UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 MORRILL COLLEGE AID ACT 
 

 
 TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: 
 
 Your Special Committee on the appropriation of the 
 fund provided by the new Morrill Act reports as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 I. The committee has sent to the Alameda 
 County delegation in the Legislature the draft of an 
 act accepting the new fund,, necessary to secure the 
 benefit of this Congressional grant, and such an act 
 will doubtless be passed. 
 
 II. In considering the proper distribution of the 
 amount from this fund already available, your com- 
 mittee has been guided by the following principles : 
 
 1. This new grant, like the Morrill grant which it 
 supplements, is intended chiefly for the direct bene- 
 fit of the Colleges of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 
 But the terms of the new act specify also u the Eng- 
 lish language and the various branches of mathemati- 
 cal, physical, natural and economic science." There- 
 fore it is the opinion of your committee that the Act 
 should not receive a narrow interpretation, but that 
 there should be a comprehensive view of all the de- 
 partments which have " applications in the indus- 
 tries of life." And so statements of existing needs 
 have been received from seven of the Professors in 
 the Faculties of Science and from the Professor of 
 English. 
 
 2. This fund is intended to provide new facilities 
 and appliances, and not to pay for those already 
 existing. 
 
 It looks toward a more rapid expansion than would 
 result from the natural growth of the Colleges already 
 established. 
 
3. As has been suggested by the Association of 
 American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 
 Stations, the first payment of $15,000 should be re- 
 garded as an equipment fund, not to be used for 
 salaries. 
 
 Your committee has therefore assigned this $15,000 
 entirely to the side of equipment. 
 
 The $16,000, of the second payment, may fairly 
 be regarded as a salary fund for current expenses. 
 But as the year is so far advanced, only a portion of 
 this amount can be used for salaries ; and the residue 
 should, in the opinion of the committee, be 
 reserved for use 011 the side of equipment. 
 
 Bearing these principles in mind, your committee 
 recommends such an apportionment of the two pay- 
 ments as is indicated in the following schedule : 
 
 EQUIPMENT. SALARIES. 
 
 College of Agriculture $ 2,850.00 $ 3,800.00 
 
 College of Mechanics . ... 6,800.00 3,200.00 
 
 College of Mining 2,680.00 1,320.00 
 
 College of Civil Engineer- 
 ing 250.00 1,500.00 
 
 College of Chemistry 500.00 1,500.00 
 
 Department of Mathematics 1,200.00 
 
 Department of Botany ... . 980.00 1,020.00 
 
 Totals , $15,260.00 $12,340.00 
 
 Your committee also recommends that special 
 courses of lectures be provided by the College of 
 Agriculture, and, aided by this new fund, said lec- 
 tures to be given daily for a short period, for the ac- 
 commodation of those who cannot attend the longer 
 courses of the College. 
 
 Your committee regards the specification as to the 
 English language as one of much importance, and 
 
recommends that in the near future an allotment of 
 $1,800 per annum be made for an Assistant Professor 
 of English, whose work shall be especially adapted 
 to the needs of the students in the Colleges of Sci- 
 ence. 
 
 Calling attention, now, to the details of the appro- 
 priations in the foregoing schedule, yonr committee 
 recommends : 
 
 (i). The adoption of the following explanatory res- 
 olutions concerning the Departments of Agriculture 
 and Horticulture : 
 
 Resolved, \. That in compliance with the request of the 
 State Grange for the appointment of a lecturer to take charge of 
 the holding of " Farmers' Institutes" in the various agricultural 
 centers of this State, Mr. E. J. Wickson, the present lecturer on 
 Agriculture and Horticulture, is hereby appointed to organize and 
 carry into effect a system of farmers' meetings, substantially simi- 
 lar to that already in operation in Wisconsin and other agri- 
 cultural states, with such modifications as the peculiar conditions 
 existing in California may render expedient ; and Mr. Wicksou is 
 requested and instructed to report to the chairman of the faculties 
 a suitable plan and regulations for that purpose, including the en- 
 listment of other speakers from the University faculties, and 
 from the ranks of practical agriculturists as may be found feasible. 
 
 2. That as in view of the relatively sparse population of this 
 State, it is presumable that only a portion of Mr. Wickson's time 
 will be thus occupied ; and in view, farther, of the difficulty of pro- 
 viding competent instruction in the branches of agriculture now 
 taught by Mr. Wickson at the University in their application to 
 our peculiar climatic conditions, he is continued in charge of such 
 instruction, with such assistance and necessary changes in the 
 order of giving said courses, as may be required to maintain their 
 efficiency, and as may be provided and authorized by the Board of 
 Regents, and his present title is changed to that of "Associate 
 Professor of Agriculture, Horticulture and Entomology." 
 
