In laboratory courses, the expenses for running the laboratory, such as gas, water, salaries of janitors, etc., are much larger than the expense incurred in carrying on a course in any other part of the college. The corporation, therefore, thought it necessary to charge the student who elects a laboratory course more than one who takes any other course. Just so much money is allowed the laboratory for running expenses as is deemed sufficient, according to the cost of running other buildings in the university. The fee of $15 which is charged each year is to cover the cost of reagents and supplies on the desks of the laboratory, and also all costs incidental to a laboratory course, over and above the cost of carrying on any other course in the university.

The regular fee of $15 is paid on the first term bill under the item of "Laboratory supplies and damage of apparatus." Besides this, at the end of the year another fee is required to cover the cost of actual breakage made by each laboratory student. This fee varies with the care exercised by the student. On the last term bill it appears under the same item of expense as the first fee, and hence our correspondent's error. The last fee is for nothing but damages to apparatus and for any chemicals, besides the regular reagents used by the student. As a matter of fact, no charge at all was made for extra chemicals this year, the charges being for breakage alone. The fee of $25 for breakage in two courses, such as chemistry 3 and 4, is considered an average one. It seems a misfortune that there is no endowment from which the expense of running a laboratory could be paid, as such endowments could not fail to increase the election of laboratory courses.

Like The Crimson? We deliver, straight to your inbox.