North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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HOLLADAY HALL, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING V. M. C. A. BUILDING 14

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This memorial quickened general interest in the proposed school, and several bills looking to its foundation were introduced in the Legislature of 1885. On March 7 one of these bills, introduced by Hon. Augustus Leazar, of Iredell County, became a law. This law provided that the Board of Agriculture should seek proposals from the cities and towns of the State, and that the school should be placed in the town oifcring most inducements. The Board of Agriculture finally accepted an offer from the City of Raleigh. Meantime, the ideas of the advocates of the school had been somewhat broad- ened as to the character of the proposed institution. They saw that Congress was aljout to supplement the original Land Grant Act by an additional appropria- tion for agricultural and mechanical colleges in each State. The originators of the conception then sought the aid of progressive farmers in order to change the school into an Agricultm-al and Mechanical College. Col. L. L. Polk, the editor of the newly established Progressive Farmer, threw the weight of his paper heartily into the new idea. jNIeetings were held in various ])laces, and two very large meet- ings in Raleigh considered the proposition. As a result the school already provided for was, by action of the Legislature of 1887, changed into an Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Land Scrip Fund was given the newly formed insti- tution. In aildition, the law directed that any surplus from the Department of Agriculture should go into the treasury of the college. ]Mr. R. Stanhope PuUen, one of Raleigh ' s most broad-minded citizens, gave the institution eighty-three acres of land in a beautiful suburb of Raleigh. The first buikling was completed in 1889, and the doors of the college were opened for students on October the thirtl, 1889. Seventy-two students, representing thirty-seven counties, were enrolled the first year. The faculty consisted of six full professors and two assistants. From this small Ijeginning in 1889 the college has growii to be the second in size in students and faculty among the colleges for men in the State. It has now a faculty of sixty members ; a student enrollment in all courses of 760; and twenty brick buildings. 13

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PULLEN H.VLL i , 1 J ' H I ' l.- K H ; g m INFIHMARY 15