Montana State University - Sentinel Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

Page 16 text:

14 THE SENTINEL l-'rofvssor F. IJ. Smith was appointed latcr in tho suninwr to the chair of CllL'llllSll'j' and Physics. and in May of the following yt-ar, Prof. James Il. Wells awe-pta-al the position of Professor of Alvczliaxiivul liiigiiic-4,-1'itig. Juno. 181020, marks the first step taken by tlw l'nivt-rsity on otlwr lines than rc-g.:ular class work. A Biological Station was t-stalilislwtl on Flatliezul Lake nvar whore the town of Higfork now is. Prof. M. .l. lilrotl was matlv Dirt-c'tor anal unclvr his skillful guidance- it has In-on nizult- st-cronel to nonv. TH lf R.X'l l'l.l-ISN .X li l-I

Page 15 text:

THE SENTINEL ll! Missoula had donated their South Side High School Building and in addition, had raised three thousand and five hundred dollars by means of a special tax to place the building in proper condition for use by the State. To assist the State Board in their work, a local executive committee was appointed. This consisted of Judge Hiram Knowles, J. H. T. Ryman and T. C. Marshall. On September tenth, eighteen-ninety-tive the University was opened with impressive ceremonies. Fifty students enrolled the first day. The number increased as it has continued to do until at the end of the first fiscal year the attendance was a hundred and eighteen, and at the close of the first college year, June tenth, eighteen-ninety-six, one hundred and thirty-five were in attendance. Arbor Day in eighteen-ninety-six, will be long remembered by those part.icipating, through the fact that then the first improvements on the University grounds' were made. On that day a large concourse of citizens, societies and school children assembled at the grounds near the foot of Sen- tinel for the purpose of planting trees. Amid appropriate exercises, nearly tive hundred shade trees were planted. The next year, eighteen-ninety-seven, the Legislature appropriated six- teen thousand dollars for the maintenance of the University during eighteen- ninety-six and seven, and nineteen thousand dollars for eighteen-ninety seven and eight. The same generous Legislature also gave the University permission to issue bonds to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, bearing interest at not more than six per cent. and due in thirty years, but payable in twenty, for the purpose of erecting the buildings necessary to carry out the increased work, for, already, the present building was taxed far beyond its means. The bonds were issued at a premium, a building com- mission appointed, consisting of J. R. Latimer, Fred Stoddard, A. Cave. George Higgins and J. K. Woods, and the buildings pushed rapidly to com- pletion. Sewerage and water systems were installed, the grounds were graded and filled with many hundred loads of dirt and gravel, additional trees were planted, all preparing for the beautiful grounds to be seen in the near future. By February eighteenth, eighteen-ninety-nine the buildings had been finished and on that date they were formally turned over to the State Board of Education. Only two buildings were erected at this time. Science and University Halls. the one containing the Chemical, Physical and Engineering depart- ments, the other the Biological laboratories, together with Offices and the departments of Mathematics, Languages, History. Psychology, Literature and the Classics. the Museum, Library, Assembly Room, Literary Hall and others. Science Hall also furnished heat and power for both. While the University was growing in buildings, apparatus and grounds, she was also strengthening herself internally by the addition of new depart- ments and strong men at the head of them. Prominent among these is Professor M. J. Elrod, in February, eighteen-ninety-seven. Professor Elrod was one of the strongest men possible to obtain for his position, and for the advancement of the University in all lines.

Page 17 text:

THE SENTINEL 15 Students are in attendance from all over the United States. and the pros- pects are brighter every year. The years 1900 and 1901. on the whole were quiet, but yet were marked by several important events. New members were added to the Faculty and losses suffered by the resignation of old ones. In June Prof. .I. ll. Wells sent in his resignation on account of ill health and in the following August. Professor F. D. Smith tendered his resignation to the Board. Professor A. I.. VVestcott was appointed to fill the chair of Mechanical Engint-erittg to succeed Prof. Smith, and Mr. W. D. Harkins, to fill that ot' Clit-mistry and Physics. Miss Eunice Hubbell also resigned, in order to be niarri -d. Miss Francis Corbin succeeded her in the chair of English l.itt-rature. In order to accommodate the increased demand for an extended coursi- in Geology and Minerology. the State Board ot' Education st-let-tt-tl .I. P. Rowe to fill the newly made department ot' Geologv. which he has zilzlr done since. Miss Louise Hatheway of the class of '00, was made as: st-int in the i - lllUl,tNllCAl, h'l'A'l'ltlN. l l.A'l'IlliAll I..-Xlili Preparatory department. Mr. .Iohn F. Davies of Butte. was teiiarigt,-tl as er- pert Librarian. He systematized the cataloging of the Library. and put it in excellent shape for future needs. Prof. .l. M. Hamilton was added to the Faculty about this time also. lle immediately took charge of the departments of History and Psyt-hology. At the June, 1901, meeting of the Board of Education, he was olef-ted Vico- Prcsident of the Vniversity. At this time Miss Ruth E. Kellogg: was t'lltJSt'll