Show Physical Science TT IT is very gratifying to note the progress progress progress pro pro- gress that is being made by the Physical Science department TJ Until last year the chemical and physical laboratories laboratories labora labora- laboratories tories were crowded into the basement of the main building where the ceiling is low and the rooms not very well lighted There were no spacious hoods provided so that it was not uncommon to find the place filled with fumes of chlorin hydrochloric acid or ammon ammonia ia much to the discomfort of the workers But this was not all Oftentimes the ill smelling ill g gases escaped into the hallways hall 1 i ways and rose through the whole build build- han 1 ing No wonder that some of the students students stu stu- dents dreaded the beginning of their course in chemistry 1 r Just at this time when the University I 1 Iwas was in great need of a liberal appropriation tion that better conditions might be provided the legislators disagreeing over some paltry matters appropriated to the institution a sum not sufficient to pay expenses to say nothing of making improvements The friends of the Uni saw that something must be done The meanness of certain members members members mem mem- bers of the legislature only brought out the patriotism of the people and proved to be a blessing in disguise however otherwise it may have been intended The Salt Lake Literary and Scientific Association presented the University of Utah wi with th their excellent t stock of physical and chemical apparatus and the use of the Deseret Museum building for a term of two years besides endowing endowing endowing endow endow- ing the chair in mineralogy and geology On the second floor of the Deseret Museum building there was already a thoroughly furnished chemical laboratory which had been used by the Church University The University of Utah now added their furniture and apparatus to this and fitted up two rooms for the use of the students in chemistry The study of this science need now have no terrors for any student He can work in rooms that are well lighted and ventilated and can place under the hoods all substances that give off disagreeable disagreeable disagreeable dis dis- agreeable fumes Under these conditions laboratory work becomes a pleasure The rooms on the first floor have been devoted chiefly to physics The large lecture room had already been furnished with a demonstration table and all that was required for class work in physical science The University at once set about arranging ing laboratories where the students student might perform the j experiments for themselves One such room was fitted up and used by the thead ad advanced class last year Now another has been furnished for the use of the elemen elementary tary class and they also are required required required re re- to do laboratory work More apparatus has been obtained this year so that there will be tools for all The advanced classes do a great deal of quantitative work They use more delicate and complex instruments and have much practice in making accurate determinations An interesting feature in connection with the work in college physics is the fact that five civil engineers the Surveyor General with some of his associates and assistants are taking a special course in electricity and magnetism They have been doing class work for some time and are now about to begin the work of practical demonstration in the laboratory Until this year science physical l science has had no place in the first first year of the preparatory course Now the pew com newcomers new com ers are introduced to the subject by a course in Domestic Science e extending throughout the year This class meets in the large lecture room and the work of demonstrating scientific truth is be be- gun The student is thus prepared to understand and appreciate more fully the work that follows in physics chemistry zoology and botany |