees, this will be one of tho most delightful college grounds in the country. On entering the campus fiom the northwest the first building we come to is tho Law School, in which are the law und general libraries, law lecture room, etc. Thenext is the new and clogant University Hall.the north and south wings of which have been in existonce for many years, but only within two years has the main building been erected. We must conclude that the State has made haste slowly when we remember that this large, convenitmt and elegant college hall was begun in 1837. by the erection of the " old chapel," and finished by the dedication of the central edifice in 1873. This main building contains the principal hall, designed to be used on commencement days and for special public services. It has long been needed ; it will seat over 3,000 persons comfortably ; it contains, also, tho chapel on the first floor, which will seat 550 students, and a special lecture room capable of accommodating a class of 150 students. There are, also, in this building eleven recitation rooms, averaging twenty threo by forty-two feet, and fifteon feet in the clear. Adjacent to the steward's room is a complete fire-proof vault in which the University records and papers may be carefully preserved. Tho building is supplied with water from large reservoirs, and on each floor are pipes and hose connected with the engine, ready for uso in case of fire. The whole is heated by steam coils, and is ventilated after the most approved method. Tho building cost f 105,000 ; but when vo come to examine it and the size, the substantial manner in which it is built and its cominanding appearance, we are free to give it as our opinign, that the money has been judiciously expended. The tax-payers of Michigan can felicitate themselves on such admirable fiuancial management. Of the other buildings wo need not speak, only to say that with the continued growth of the University new buildings will have to be provided froin timo to time. Michigan University, with a greater number of students than any other in this country, with museums containing over 200,000 specimens in natural history. arts, antiquities, auatomy, and with libraries aggregating 30,000 volumes, has inuck less room for practical work than several other institutions. The department of sciences is in nood of additional room ; especially is this true of the laboratory, whero the demand for carefully educated pharmacentists is shown by a regular increase of students froui year to year. In this department there wero in 1869 -70, 28 ; in 1870-71, 35 ; 1871-72, 43 ; 1872-73, 53 ; 1873-74, 65. During the present term the whole number of applicants for laboratory practice, from all the departments, has been 190 ; of theso 45 are nol yet supplied with tables for work, while 26 have withdrawn their names and fees for want of accommodations. The interest in this very important branch of study demands that greater facilities be provided at an early day. We believe that no man should be allowed to practice medicine who has Hot roceived the sanction o; some competent examining board, anc we, also, believe that tho right to till prescriptions should be based on some regular training in the department of practical chomistry ; we beliove the time has come when some steps should be taken toward tho establishment of a regular schoo of Technology in connection with the University and a part of it. Already, in part, we havo this, but it should be made full, embracing, in addition to the physical and natural sciences, mechanical en gineering, architecture, the smelting anc assaying of metáis, ote. If this were done then the expansión of laboratory facilitie would be accomplished, and our Univer sity be placed on a par, in this respect with some other schools which are attract ing large notice. Thore is. perhaps, no better school of phannacy on the conti nent than this, save in the matter of room The University, at no very distant day must look toward the erection of suitable building for the preservation of its valua ble libraries and oollections in natura history and the arts. Such building should be as nearly fire-proof as possible The encouragement given to individúala Who may wish to make largo contributiona to these departments will be increaaed by all measures which may secure the perfect safety of such donations. The State eau well afïord to provide tho room necessary to cover valuablo contributions to her Üniversity. GOYEBNMENT. Thia year, thus far, has been one of the most quiet and orderly in the history of the school. We find, upou examination, that tho Michigan University is as wcll governed as a school of its size can be. Any disturbances which may have occurred havo beeu exceptional and incidental. The student is regarded as a temporary resident of the city of Ann Arbor, and as such is ameuable to its laws. There is 110 University court, as in some European countries, which takes the student out of the hands of the civil authorities, but if ho commita an offonso against the laws of the city or State he is liable to arrest and punishment as any othor citizen, and this is as it ahould be. We find it to be the aim of the faculty to cultivate in the mind of the student a sense of honor. Inatead of binding upon him a code of rules, thure is an appeal to asimple senso of right. We think that this is well calculated to foster a manly spirit, nd will in the end prove to be the best nd surest kind of government ; wo beeve, also, that the ultímate abolition of 10 old method of classification into freshmen, sophomore, etc, will be an advan;age. If there are no classes thero will )e no feuds between them ; let the stuent enter the University complete the ;udies embraced in its entire curriculum, ass his examination and receive his dejree ; instead of the class associations, his issociations will be broader - thoy will be ïose simply of the University. We havo been irnpressed with tho uni'orm neatnoss cvcrywhero apparent, both n tho buildings and on the grounds. 