Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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The concurrent operation of all the agencies and appliances centering in the schools, departments and affiliations of the institution generates a momentum mighty in the driving of many wheels in the state's industrial machinery. The genius that conceived and perfected the mechanism of the plan is the pervading, energizing, shaping, directing intelligence sensibly felt in the execution of the plan. The happy subservience of many wills to a great dominant purpose is effected by an administration that combines clear foresight, penetrating insight and tactful oversight. The secret of successful control here lies far beyond the mere assertion of force. Authority is not summed up in a code of rules and regulations with pains and penalties for cowing underlings into submission. The conception of administration is ministration, a rendering of helpful service to those who come under the tutelage of the institution; and withal the engendering of such confidence in the student as shall prompt him to a cheerful compliance with lawful authority and to a zestful performance of the tasks that constitute his allotment. How consequential environment is in the development of student life has had countless iterations; so many, in fact, that the statement would he trite, were it not for the poignancy of the truth involved. The ideal community in which to maintain an institution that gathers to itself a large and varied patronage is that which combines such advantages as material resources, commercial prosperity, salubrious climate, aesthetic enjoyment, wholesome moral atmosphere and refined social standards. These favoring conditions arc present in high degree in the student life of the Oregon Agricultural College. The city, a trade center and the seat of a progressive, prosperous county, is situated at the confluence of rivers and the intersection of railroads, in the heart of a fertile agricultural section. Steamboat transportation on the Willamette River and rail transportation over intersecting lines facilitate shipping, and render access easy to the seat of the college from every locality of Oregon. The circumjacent farming communities abound in opportunities for observing the results of up-to-date methods in scientific farming and for noting data in agricultural experiments. The far-famed climate that has made Western Oregon the destination of myriads of home-seekers and pleasure-seekers is dispensed in all its tonic salubrity. The vast area of ocean air proximate and the sweep of the ocean current exercise an ameliorating influence on the rigors of latitude. Westerlies from the sea subdue the heat of Summer, and southwesterlies from the sea moderate the cold of Winter. Appreciating the efficacy of sound hygienic conditions as a means of conserving the physical welfare of the community, the guardians of public health have in no wise hesitated at the 17

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Courses, which arc held as prerequisite for admission to the Freshman year of a college course. 'I”he Winter Short Courses are scheduled for a six-week session in the months of January and February—the farmers’ and artisans’ leisure season. The course affords men and women too preoccupied to spend time in an extended course of industrial training an opportunity to receive instruction in interpreting and dealing with the practical problems of the farm, shop and home. The subjects in Agriculture and Domestic Science and Art arc given by means of lectures and laboratory demonstrations. The course in Mechanic Arts is given from the very first an essentially practical character, by actual manipulation in the shop and draughting room. In addition to the regular daily lectures and demonstrations given by members of the several school faculties, lectures are given by men, and also women, from abroad, who have won distinction in the held of industrial achievements. The growing popularity of the Winter Courses is evinced by the fact that in the present year 255 persons enrolled in the several courses, and in addition to the number regularly matriculated 340 registered as attendants in the sessions of Farmers’ Week. The planning and conduct of the Summer School contemplate the preparing of candidates for securing teachers’ certificates, the training of teachers and principals in the art of school method and supervision, the intensive review of subjects in which failure or condition has been incurred, a perusal of subjects requisite for admission to courses of the college, and training in certain elementary subjects of Mechanic Arts, Agriculture ami Domestic Science and Art, now required in the courses of the public and high schools in many states of the Union. A vital point of contact between the College and the great producing community is the Experiment Station. As a collector and recorder of data gathered from the exploration of material resources, as a busy center of scientific research, as a bureau of publicity, the station has been a potent agency of college extension, while the services it has rendered have incalculably-improved the state’s industrial conditions. In many undeveloped localities much practical missionary work has been done by the Farmers’ Institute and the Demonstration Train, two effective auxiliaries of the Experiment Station. Unceasingly, and with marked results, have representatives of the station staff preached the gospel of a scientific husbandry of resources. The annual report of the president of the Board of Regents for 1909-1910 has the following statement: During the past year there were held forty institutes, with an aggregate attendance of 11,250. Two demonstration trains have been run in co-operation with the Southern Pacific and the O-W. R. N. Railroad Companies. . . . It is estimated that the attendance at these trains amounted to 16,000 and over. By means of farmers’ institutes and the demonstration trains the College authorities came in contact with more than 27,000 people. 16

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adoption of the rigorous measures necessary to the prevention of disease. Artificial watercourses have perfected the drainage system that natural situation had begun. The city's network of pipe lines distribute throughout the municipal area health-giving streams that have risen from the snows and springs high up on Mount Chintimini. The college is delightfully situated in a region of romantic attractions. The campus area, touched by the magic hand of art, has become transformed into an idyllic landscape. The devotee of beauty pays homage to the triumphs of artistic genius as he strolls along drives bordered by stately firs, passes among a profusion of sweet-scented shrubbery, and lingers among the charms of blooming roses. The widespreading boughs of trvsting tree, the cool comfort of the stone seats in the shelter of the grove, sylvan retreats along enchanted streams, invite to recreation and reverie. From a vantage ground the eye sweeps around the great curve of a placid river and travels on over charming field, farm and valley to the blue barrier of mountain range away to the east. The far-reaching effects of the formative influences of college life upon the character and subsequent career of youth compel the exercise of scrupulous care in the choice of the social and moral influences by which they arc to be surrounded during their college career. Taking counsel of this maxim, college and municipal authorities, seconded by citizens and churchmen, have, through wise and intelligent co-operation, raised a social standard, maintained civic and moral order, and fortified strongly against the encroachments of demoralizing influences. An aggressive, metropolitan spirit prompts the fostering of such business ventures as are of a meritorious character; and through its pervasive, transforming influence the old order has changed, having given place to the new. Streets have been paved; rubbish and garbage have been swept from the alleys; ramshackle buildings have been displaced by structures of modern architecture; areas of restricted house-building have been scured; the refinements of urban life have been introduced. The effectual execution of such a mighty purpose and plan compels the maintenance of an extensive establishment. Such an establishment the munificence of the state has provided. The institution has been given a competent and secure settlement in the sovereign allotment of the public domain. A generous bestowal of land grants and money subsidies by the State and the Frderal Government is the basis in fact of an institution of public instruction which Oregon has bequeathed as the highest of gifts to its citizens-to-be. A new college regime, characterized by a vigorous, aggressive administration, has appreciably broadened the scope of the institution and enhanced the efficiency of its service. Broadened scope and enhanced efficiency of service, resulting in an enlarged student attendance, have naturally enough been accompanied by an increase of fiscal demands. Money has been 18