Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

Page 32 text:

in agriculture and horticulture by the introduction of a thorough and continuous course of lessons in veterinary science throughout the entire year. This change in the course was adopted by the board in the spring of 1888, and a chair of veterinary science was created. There were some changes made in the course the following year to suit the needs. The school of electrical engineering had its beginning at this time. The increased importance of electricity as a dynamic force made it important that this branch of physical science should have more attention than had been heretofore given to it. The course of science, therefore, was so altered that the student could have four years, instruction in physics, being permitted to devote double time to the subject during the senior year. Three-fourths of that time could be devoted entirely to electricity. About two thousand dollars' worth of electrical apparatus was purchased for students who wished to take the new course. The experimental work done in agriculture by the experimental stations was beginning to be regarded by the United States government as very important and profitable. The demand of the people of the state for the bulletins, which were issued from to time, gave evidence of the nature and importance of the work done. The work of experimenting was then and is now very expen- sive, and it had long been the desire of Purdue to cartcnfl the work in this direction, but it was unable to do so because of a lack of funds. To the great satisfaction of the ofiicers of the institution the Hatch act was passed in 1887. By this act, 315,000 per annum was appropriated to the state. The purpose of the grant was stated as follows: 4' That in order to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States use- ful and practical information on subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and applications of agricultural science, there shall be established, etc. This appropriation was regarded by the agriculturists of the state as the most important step that had been taken in the interests of agriculture in Indiana for many years. The station also in connection with the University was at once greatly strengthened and thoroughly equipped. In the year 1889, an addition to the main station building, increasing the oflice facilities of the station and fu1'nishing a large laboratory-room intended for the agricultural department was built. The experimental feeding barn was also constructed with special reference to an investiga- tion of feeding and of dairy products, in accordance with the best plans which practice and theo1'y could suggest for the accomplishment of the end in view. The school of electrical engineering, which, as we have seen, had already made a humble beginning, was rewarded this year by the erection of a new building, the electrical laboratory, which was to be devoted almost exclusively to work in electricity. The structure is a spacious, three-story, stone and brick building, well adapted to its purpose. The building alone cost

Page 31 text:

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

Page 33 text:

319,450 Improvements to the then existing mechanical laboratory were made to the amount of 349,700 An addition to the shops was built and new machinery, apparatus and fixtures for them were added. These improvements were of the most substantial character and greatly enlarged the possibilities of Purdue. , In the year 1890 the second Morrill act was passed. By this act an additional annuity of 325,000 was granted to the state and it was provided that this appropriation should L' Be applied only to instruction in agriculture, the mechanic arts, the English language, and the various branches of mathematical, physical, natural and economic science, with special reference to their application in the industries of life and to the facilities for such instruction. The institution had been sorely pressed for more room. The work was greatly crippled because of a lack of room. The number of students was increasing yearly and how to accommo- date them was the problem which confronted the officers of the institution. An appeal was made to the legislature and the Forty-seventh General Assembly accordingly appropriated 312,500 for improvements. This was used in the main in the construction of a building which was the beginning of the new and handsome engineering laboratory of the present time. This was a pa1't of the enginee1'ing laboratory which was designed two years before and for which the legislature was asked for an appropriation of 3iG0,000. The building was filled with large and expensive engineering apparatus and machinery which cost in the neighborhood of tIi30,000. The money used for this purpose was obtained from savings from other appropriations and from the Morrill fund spoken of above. The great increase in attendance during the years 1891-92 should receive more than a pass- ing notice. It was the la1'gest in the history of the University, the total number enrolled being 643, an inc1'ease of 113 over the previous year. This showed a la1'ger increase than had ever been made in any year of the University's history, The attendance in the regular classes was so large that the usual special spring class had to be omitted. The number of counties represented was eighty-three, whilst the number of states and foreign countries rep1'esented was twenty. This showed in some degree the extent of Purdue's fame. -K Some important changes were made in 1893. The old mechanical laboratory was turned OV61' to the school of science in this year, made possible by the erection of the shops to the new mechanical laboratory. The pharmacy department thereupon occupied the whole of the building now occupied by it. A gift of tB35,000 from Amos Heavilon with an appropriation of 350,000 from the state rendered it possible to erect the long desired mechanical building proper. Work was begun upon it in the spring of 1893, and the middle of January, 1894, saw it completed, a magnificent struc- ture, H and a monument to the untiring energy of President Smart. On the 19th of January, it was declicated and accepted by the governor, as the pride of Indiana. The extensive shops were