agricultural stations. The bills are audited by the regular auditing committee of the college and paid by its treasurer; his report is made to the federal government. A biennial statement is made to the governor by the secretary of the board of trustees of the college as a part of his general report of college finances. PROFESSOR WOOD: But is it a State fund entirely? DEAN BISSELL: Yes. LOOSE-LEAF NOTES FOR LABORATORY USE. BY CHAS. H. BENJAMIN, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Case School of Applied Science. Students who are working in an engineering laboratory need some sort of printed information to guide them, both in the conducting and in the reporting of experiments; the number of men which it is usually necessary for an instructor to handle in one section forbids individual attention to the extent which was formerly customary. Books such as Carpenter's "Experimental Engineering" and Smart's "Laboratory Practice” are admirable for reference, but are too bulky and inconvenient for the laboratory. Some ten years ago I printed a handbook of about a hundred pages, bound in limp linen covers and suitable for laboratory use. This book contained descriptions of the various pieces of apparatus used at that time, with instructions for making experiments and some printed forms for logs and reports. This book answered its purpose fairly well for a time, but gradually became obsolete, as the scope and methods of the laboratory changed. Experimental work in any laboratory is of its very nature progressive and yesterday's methods are but stepping stones on the way. The loose-leaf system of books possesses the same advantages in the laboratory that it has been shown to possess in commercial work. There is a fresh, clean book for each experiment, of such a character that it can be conveniently used during the run; all loose sheets, such as logs and indicator cards, can readily be incorporated, so that when finished the book forms a complete record of the experiment. It can be changed from year to year, new matter added. and obsolete matter discarded; it is in the hands of every student, as he is unable to perform the experiment without it. The same system can be applied to all notes, classroom, drafting room and shop. Occasionally the same printed leaves can be used in more than one department. Some examples from notebooks used in the power laboratory of the Case School will serve to illustrate these points. The standard size of 6 X 9 inches has been adopted for all notes in this department. The drawings used conform to a similar standard, being 6 × 9, 9 × 12, 12 x 18 and 18 x 24 inches respectively. The manila cover is the same for all experiments and contains only general instructions. On the outer page are blanks for the name of the experiment, for the names of the operators and for the various dates. On the first inner page are the general instructions for work in the laboratory and on the second inner page instructions for writing reports. These covers and all the material inside are perforated at the top with a standard bill file perforator and one of these instruments as well as a trimming machine are kept for use in the computing room. The forms "A," "B" and "C" appended are otherwise self-explanatory. The first inserted sheet contains the title of the experiment to be performed, together with references and list of apparatus; then follow the special directions for this experiment. The references are to be read and a preliminary report written, describing the apparatus and the nature of the experiment before the work is performed. Forms "D" and "E" illustrate what has been said. If it is thought necessary to have a printed form for final report, this is included in the book as issued. See form "F." In general, students prepare their own forms for logs on ruled sheets which are issued with the apparatus. These are of a different color to distinguish them from the report blanks and must accompany the final report. Students furnish the blank paper and the coordinate paper necessary to complete the book. The preliminary report forms a part of the final report, so that it is not necessary to repeat description or sketches. When all this material is complete, it is inserted in the book in the order specified, when the latter becomes a history of the subject from start to finish. Any modification of the apparatus or of the method of conducting the experiment can be met by a change in one or two sheets of printing at trifling expense, and the book thus kept up-to-date. Any discussion as to the amount of printed matter to be used in a laboratory is foreign to the purpose of this paper. The instructor may use as much or as little as his conscience will allow; he will still find that the loose-leaf has its advantages. Personally, I prefer to have a student do an experiment right and report it right with the aid of such printed forms as |