Montana State University Bozeman - Montanan Yearbook (Bozeman, MT)

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NINETEEN TWELVE $ast, $rrsent auit iFuture HROM a very modest beginning in the spring of 1893. the Montana State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts lias grown till at the present time it not only sets the pace for Montana institutions in standard, but also in progressiveness and extension. At the time of its beginning there were few who to any degree foresaw the expansion of the institution to its present scope. The financial support at that time was small, the returns from the liberal iand grants of the federal government, amounting to 140.000 acres of Montana’s virgin soil, were at that time negligible. The state, being then in its infancy, could make no large appropriations for buildings and equipment. The direct appropriations of the federal government, limited in use to purposes of instruction, while sufficient for those purposes, could not be profitably applied owing to the lack of buildings and equipment to permit of their use. The location of the college at first was the old academy building, now replaced by the magnificent Catholic Church on West Main Street. Part of the space in the high school building and other buildings in the city were utilized for the accommodation of the e er growing number of students. Finally the institution moved into its newly completed quarters on the hill. Year by year new buildings have been added, old ones have been improved, the campus has been enlarged and all the time this growth has been met with a corresponding increase in. student attendance. In the fall of 1904 the resignation of President James Reid took place and President J. M. Hamilton was called to the position. It was then said that the pioneer days of the institution were ended, that the future would see a development of the institution on the lines already begun, that enterprises then in their infancy had blazed the path for the future. Just how far this is true is merely a matter of opinion. In some respects the institution will always be in its pioneer days so long as it continues to undertake new tasks, so long as it progresses toward a stronger and bigger institution. Its pioneer days arc truly over if that term means infancy and uncertain growth. From a student’s standpoint, the past few years have been almost revolutionary, this year in particular having seen an exemplification of new standards and new ideas. Every organization and every individual connected with the college has under- P a g e 13

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BACK TO NATURE

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THE MONTANAN taken new tasks and in many ways echoed the prevailing air of progressiveness. Beginning with the opening of the college year in September, 1910, this spirit of progress began to manifest itselt even stronger than in previous years. From one coach on the athletic fields, matters had advanced till there were three all of the time and five for a great portion of the time. Organized support of student activities, which in previous years which had been existent largely in the minds of enthusiasts, now became a reality. Before the close of the football season, the institution had taken the lead in. and successfully executed, a campaign for the passage of tiie amendment to the state constitution relating to the tax levy, making possible liberal appropriations for higher education by the state legislatures of the years to come. Closely following this action was one for securing an Engineering Hall. This much needed addition to the equipment of the institution was secured after a hard fight and within two years will have been completed and utilized. Probably the most striking innovation in the line of progress was the first interscholastic basketball tournament and extemporaneous contest. held March 2. 3 and 4. under the auspices of the college. Sixteen teams entered the tournament, from the leading high schools of the state, and from fifteen schools speakers were sent. The tournament required fifteen games for its completion and was won by Billings high in the final contest with Anaconda by a score of 27 to 20. The speaking contest was won by j. R. Cotton of Fergus county high school. Appropriate medals and cups were awarded the winners and the event augured well for future years. The value to the college of this big affair in the matter of attracting the attention and interest of high school students can not be overestimated. In addition to this direct gain, there was a considerable one in unifying the student and faculty bodies, the two working together for the same grand purpose eliminated any friction which might have existed, while the same was true of different sections of the student body itself. That the event will become an annual one is certain, though its full results cannot be estimated. Supplementary to this campaign of education, and designed to reach still other high school people was the series of postal showers planned and executed by the girls, the sending of a representative with the Better Farming Special, with the especial duty of distributing information concerning the college, and the sending out of items of news concerning the college to the different papers of the state. Page 14