Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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institution has been marvelous. At the opening of the fall term of 1883, the school of industrial art was made a distinctive school as prescribed in the new course of study, adopted by the trustees in May. In the spring of 188-4, the school of pharmacy was established upon the recom- mendation of the president of the faculty. During this time grave financial questions presented themselves to the president and the board. At the close of the college year, June 30, 1883, the fund for the current expenses of the University had been exhausted, and through the failure of the general appropriation bill of the general assembly of 1882-3, the University was left without means for its current expenses, and nothing could be obtained for this purpose through state appropriation until the next meeting of the state legislature, which would occur regularly in January, 1885. The twelve buildings belonging to the University were to be kept in repair and protected from injury, they were to be supplied with heat, light and water, the engine-house, its boilers and its gas-works were to be kept in order and managed by competent engineers g power, lumber, iron and other material were to be supplied to the machine-shop, ordinary supplies for all the various departments were to be purchased, demands for insurance premiums were to be met, janitors who cared for the buildings and laborers on the campus, a person capable of taking care of the green-house, and several farm hands, were to be paid. The library was to be kept supplied with all the periodicals and papers, and a librarian was to be employed. The experiment station, always a large item of expense, was to be maintained, and the demands upon the treasury for the salaries of the oliicers of the institution were to be met. Besides this there were several very much needed improvements to be made and the engineering department, which had just been established, required a large out-lay to put it into operation. All these things and many others which would cost money were to be done, or the institution would be obliged to close its doors, and send its students home. The proceeds of the endowment fund would hardly be sufficient to pay the salaries of the faculty, and none of it could be used for Current expenses, should there be a surplus. According to the report of the preceding year it required nearly 320,000 per annum to meet the current expenses of the two years then ending. How to secure money enough to carry on the University for eighteen or twenty months, under these circumstances, was the difficult problem that confronted the trustees and the president at this period. Vigorous means were at once taken. Space does not permit us to describe at length how the University was kept running during this period of bankruptcy. Suffice it to say that in view of the financial embarrassment of the Uni- versity, the president was obliged to spend a large portion of his time in personally supervising the expenditures, and in negotiating with the creditors. It was only through the most untiring efforts on his part, and 011 the part of the officers of the institution, that they were enabled to meet the imperative demands upon the treasury, and thus keep the institution open. At the next

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one of the regular courses. Q45 The dropping of Latin and German from the scientific course and the adding of another year in English and two years, two hours daily, of laboratory practice in the biological and physical sciences. Q55 The increase of hand work and other practical train- ing in all departments. Q65 The d1'opping of the first year's course in the academy, and the raising of the standard of admission a.bout half a year, and Q75 the establishing of the new chair of physics and mechanical engineering. These changes, as one can see, are nearly all in the direction of more practi- in science and industry. of 1883 that President so faithfully for seven ignation was deeply re- tantly accepted by the C. Ratliff, president of of 1883 said: VVhen of Purdue University it aging condition. He or- an original plan, which, has been gradually de- is assured and its merits cerning his devotion to more unselfish devotion of the University and a purpose I have never manifested by Dr. VVhite cal and thorough training lt was during this year 5Vhite, who had served years, resigned. His res- gretted by all and reluc- board of trustees. Joseph the board, in l1is report Dr. VVhite took charge was in at most discour- ganized the institution on under his wise direction, veloped until its success widely recognized. Con- his work he said: 'CA to the highest interests truer loyalty to its great known than has been toward Purdue during ministration . ll sponsibility of selecting VVl1ite, and the filling of I and mechanical engineer- board. This task was ac- the seven years of his ad- The very great re- a succesor to President the new chair of physics ing now devolved on the complished, however, so cord or want of harmony or efliciency manifested itself, and the institution moved forward with - EVIERSOH E. WHITE - successfully that no dis- its usual regularity. James H. Smart, LL.D., who was for three terms the eflicient state super- intendent of public instruction of Indiana, was elected president, and Albert VV. Stahl, U. S. N., professor of physics and mechanical engineering. Under the administration of President Smart the subsequent development of Purdue has taken place and it may be said that, through the wise manipulation of the means at hand, and through the efforts of able instructors, the growth of the

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meeting of the legislature the much needed relief came and the University was again upon its feet. Purdue University was the only state institution entirely depending upon biennial appropria- tions for its support, and the only one whose life would be in jeopardy by the failure of an appro- priation bill. It was urged at this time that Purdue be placed upon an equality with other state institutions, and that its legislative appropriations be made in a specific act, and that they be made continuous. This effort on the part of the officers of the institution was not without good results as was shown in a subsequent act. The number of students in the mechanical department had increased continually since the organization of the course and it became more and more difficult to give them shop accommoda- tions. The legislature was urged to appropriate a sum of money suflicient to build a new mechanical laboratory. The legislature, accordingly, appropriated 312,500 for that purpose. A building fthe present Science Halli was erected in 1885, and a considerable amount of modern machinery was placed in it. About 33,000 worth of machinery and tools were donated to the institution by manufacturers and dealers. The building was admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was constructed, but it was soon found that it was not large enough to meet the demands. In two years the number of students in the school of mechanics increased from 40 to 120. The total number of students in school 118809 was 315, showing an increase over the preceding year of 56. In 1887 the number attending school was 302, 230 of which were in the college, while 162 were in the preparatory class. ln the six years preceding, the college proper maintained a steady and rapid growth. lVhile there was a decrease in the number of preparatory students during the preceding three years, the increase in the college was large enough to affect a considerable general increase in the University. Purdue could no longer be called a local institution. It now had representatives from sixty-eight counties, and besides this it enrolled students from eleven states outside the state of Indiana. The preparatory department was still considered as a feeder for the college. Not only was Pu1'due growing in numbers, but in thought and in a knowledge of the great mission it had to perform. Several important changes were made in the courses of study already existing and new courses were organized. In September, 1887, a school of civil engineering with a full four years' course was opened. During the first year it enrolled twenty-nine students. A school of domestic economy was opened at the same time and proved a gratifying success. Later on, changes were made so that all the inst1'uction given in domestic economy were given during the winter term. During the winter term of 1887-8 a short course in veterinary science and allied subjects was given at the University, by a special instructor, assisted by the 1'egular college faculty. The lessons were received with so much favor that it was deemed best to modify the course of instruction