'he steward assurcd us that the Bum of iree dollars had not beon expended in epairing damages done by tho carelesscss of members of the University. FACULTY. The faculty is full in all the departments. Thero are in all, regular profesors, 24 ; assistant professors, 6 ; instrucors, 10. STUDENTS. Tho total attendanco duriiig the year ïas been 1,176, as follows : epartment of Literature, science and tho Arts. iesident graduates 9 eniors 78 uuiors 72 Sophniores % 121 Troshmen 122 n selected studies 34 n pharmacv 48 Total 484 Department of Medicine. tudents 3Ó8 ■ Department of Law. eniors, 122; Juniors, 212; total 334 Total in University 1,176 RELIGIOÜS. The religious culture of the University is, in the broadest sense, Christian, without being in any sense sectarian. The chapel exerciso each morning consists of reading a selection of scripture, followed by singing and prayer. Theso exercises are voluntary, and yet threo-fourths of all the students in tho aeademical department attend with great regularity. The professional students are exempt from this service for obvious reasons. A Young Men's Christian Association is in active operation. Christian paronts need have no fear of sending their sons and daughters to this school on the grounds of any lack of Christian culturu. WOMEN IN THE UNIVEKSITY. Since the day when our University was thrown open to womon fho number has steadily increased. In 1870-71 it was 37 ; in 1871-72,64; in 1872-73, 88; at presont there art) 92, distributed as follows : Aeademical, 52; medicine, 35; law, 5. From all the testimony we could gather the presence of lady students is most wholesome, while their proficiency is remarkable ; they are, by the concurrent testimony of the Paculty, the equals of the male students in all respecta. We are of the opinión that tho feasibility of the co-education of tho sexes is placed beyond even a question ; it is no longer an experiment ; henee we give it as our opinión, that the present custom of delivering separate lectures to the female students in the medical departincntis not best and should cease. The chairman of this committee, inany years ago, attended two full courses of medical lectures in company with live lady students who were present at all the lectures, and, though there were not far from 200 studeuts in tho college, there was not an instance in which anything occurred to créate an objection in themindofany one. Now, we believe that to deliver the lectures to the ladies as a separate class in the University is the virtual establishment of a woman's medical college, involving an unwarranted expense. If it is required in the medical, it is equally so in the law, whero like delicate subjects are often discussed, as well as in tho laboratory where soience deals with the fluids of the human body. The Jniversity of Michigan cannot afford to deny in its practice what it teaches in its ;heory ; soience must not here be subordinate to sentiment, but sentiment to seience. We congratúlate tho peoplo of this State on tho sottletnent of questions which have agituted the medical department. We believo that the teachings of ;his department are sufficiently compreïensive ; the student in medicine who passes through tho University medical course will be well prepared to enter upon the duties of professional life, and, oven if he desiros to make some modification in the mere administration of remedial agents, he will have laid a foundation in seience which will be safe to build upon. We would regard it as a great misfortuno to break the charin that now draws to our University hundreds of thoughtful young men from all portions of the natlon ; we havo faith to believe no such ruin will ever be allowed to come. We aro oí' tho opinión that it will bo advisablo to increase, as soon as practicable, tho standard of requiroment for admission to the medical department. Harvard Uuiversity has has led us in the increased requirement for graduatiou ; we are of the opinión that such inorease should be rather at the beginning than at the end of a college course ; the student will henee derive the greator benefit from the course. It should be insisted upon that the student shall have a good English education, together with a fair understanding of the elementa of tho Latin language, together with botauy, algebra and geometry, and that aduiission depend upon examination ; even at tho expense of a slight decrease in numbers, this step should bo taken - it will have its reaction in our favor. Michigan University has reached a point in her history whoro hor fame is world-wide ; lot her merit bo equal to her fame. The merit in a college is not so much in its numbers as its ability to turn out thorough scholars. EXPENSE. We will not burden tbis report with any dotailed statement of the general question of expense. These reports have been made public through other ehannels. We may say, howover, that we believe the money appropriated by tho State is carefully husbanded. We havo some acquaintanee with other institutions of learning, and, l'rom comparison, are of the opinión that in no instance is a dollar madeto go farther. The State has done well, we have faith in tho superior intolligenco of the people 'of Michigan, they will still do more and better, her University shall bo kept at the front in this great battle against popular ignorance. Michigan has endowed her University with reference mainly to the education of her own sons and daughters, but she oxcludes no one - her doors are open to all, wherever they may live. The University does ask the student froni another State to pay a larger fee than tho home student pays, but the tuition is free to all. The charges are : " To residents in Michigan an admission fee of $10 ; to those wbo come from other States and countries aud admission fee of $25 ; and to every student an annual payment of $10." Now we are of tho opinión these terms might be changed so as to require an annual fee of $'25 instead of $10 from the foreign students without interfering with the numbers; for, even then, tho expense to tho student would bo below any other 1 school of liko grade, while the gain to tho University would be even the present year, nearly or quite $10,000. We do not bolieve that such additienal expenso oí' $15 a yoar to the feo would bo a consideration of sufficient magnitude to deter the ambitious student from seoking the advantages of our University, while $10,000 a year is a sum worth looking aftor. In concluding this report, in anawer to the qnestion, what interest has Michigan in her owri University, and as showing that nearly 50 per cent. of the attendance is from her own territory, we present 1he following tablo of last year : SrMMAIïY EV STATK3 AND COI'N"TI!!I:S. Michigan 535 Delaware 1 Ohlu )()n New Ilampshire :i Illinois 142 Dacotah Territory 1 Indiana 'ü ArkanBas ! New York 77 Virginia 4 Pennsylvnni.i 0 New Brunswink l Iowa 20 West Virginiu "Wisconsin 35 Xebraska 4 Missouri lí ('Olorado i Tennessee California o Massachusetts 1" Oregon ö Verraont 8 Texas 2 Kentucky 4 Washington, 1). ( . 2 Minnesotii 11 Ontario fCanada) 2C Maine 7 Nova öootia 1 Now. Jersey "' Hawaüan Islands 4 ('onneotiout 3 Jnpan 1 Kansas 2 Total 1,104 Respeetfully submitted.