water, and are furnished with the tables, shelves, apparatus, and general fittings necessary for all present needs, and in all its arrangements and equipments the laboratory is fully abreast with the times and equal to the best in the country. The following description of the lectureroom is from the report of the trustees to the Legislature:

"The lecture-room is a large room, thirty-seven feet square, with raised platforms for the seats. Against the walls on three sides, and occupying the spaces between the windows, are handsome glass cases for the reception and display of apparatus and of the collections illustrating technical chemistry. At the end of this room nearest the entrance is the lecture table, sixteen feet long, furnished with gas and water pipes, jet pumps for vacuum and blast, and troughs for water and mercury. The water trough is lead lined and has a shelf extending nearly the whole length of the table, thus allowing the jars containing the gases used in the experiments to be brought directly in front of the lecturer, instead of on one side, as is usually the case. At the other end is a smaller trough, fitted up for experiments with mercury.

"Both the water and mercury troughs extend forward from the front of the lecture-table, forming bay-window-like projections, with plate-glass sides and fronts, which permit all that goes on to be plainly seen by the class.

"Besides a porcelain wash-bowl, with faucet at each end, the table is provided with a waste-pipe, near the centre, to carry off the water used in cooling condensers, etc. A pipe for downward draught leads from near the entrance of the table to a chimney-flue back of the table, in which a good draught is secured by means of a gas-jet fixed in the flue. Over the lecture-table is a hood, of handsome design, which serves to ventilate, thoroughly, the lecture-table space and to carry off acid and corrosive fumes. From this hood a glazed case, with flue counterpoised so as to move easily in either direction, may be drawn down upon the lecture-table and used for all experiments in which poisonous or otherwise specially disagreeable gases are given off. The case, when upon the table, stands over the downward draught pipe, and this, together with the upward leading flue, prevents the escape of any of the fumes into the lecture-room. When not in use the case is pushed up into the ceiling of the large hood, and, being open at the base, forms a funnellike extract flue for the ventilation of the table space. Against the wall, back of the lecture-table, are two sliding black-boards, each four by eight feet, giving an area of sixty-four square feet for figures, diagrams, etc. On each side of this black-board is a case of shelves for re-agents, finished up in the same style as the glazed cases, but lacking the doors. Two other large black-boards, against the walls, are used by students in recitation. All the cases, the lecture-table, and other furniture of this room are of yellow pine, finished in hard oil, and of the very best workmanship."

CHAPTER XXXII.

Organization and General Information.

There are now two general departments of instruction:

I. An academic department.

II. A department of professional education.

In the academic department are the following schools: (1) School of the Latin language and literature; (2) school of the Greek language and literature; (3) school of the English language and literature; (4) school of modern languages; (5) school of chemistry; (6) school of geology and natural history; (7) school of natural philosophy and astronomy; (8) school of mathematics; (9) school of philosophy and history; (10) school of engineering. Candidates for admission to the Freshman class must be at least sixteen years of age, and have such preparation as will enable them to pursue with advantage the course of study they may select.

There are four undergraduate courses of study: (1) The classical course; (2) the scientific course; (3) the civil engineering course; (4) the mining engineering course. The first two lead to the degree of bachelor of arts, the third to the degree of bachelor of engineering, and the fourth to the degree of bachelor of mining engineering.

Students who are unable or who do not wish to complete all the studies of either of the regular courses are allowed to select a course of study on certain conditions, and upon the completion of such course are entitled to a diploma of graduation in the schools selected, and are enrolled as alumni of the University. Students who have received the degree of bachelor of arts may attain the degree of master of arts by remaining one year longer at the University and pursuing advanced studies in at least three of the academic schools of the University. Bachelors of civil or mining engineering can attain the degree of civil or mining engineers by pursuing advanced studies in their respective courses one year longer. All matriculates in the courses mentioned become members of the Alabama Corps of Cadets, subject to military discipline, and are required to reside in the University halls.

In the department of professional education there are three schools: (1) The school of international and constitutional law; (2) the school of common and statute law; (3) the school of equity jurisprudence. The students of this department are not permitted to reside in the University halls, but are subjected to the same discipline, the military features excepted, as the academic students. The law course covers a period of two years, but a student may enter such advanced class as his acquirements on entering may justify. The degree of bachelor of

laws is only conferred after the applicant has sustained a satisfactory written examination in all the studies of the course in presence of the Faculty of the University.

The Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court of Alabama authorize the graduates of this department to practise in all the courts of the State, on simple motion, without examination.