 3. That in order to relieve the cumulation of duties now ex- 
 isting, and to better provide for the work required in the economic 
 entomology of the State, there is hereby created the position of 
 "Assistant in Entomology" to the Associate Professor of that 
 branch, whose duty shall be to give instruction in entomology 
 to such extent as directed by the Associate Professor, and to 
 prosecute researches with special reference to noxious and useful 
 
insects. A salary not exceeding $1,800 per year, to be paid out 
 of the lately created fund for the better endowment of the Colleges 
 of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, is appropriated for this 
 purpose. 
 
 4. That in order to provide for the more prompt carrying out of 
 work in the agricultural laboratory, which now is largely in excess 
 of the possibilities of the working force, and months in arrears ; 
 and also to relieve the director of the numerous details which now 
 prevent his timely attention to the elaboration of plans and reports : 
 Dr. R. H. Loughridge, heretofore Professor of Agriculture at the 
 University of South Carolina, is appointed to the position of 
 " Assistant in Agricultural Geology and Agricultural Chemistry," 
 under the direction of the Professor of Agriculture. His salary 
 shall be $2,000 per annum, payable out of the same fund. 
 
 5. That all the persons or officers hereinbefore mentioned 
 shall act in the double capacity of lecturers or instructors and of 
 officers of the Agricultural Experiment Station, in such manner 
 as may be expedient, and determined by the Professor of Agricul- 
 ture and Director of the station, in concert with the President of 
 the University or chairman of the faculties. They may be called 
 upon to participate in the Farmers' Institutes, and their expenses 
 incurred while doing so, as well as those of other lecturers that 
 may be called in, shall be paid out of the fund already referred to, 
 under the same rules as now govern the traveling expenses of the 
 Director, Inspector of Stations and other officers of the Experi- 
 ment Station. For the payment of such expenses a sum not 
 exceeding one thousand dollars per annum is hereby set apart, 
 from the same funds. 
 
 It will be seen from the first of the foregoing reso- 
 lutions that, while Professor Wickson's salary would 
 still be paid from the old fund, the work proposed for 
 him is mostly new, and in direct response to the call 
 for practical instruction in agriculture. 
 
 It is to be noted, also, that Professor Hilgard urges 
 the need of a plant house, costing $6,000. This re- 
 quest, as also one for $500 for changes in the present 
 buildings, the committee judges to be outside the 
 limitations of the new fund, but recommends to the 
 favorable consideration of the Board : 
 
 (2.) To the College of Mechanics your committee 
 has allotted the large equipment item of $6,800. 
 
5 
 
 The chief need seems to be the full establishment 
 of a department of electrical and hydraulic engi- 
 neering. At present the College can lay no claim to 
 having an adequate plant or apparatus. 
 
 The rooms occupied by this College are too few 
 and small for this new development. Years ago the 
 Legislature was ready to appropriate $12,000 to this 
 College for an additional building ; but just then the 
 one cent tax act in favor of the University was 
 passed, and all special appropriations were dropped. 
 Since then the College has asked in vain for a new 
 building, the need for which has become very press- 
 ing- 
 Presuming that this need will soon be recognized 
 by the Board, and met from the general fund, your 
 committee recommends that this sum of $6,800 be 
 expended in the purchase of a stationary plant and 
 apparatus for the hydraulic and electrical department 
 of the laboratory. 
 
 (3.) The allotment to the College of Mines is needed 
 now and can be put to immediate use. 
 
 (4.) For the College of Civil Engineering the only- 
 salary proposed is for an Instructor in free hand, 
 topographical and architectural drawing, which the 
 committee deems a very reasonable request. 
 
 (5.) To the College of Chemistry your committee 
 allots one new salary, that of an Instructor, to aid 
 in the development of a science which has many 
 "applications in the industries of life." The $500 
 for equipment will help toward the same result. 
 
 (6.) The sum assigned to the Department of 
 Mathematics is needed chiefly for models, as described 
 in the accompanying pamphlets. 
 
 (7.) The allotment to the Department of Botany 
 contemplates the beginning of a botanic garden, the 
 great need of which is clearly shown in the statement 
 of Professor Greene. 
 
The sums thus apportioned amount for equipment 
 to $15,260, for salaries to $12,340, making a total of 
 $27,600, out of the $31,000 placed at our disposal. 
 
 The balance, $3,400, and a large part of the salary 
 fund for the current year may constitute a reserve 
 fund to be chiefly used for equipment. 
 
 In closing its report your committee makes the 
 suggestion that all appointments below the grade of 
 Associate Professor, made by the Board of Regents in 
 executing this new trust, be made for the period of 
 one year. 
 
 We recommend that a separate set of books of ac- 
 count be kept in detail of all receipts and disburse- 
 ments under this Act. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 J. F. HOUGHTON, 
 
 CEO. T. MARYE, JR., }> Committee. 
 
 ARTHUR RODGERS, 
 
 March, 1891. 
 
NON-CIRCULATING BOOK 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY