Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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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

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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

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opened for inspection and the laboratory was alive with the movement of machinery, great and small. A thousand people witnessed the display and all were delighted at the achievement. Their hopes were soon to be blasted for, four days later, the greater portion of the magnificent building was little more than broken walls and ashes. It caught Hre on the evening of the 23d and within two hours the flames had done their work. Students and friends worked heroically to save equipment, and to stay the contlagration, and with the aid of the fire department, saved the west wing, which contained all that remained of the mechanical of the civil engin- relics from the draw- mantled Columbian articles of furniture was saved from the salvage of :F30,000, surance of 34-l7,500, loss to about 34100,- good will of Amos to have been pre- ance, and his memo- new building. Not president and offi- to secure the erec- ing which would the one which had destroyed. Their ef- the second time lS95, they beheld complete, and the with delicately ad- equipment. A part eering outfit, some ing-room, the dis- exhibit and a few constitute all that main building. A with a realized in- reduced the actual OOO. The gift and Heavilon were held served in the insur- ry still clings to the to be defeated, the cers went to work tion of a new build- equal if not excel so prematurely been forts were rewarded when in December, the building again laboratories all astir justed machinery. The restored building was opened with appropriate ceremonies December -l, 1895. As the execu- tive of this work President Smart showed an energy. a wisdom and courage which even his former efforts in behalf of the University had not foreshown. To him is ultimately due the credit of having delivered the institution from its crisis. He demonstrated to the public and to his students that Purdue is to continue to stand among the best of its kind, worthy of all confidence. In the spring of 'Q-l the preparatory department was abolished because of the constantly decreasing numbers in it. Thenceforth, all students had to enter the college directly. This