MEETING OF THE THAYER SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.

The second annual meeting of the Thayer Society of Engineers of Dartmouth College was held in New York at the rooms of the Dartmouth Club, 12 West 44th St., on the evening of January 16. Members began to assemble about 6.30 and 83 were in attendance altogether. After a social half-hour dinner was announced. President J. J. Hopper '85 presided at table, as at all the later deliberations. The dinner was followed by immediate adjournment to the club meeting-room. After a meeting of the executive committee the report of the secretary and treasurer showed that more than $1200 had been raised ' 'to further the interests of the Thayer School. " This, and the promoting of social intercourse and furthering the interests of its members, are the chief objects of the society. Through the efforts of the executive committee and Professor A. W. French of the advisory board, this generous response to the presentation of the needs of the school had been made on the basis of annual pledges to assist in meeting pressing needs of the school, due to decreasing rates of interest on the principal fund.

The society listened to reports from the executive committee, and the president, from the secretary, and from the treasurer.

The election of officers for the ensuing year, by ballot, then followed. Nearly all of the officers of the previous year were reelected.

Professor Fletcher, the Director of the Thayer School, then made a short address, getting forth briefly the present condition of the funds, the necessary expenses, and the amount of income. It appeared that the amount raised during the past year would suffice to avert a threatened deficit and enable the management to provide the instruction on the present scale of operations. But there is pressing need of a larger endowment; and an addition of $50,000 to the fund would permit the much needed increase in the force of instruction. The increase in size of the classes makes it more difficult to maintain the fundamental and peculiar feature of the school—close and constant personal contact between instructors and students. More clerical assistance is necessary also. Words of hearty appreciation were spoken .for the loyal interest and support of Thayer School men. In presenting to the society a small portrait of Gen. Sylvanus Thayer, the founder, copied by photography from the fine painting in the College gallery, the Director gave some personal recollections and anecdotes of the General. The Director also gave to each member of the society present a copy of the topographical map of Hanover recently published. This shows the present expansion of the College, and, in contrast, the village fifty years ago, with directory and varied information. A copy was also presented to the society, to be framed, with a border consisting of 22 card photographs of scenes and persons related to Hanover and the Thayer School. The society was also informed that an annex to the building has been begun. At present this is simply an extension of the basement, comprising a coal pocket on the north side and a workroom for concrete mixing, etc. The walls (about 85 lineal feet) were built of reinforced concrete, largely by the voluntary labor of both classes of students. Part of these are planned as part of the substructure of a much-needed one-story ell which would cost less than $2000, and would relieve the congestion in the present building; but funds for this are not yet available. Allusion was made to the interesting correspondence received from the widely scattered alumni.

Appropriate remarks were then made by Mr. J. P. Snow '75, bridge engineer of the B. & M. railway, one of the overseers of the school. Also by Professor J. V. Hazen '76, under whose instruction classes of engineering and scientific students have sat during twenty-eight years. Professor A. W. French '92, now of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, also spoke in relation to the aims of the society and the work of the school. Attention was called to the fact that the cost of the education per student is remarkably low, and that the efficiency, reckoned on the basis of what the student receives for his moderate tuition fee, is very high—perhaps hardly excelled elsewhere. At the same time present demands and advances are such that the efficiency is impaired for lack of a few more facilities and a larger personnel on the board of instruction.

It was evident that one purpose of the organization was fully realized in the social enjoyment of the attending members. Three of the older Chandler School graduates, prominent in engineering circles, were present and contributed their share of reminiscences and anecdotes. One of '57, C. S. D. , once prominent in business circles of Brooklyn, a father of the Dartmouth Club, lent his presence to the occasion. Reluctant partings were made towards midnight and the general sentiment was that the second annual meeting had given another demonstration of the wisdom of the formation of the Thayer Society.

Secretary, Charles H. Nichols, 35 West 36thSt., New York City.