abundant for its uses. The property with which it was proposed to endow the College was estimated to be worth $240,600 by fair and competent judges.

RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.

This institution was founded in 1824, by the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, of Albany, as a school of Theoretical and Practical Science.

It was incorporated March 21, 1826,' by special act under the name of "The Rensselaer School," and for purposes set forth in the preamble of the act as follows:

"WHEREAS, The Honorable Stephen Van Rensselaer has procured suitable buildings in the city of Troy, in Rensselaer county, and therein set up a school, and at his own private expense has furnished the same with a scientific library, chemical and philosophical apparatus, implements for teaching land surveying and other branches of practical mathematics, which are useful to the agricul turist, the machinist and to other artists; has caused to be prepared and furnished separate and commodious rooms for instruction in natural philosophy, natural history, the common operations in chemistry, and an assay room for the analysis of soils, manures, minerals and animal and vegetable matter, with the application of these departments of science to agriculture, domestic economy and the arts; and

WHEREAS, said Van Rensselaer has employed teachers, and caused an experimental system of instruction to be adopted by them, whereby each student is required to observe the operations of a select number of agriculturists and artists in the vicinity of said school, and to demonstrate the principles upon which the results of such operations depend, by experiments and specimens performed and exhibited by his own hands, under the direction of said teachers; and WHEREAS, One important object of said school is to qualify teachers for instructing youth in villages and common school districts, belonging to the class of farmers and mechanics, by lectures or otherwise, in the application of the most important principles of experimental chemistry, natural philosophy and practical mathematics to agriculture, domestic economy, the arts and manufactures; and

WHEREAS, The Trustees of said school, who were appointed to take charge thereof by said Van Rensselaer, by an instrument in writing, dated November the 5th, in the year 1824, have represented to this Legislature that after having tested the plan of said school by a trial of one year, they find it to be practicable, and in their opinion highly beneficial to the public; and

1 Chap 83, Laws of 1826, p. 63.

WHEREAS, The Legislature consider it their duty to encourage such laudable efforts, and such municipal applications of the surplus wealth of individuals; therefore, be it enacted, etc."

The act proceeds to name Simeon DeWitt, Samuel Blatchford, John D. Dickinson, Gerrit Van Schoonhoven, Elias Parmelee, Richard P. Hart, John Cramer and Theodore Romeyn Beck, as Trustees, and to define their powers. The income was limited to $20,000 a year.

On the 8th of February, 1828, Governor Clinton transmitted to the Legislature, with his cordial approval, an application from the Trustees of this school, consenting to an alteration of their charter, so as to vest in the Regents, or in the Trustees, the power to change its location to any place in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga or Schenectady counties, and by a change that might allow the appointment of Trustees two from each of these counties without regard to any particular city or village therein.

The gratuitous use of the school with all its apparatus and facilities of every kind was tendered the Legislature, for the purpose of qualifying suitable persons for teaching the practical application of the experimental sciences to agriculture, the arts, manufactures and domestic economy. There had been expended within seven years by the Founder over $18,000 in making trials to ascertain the best and most economical method of teaching the practical application of experimental science, and extending it to the laboring part of community, and in searching out the natural resources of the State. The collections and library were valued at $3,615 and the real estate $1,348, making with recent additions $5,009. The free use of a large brick building, formerly used by the Farmers' Bank, was also offered, with several wooden buildings then occupied by the school.

This application was referred to the Regents, and on the 11th of March, 1828, they agreed upon a lengthy and highly favorable report. They say:

"The Sciences taught in the Rensselaer School are immediately connected with agriculture and arts, and are considered indispensable to the successful prosecution of the great branches of manufacturing labor in wool, cotton and iron, which the nation has embarked in and upon the success of which the prosperity of our State is materially involved. The plan of instruction is new, and in the opinion of the committee, perfectly efficient and highly commendable. By putting the pupil in the place of the Professor he necessarily acquires a knowledge of the principles of the science on which he lectures;

while the experimental demonstrations of the Laboratory render him familiar with the practical application of those principles to agricultural and manufacturing operations."

The committee proceed to consider at length the advantages to be derived from such an institution, refer to the particular industries that derive aid from Chemistry and other sciences, and conclude by saying that they do not hesitate to express their belief" that the system of instruction pursued in the Rensselaer School is eminently calculated to promote the best interests of the State, and they therefore respectfully suggest that the Board of Regents do recommend the proposition of the Trustees to the favorable consideration of the Legislature.

The first President of the School was AMOS EATON, whose pioneer labors in Geology, Botany and other branches of Natural Science entitle him to an honorable place in the Educational History of the State. While engaged in studying the "Canal Rocks of New York," under the patronage of Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, about 182829, he made summer excursions with his school, in a flotilla of canal boats, from one end of the Erie canal to the other, stopping at every point that offered subjects of scientific interest or opportunities for studying structures in engineering, mechanical operations, quarries, fossil beds or mineral localities. His classes brought back at the end of the season rich stores of knowledge, gathered on the way, and habits of observation that would last through life.

