Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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work he was called upon to do in placing the College in the front rank of American educational institutions. In the beginning he announced cer¬ tain policies that would guide him in his administration. Among these were: (1) higher standards of morality, (2) greater religious activity, (3) higher standards of scholarship, (4) proper conduct of athletics, (5) development of the ma¬ terial equipment of the College, and (6) a greater field of usefulness for the College through the Extension Service, the Ex¬ periment Station and resident college in¬ struction. The thorough manner in which these policies have been carried out is well known to all of the friends of the College. The standards of scholarship have been raised so that in this respect the College is now on a par with the best institutions of the country. From the standpoint of material improvement, the ten years of his administration are by far the greatest in this history of the College. In the 38 years previous to the beginning of President Bizzell’s administration the State of Texas ap„- propriated $1,250,000 for buildings and permanent improvements. During the last ten years the amount appro¬ priated for these purposes has been in excess of $2,500,000. At the present time the College has a valuation of approximately $6,000,000, and is the best equipped institution of its kind in the South. The enrollment at the beginning of his administration was 1,219; the enrollment for the session 1924-25 has exceeded 4,000 students, a gain of over 300 per cent. The Agricultural and Mechanical College System of Texas, which includes the resident instruction at College Station and at the two junior colleges, and also the work of the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Extension Division, has proved a most important factor in the industrial development of the State. The purpose of the College is well summed up in the excellent definition of an education as given by John Milton in his famous Tractate on Education: “I call, therefore, a complete and generous education that which fits a man to perform justly, skillfully and magnanimously all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war.” The Agricultural and Mechanical College now offers degrees in fourteen different departments. These degrees cover any phase of Agriculture and Engineering that may be found elsewhere in the State of Texas and many that cannot be found except at A. and M. Besides these two general divisions the School of Arts and Sciences offer courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and also one in the natural Sciences. Military Science is taught all the four years of a regular course. With the Military Staff that is maintained there by the U. S. Army, the rating given by the General Board of the U. S. Army Inspectors is second best in the entire country and the largest enrollment of any Military School in the United States. This combination with the numerous other courses puts the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on a plane with any leading University or College in the entire country. The graduates of this institution are found in every part of the world and in every business that there is; always making good regardless of the existing circum¬ stances or conditions. They are putting into practice the theoretical as well as the practical principles that they were taught in their four years at A. and M. College of Texas. Entrance to College, 1926 Page 24

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The attendance continued to increase, and for the fifth conse utive year notices were sent to the papers of the state that no other students could be received. The various Legislatures had been disposed to act favorably on the earnest pleas of the College authorities for increased facilities, but the financial condition of the state seemed always such as to make it neces¬ sary to limit appropriations to the amount required for current expenses. The increased interest in the work of the College was caused, among other things, by the overcrowding of the pro¬ fessions and the rapid development of the industrial life of the country, which af¬ forded an inviting field to thousands of the nation’s finest young men. The students willingly accepted the crowded conditions existing in the College in order to receive the benefits of its instruction. President Foster died in 1902, and Dr. D. F. Houston of the University of Texas was appointed President. During his administration a number of important improvements were made, including a revision of the courses of study in order to provide more thorough technical training. The task of building curricula in courses of this kind had for many years been an experiment and few people knew just what subjects should be included. Among the lines of study which received emphasis were Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Textile Engineering, and in the course in Agriculture, options were offered which enabled the student to special¬ ize in Farm Husbandry, Plant Husbandry and Animal Husbandry. The Texas Textile School was established by an act of the Legislature in 1903, and marked the beginning of the development of the textile industry in the state. President Houston resigned in 1905 to become President of the University of Texas. Dr. H. H. Harrington, Professor of Chemistry in the College, was appointed to succeed Dr. Houston. President Harrington’s administra¬ tion was characterized by a decided increase in the number of students. At the time of his accession to the Presi¬ dency, the enrollment was 411; when he resigned, in 1908, the enrollment had increased to 625. The Legislature failed to provide dormitory facilities for the overflow in the student body and it became necessary to resort to tents to take care of those who could not be accommodated in the regular dormitories. This was the beginning of what became known as “Tent Row,” which occupied a prominent place in the affairs of the College for about seven years. In 1908, Colonel R. T. Milner, who had just served the state for several years as Commissioner of Agricul¬ ture, was appointed president of the College. Colonel Milner’s administration from 1908 to 1913, marked a turning point in the history of the College, as regards increase in equipment and in enrollment, and in expanding and strengthening the teaching staff. Several new buildings for purposes of instruction were erected and the dormitory facilities were largely increased. However, the attendance grew so fast that it was necessary to continue “Tent Row.” The enrollment, which was 639 at the opening of the Session of 1908-09, increased to 1,130 by the end of President Milner’s administration in 1913. This period of five years also witnessed a remarkable growth in interest in the course in Agriculture. In the session of 1912-13 the enrollment in Agriculture exceeded that of all other courses in its history. President Milner resigned in 1913, and Dr. Charles Puryear, Dean of the College, was appointed President pro tern. At this time the College was ex¬ periencing financial difficulties, but through the untiring efforts of Colonel E. B. Cushing, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Puryear, these difficulties were all overcome by the end of the session 1913-14. In September, 1914, Dr. William Bennett Bizzell, then President of the College of Industrial Arts, was elected President. As a native of the State, educated in Texas institutions, Dr. Bizzell brought to the College a knowl¬ edge of educational conditions in Texas which peculiarly fitted him for the great Page 23

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ADMINISTRATION Page 25