The course of instruction in the military department of the University embraces: (1) Military art and science; (2) military law; (3) elementary tactics.

The academic year is divided into three terms. Besides the daily examinations in the lecture-rooms there are two general examinations of each class held each year.

There are three literary societies connected with the University,-the Erosophic, the Philomathic, and the Pethonian, to each of which suitable rooms have been set apart and handsomely furnished by the trustees. These societies are considered, through their debates and literary exercises, of great advantage to the University, both in the individual benefit to the members and in the good influence they exert. Therefore every encouragement is given them by the Faculty and trustees. Each of these societies holds an annual celebration in the month of April, at which an oration is pronounced and a subject discussed. The Monday morning of each commencement week they hold an "inter-society debate" in Commencement Hall, which is always interesting and well attended.

The Society of the Alumni of the University holds its annual meeting on Tuesday of commencement week. These reunions are looked forward to with much interest. An oration is always delivered at each meeting, and last season a handsome banquet was given. The success of the entertainment led to the determination to make the banquet a feature of each annual gathering of the alumni.

"The society at its meeting in June, 1885, resolved to establish a fund for the assistance of meritorious students in narrow circumstances, who are seeking the benefits of a thorough education at the University. It is the purpose of the society to lend the income of the fund to students who may need pecuniary assistance during their residence in the University. A considerable amount has already been contributed to this fund, but there will be no income available for loans before the beginning of the fiscal year of the University, July 1, 1889. The management of this fund is confided to a board of trust appointed annually by the society. All contributions to the fund are to be invested by the board of trust in Alabama State bonds, under the general supervision of the society. It is confidently expected that every graduate of the University will contribute liberally to this fund. Former students of the University and all other friends of education in the State are likewise invited to contribute."

FEES AND CHARGES.

At their annual meeting in June, 1887, the trustees abolished all charges for tuition fees to students from the State of Alabama.

This action reduces the annual charges to Alabama students to one hundred and fifty-six dollars, payable as follows: Fifty-five dollars and forty cents at beginning of first term, fifty dollars and thirty cents at beginning of second term, and fifty dollars and thirty cents at beginning of third term. Besides these regular charges, a contingent or damage fee of five dollars must be deposited at the beginning of each collegiate year, which is returned at commencement, or such part thereof as has not been expended for damages done to University property by the depositor. Small fees are also required of laboratory students to pay for gas and other material consumed by them in their work.

The board of trustees is now constituted as follows: His Excellency Thomas Seay, Governor of Alabama, ex officio president; Solomon Palmer, State Superintendent of Education, ex-officio member; first district, Willis G. Clark, Mobile; second district, William S. Thorington, Montgomery; third district, John A. Foster, Clayton; fourth district, N. H. R. Dawson, Selma; fifth district, Thomas D. Cory, Mulberry; sixth district, James E. Webb, Birmingham; sixth district, Henry H. Brown, Birmingham; seventh district, James Crook, Jacksonville; eighth district, R. Barnwell Rhett, Huntsville.

Officers: Willis G. Clark, president pro tempore; William A. Cochrane, secretary; James H. Fitts, treasurer; A. C. Hargrove, land commissioner.

Officers of instruction and government: Henry D. Clayton, LL. D., president and professor of international and constitutional law; William S. Wyman, LL. D., professor of the Latin language and literature; Benjamin F. Meek, LL. D., professor of the English language and literature; William A. Parker, LL. D., professor of modern languages; Eugene A. Smith, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology, and State geologist; Henderson M. Somerville, LL. D., lecturer on statute and common law; Joshua H. Foster, D. D., professor of natural philosophy and astronomy; Thomas C. McCorvey, A. M., professor of mental and moral philosophy and political economy; John C. Calhoun, M. A., professor of the Greek language and literature and instructor in Spanish; Robert A. Hardaway, A. M., C. E., professor of civil engineering; Thomas W. Palmer, M. A., professor of mathematics; A. C. Hargrove, A. M., professor of equity jurisprudence; John M. Francis, A. B., instructor in chemistry; James J. Mayfield, Jr., A. B., instructor in physics; William B. Saffold, A. B., instructor in mathematics; Reuben M. Searcy, A. B., instructor in chemistry; Ormond Somerville, A. B., instructor in Latin and English; Martin D. Sibert, instructor in drawing; John J. Harris, A. M., quartermaster and commissary; David L. Foster, A. M., M. D., surgeon; Amelia G. Gorgas, librarian; James Courtney Hixson, commandant of cadets; Edward Boist Anderson, adjutant.