By an act passed May 9, 1835, the Trustees of the Rensselaer Institute (formerly Rensselaer School) were empowered to establish a department of Mathematical seats, for the purpose of giving instruction in Engineering and Technology, as a branch of said institute, and to receive and apply donations for procuring instruments and other facilities suitable for giving such instruction in a practical manner, and to authorize the President to confer certificates on students in said department, in testimony of their respective qualifications for practical operators in the Mechanical Arts.

The act incorporating the Troy Academy was revived May 8, 1837, and the Trustees were allowed to unite with those of the Rensselaer Institute, and to be known as the department of Classical Literature of the latter. Each was to conduct its own operations according to its own laws and usages, and as respected the use of instruments, apparatus and library, particularly in field exercises and various excursions for purposes of improvement in

the Mathematical Arts and the Natural Sciences. The Institute under this union was to be subject to visitation by the Regents.

The Troy Academy, although a separate institution, at present affords special facilities to students preparing for the Institute, and is regarded as its training school, and more students enter from it than from any other institution.

This institution was received under the visitation of the Regents, with the privileges of an Academy, February 5, 1846, and was classed with them until its reorganization in 1852, receiving for eight years a share of the literature moneys distributed to the academies of the State. It has at several times received appropriations from the Legislature. In 1873, it obtained a grant of $10,000, to assist in rebuilding after a fire; in 1868, it got $15,000, and in 1871, $3,750.

By an act passed March 8, 1850, the restrictions as to place of residence of Trustees was removed, and the number was increased to nineteen, the first members of the new Board being named. The office of Director was created. He was always to be an acting member of the faculty.

By an act passed April 8, 1861, a full Board of Trustees was named, their powers enlarged and defined, and the name changed to the "Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute."

The purposes of the Institute were declared to be, the maintenance in the city of Troy, of a school for instruction in Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Geology, Botany, Literature and the Arts in their application to Agriculture, Domestic Economy and Manufactures, as the Trustees might direct.

The Faculty, consisting of the President of the Board of Trustees, the Director, Professors and Teachers, were to have charge of instruction and discipline, their duty being to pursue such a system of instruction as would be calculated to make thorough scholars in the several branches of Civil Engineering, and other studies in the Institute.

The Trustees might confer the degrees of Civil Engineer, Topographical Engineer, or Bachelor of Science, or such other academic honors as they might deem proper, upon those who had pursued the course of study prescribed, and who had passed a thorough examination, and had been recommended by the Faculty. The Institute was subject to visitation by the Regents, and entitled to the same privileges as academies, colleges and schools of the higher

order, upon complying with the terms required by law, and with the rules of the Regents. The change of name was to affect no right.

The State Paleontologist, was directed by act of April 23, 1864, to present to the Institute as full a series of fossils from the duplicates of the State Museum, as could be made up, for the use of the school.

The Institute building was burned in 1862, but soon after rebuilt, and is at present a substantial and imposing structure, 115 feet long, 50 wide, and four stories high. The Winslow Laboratory, named in honor of John F. Winslow, of Poughkeepsie, a former President of the Institute, is adjacent, being 60 feet in length, 40 in width, and three stories high. The Williams Proudfit Observatory, erected by the late Ebenezer Proudfit, Esq., of Troy, as a memorial of his deceased son, formerly a member of the Institute, occupies a commanding site, and consists of a central part 30 feet square, with north, south and east wings, with a total length of 76 and total breadth of 60 feet.

There are extensive collections of various kinds, in different departments of the natural and physical sciences, including apparatus, instruments and models and other conveniences for instruction.

The Reports of this institution to the Regents have not been continuous since its reorganization as a general Polytechnic Institute in 1861, although there has been no interruption in its operations.

The report published in 1883 shows an attendance of 104, in the four Divisions, and 4 in special studies. Number of graduates in June, 1882 (C. E.), 17. Whole number of graduates, 775.

The annual tuition fee is $200; Graduation fee, $18.

The total value of property is reported at $116,500, of which $88,500 is in buildings and grounds, $10,000 in Library, $6,000 in Educational Collections, and $12,000 in property of other kinds.

The Register for 1884 shows a list of 19 Professors and Instructors, and an attendance of 204. There is now but a single course of instruction, which all regular members of the Institute pursue, and the degree conferred is that of Civil Engineer. This includes Mechanical or Dynamical Engineering, Road Engineering, Bridge Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Steam Engineering and Mining Engineering. The studies of the course, which extends through four years, are designed to secure to all graduates a professional preparation at once practical and thorough, for the following specialties of engineering practice: The location, construction and superintendence of public works, as railway, canal, water-works, etc.; the design, construction