Report of the Dean of the Department of Law, Nov. 18, 1904.-- No. 12.

To the Executive Board:

Gentlemen:--

My report this month will be devoted to the needs of the department of law for the next biennial period.
(1) The Law Building.
The large enrollment in the law department (today 222 as against 108 on Nov. 25, 1902 and 180 on Nov. 25, 1903) is sufficient to show that if the increase in enro1lment is to go on in the future as it has done in the past our present accommodations will be insufficient. They are so at present in the matter of library and reading room space. I have considered the question of requesting the Board to ask from the next Legislature a new and larger law building but I have concluded not to do so for two reasons:-- (1) That there are other more pressing needs in the University and (2) that the present law building can, I think be made to furnish a comfortable home for the law department for some years. The building is large but it was badly planned and a great deal of space is lost inside the walls. It is a strong building and former visiting committees have recommended the raising of the roof and the addition of another story. But the expense in the opinion of your architects would be very great and the building when restored would be objectionable. I am of opinion that at a moderate expense the building can be made suitable to the needs of the department for some years by the following alterations, viz.:--
The closets and cloak rooms on the first and second floor to be removed to a closet and cloak room to be fitted up in basement.
The large Northeast room in the basement to be fitted up with granitoid floor, ceiled and plastered, for a reading room, to relieve the crowding now necessary in the library.
The rear stairway to be removed, the small room on the second floor extended across the building to provide a larger class-room.
The room on the first floor now occupied by the rear stairway and closet and by the cloak-room to be added to library rooms.
-$2500

All the woodwork throughout building to be refinished.
All the walls and ceilings to be tinted with two coats.
All the floors to be stained.
$350

The estimate of $2500 has been made by your architects. I attach their letter and rough p1an of alterations. The estimate of $350 is made for me by Mr. Glass, painter, of Columbia.
The building should also be wired for electric lights and combination gas and electric fixtures should be placed in all the rooms. I would point out that the law building is the only building on the campus having no electric lighting and the one building in constant use by the students six nights in the week. At present the library rooms are very ill lighted.

(2) Library.
We should have for books during the next biennial session at least $10,000. Of this $1000 should be spent during that time for rebinding and as we have received only half of our last appropriation of $5000
this does not seem too much to ask.

(3) Faculty.
In addition to the Dean and the three resident Professors we need an Assistant Professor at a salary of say $1500 per year. This will be necessary if the enrollment increases at all next year: instruction would
be much improved today if we had another teacher as it would enable us to divide classes now too large for one man.

(4) Assistants.
Senior Librarian, $25 per month for nine months. Assistant Librarian and Stenographer $25 a month. Clerk of Practice Court $25 per month, nine months. (The necessity for this assistance is pointed out in the
letter of Professor Hinton attached to bills for practice Court work during the past two months.)

Summary (in addition to salaries of present law faculty).
Law Building.- Alterations and repairs. $2850.00
Law Library 10000.00
Assistant Professor, $1500 a year 3000.00
Senior Librarian, $25 for 18 mo. 450.00
Junior Librarian & Stenographer, $25. for 18 mo. 450.00
Clerk of Practice Court, $25. for 18 mo. 450.00
$17200.00

Respectfully submitted
John D. Lawson
Dean

[Postscript]
$5000 is quite enough for the Law Library in comparison with what other Departments get. OF course I would be glad to have $20000 for this purpose but the University has other needs.
R. H. Jesse