Missouri University of Science and Technology - Rollamo Yearbook (Rolla, MO)

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A Historical Sketch Taken from the address of the Hon, Thomas L. Rnhey, delivered at the Fortieth Anniversary of the Founding of the School I N 1870 Hon. Ellis G. Evans, State Senator from Red la, introduced and passed through the General Assembly of Missouri a bill to establish in South Missouri a mining school, to be a college of the State University. The bill provided that the school should be located in the town that gave the most in money or land. There were two con- testants, I ronton and Rolla, and Rolla won. The Board of Cu- rators first selected old Fort Wyman as the site of the school buildings, because of its natural beauty, and the extent of the view it afforded, but practical considera- tions caused them to relocate the build- ings in the north- western part of the town, which is the present site. The first building, the old Rolla Building, was purchased from the school district, which had built it as a pub- lic school, and it served all the needs of the school until 1885, when the central portion of the present Chemical Laboratory was erected. This building has been subsequently enlarged by the addition of two wings and a second story. In 1889 the present director’s residence was built. It was first used as a student club house, but its use for this purpose was soon abandoned. In 1895 the power house, then known as the Metallurgical Building, was erected. This building has subsequently been greatly enlarged, the last extension having been made in 1911, when the new brick chim- ney and an addition to the boiler room were built. Mechanical Hall was erected in 1901 and has never been materially altered. In 1903 and 1908 Nor- wood Hall, the prin- cipal building of the group, was erected. This building besides being the central one of the group, is the largest and most im- posing and is the one by which the school i s be st k n o w n . The Ore Dressing Building was erected in 1908 and 1909, but the top story of the main portion was not erected until 1911. Parker Hall is the lat- est addition to the buildings of the school. Tt will house the Library and executive offices, and will contain an adequate auditorium. It may be well here to mention the proposed Gymnasium, upon which work will be started early in the summer. It will be a modern structure containing a swimming tank, the usual gymnasium rooms and several club NORWOOD HALL 12

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The Curators IX R. Francis ....... C, B. Rollins P. E- Burton J. C, Parrish S. L, Baysinger C, E. Yeater .. . . T J. Womall j. w. Swift G L Zwick St Lon is Columbia Joplin Vandalia Rolla Sedalia Liberty Kansas City St Joseph The Executive Committee of the School of Mines S, L. Baysinger P. E Burton Thos. J. Womall B. L. Knapp Edwin Kahlbauin Roby Dickinson - Other Officers Treasurer Secretary and Registrar Superintendent of Buildings it

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rooms ; this will vastly increase the feeling of good fellowship which now prevails among students and faculty. The equipment and laboratory facilities of the school have in- creased with the number and size of the build- ings, and to-day the splendid laboratories of Chemistry, Metallurgy, Ore Dressing, Physics, Electrical Machinery, Steam, Air and Hy- draulic Machinery, Geology, Mineralogy, etc,, the well-eq nipped wood, forge and machine shops, and the extensive field equipment for 1 a n d , mine, topo- graphic and geologic surveying, place the School of Mines in the front rank of technical schools. In the near future a complete Materials T esting Laboratory will be installed sup- plementing the pres- ent “Cement ' Labo- rs t q r y ; this wilt vastly strengthen the school in the depart- me tits of Applied Mechanics and Structural Engineering, The first director of the school was Charles P Williams, who served from the founding of the school in 1871 until 1877 when he was succeeded by Charles E, Wait, After Mr. Wait came William H, Echols, who served until 1801; from 1891 to 1893 the school was in charge of Elmo G. Harris ; Professor Har- ris resigned to follow more purely technical work and is now Professor of Civil Engineer- ing, Upon Professor Harris resignation Walter lb Richards was appointed and he re- mained until 1897, when he was succeeded by George E. Ladd, who served until 1907, when the present director, Lewis E, Young, was ap- pointed. All the directors have been men of high ability and professional standing and the progress of the schoo l has been continuous under their able direction Until 1890 the school received its support from the sale of agricultural lands and the financial appropriations made by the Legisla- ture. In 1890 the Morrill Fund was established by the National Govern- ment and since that time the school has r ecei v eel on e- f DU rth of the money com- ing to the State from that source. In 1891 the sum of $650,000 was paid to the State as a remuneration for loss during the Civil War; this was given by the State Legislature as an endowment to the University, and of the interest on this the School of Mines receives one-fifth, A little later the Collateral Inheritance Tax law passed and of this the School of Mines also receives one-fifth. It is impossible to overestimate the value to the University of this tax, and many of the buildings of the School of Mines would not have been possible without it. The Legisla- ture lias always been as liberal as possible with the institution and the appropriations VIEW OF CAM PUS