Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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Purdue is now the largest purely technical school in the West. She was a pioneer in the field of industrial education, and now has an established reputation. The days of her probation are over. She is no longer in the experimental stage. She has still, however, the most important of problems to confront. Her existence does not, perhaps, depend upon the accurate solution of these problems, but their determination will make or mar her future. The problems are no longer critical, but they ai ' e vastly larger than they once were. There was never a time in the history of Purdue when wise guidance was more essential. Other institutions have realized the fact that there is a distinct and pronounced demand for men skilled in applied science. The result is that the great State Universities of the West have established scientific departments, many of which are now important factors in technical education. The competition of the future is destined to be more keen than that of the past. There can, however, be no question as to the future of Purdue so long as she continues to expand along traditional lines. She must, however, do more and better work in the future than she lias done in the past. A healthy institution is dynamic rather tlian static. While Purdue has always enjoyed a large measure of public confidence, there was probably never a time when a more kindly feeling toward her existed in the minds of those interested in technical education. The members of the State Legislature and others in high office, have recently given evidence of their appreciation of her work. The citizens of Indiana and those in other States conversant with her achievements continue to express their confidence in the institution in no uncertain way. There is a very good reason for this. The work of Purdue has been a great stimulus to scientific agriculture ; it has had an important part in developing the efficiency of railroad systems ; it has promoted the study of theoretical and applied electricity ; it has made possible the use of better engineering structures ; it has emphasized the applications of chemical, biological, and sani- tary laws ; it has also provided a training in general studios along literary, linguistic, artistic, and political lines. While the University continues to be aggressive along the lines of her traditional development, there can be no question as to her future. As long as she continues to serve an important and rapidly growing constituency, all good things will be added unto her.

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tinent. Pure science, ako, was inadequate. The application of scientific principles to industrial operations was indispensable. With this end in view scientific schools were founded, and scientific and technical departments were established in institu- tions already existing. Yet the educational facilities were inadequate. The great industrial enterprises were making de- mands for technically trained men whom the schools and colleges could not supply. There was also a demand for scientific training in agricidture. Farming had been carried on by extensive methods since colonial days, and the need of more intensive ciiltivation became evident as the density of population increased. Various plans were suggested to meet these definite de- mands and Congress was finally induced to move in the matter. A bill for the endowment of collies for instruction in agri- culture and the mechanical arts was introduced in 1858 by Hon. Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont. The bill was passed by a narrow majority, but was vetoed by President Buchanan. Four years later the measure, with some modifications, was again presented. It was passed, approved by President Lincoln, and became a law on July 2, 1862. All of the so-called Land-Grant Colleges, of which Purdue is one, were organized imder the provisions of this Act. It granted to each State, wishing to avail itself of the privileges, thirty thousand acres of land for each Senator and Kepresentative to which that State was entitled according to the apportionment following the census of 1860, for the purpose of endowing at least one college where the leading object shaU be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts. . The results of this Act have been far- reaching. It is the most important educational enactment in the history of the United States, with the possible exception of the Ordinance of 1787. Thirty-three new institutions have been founded under its provisions, and at least fifteen others have received more or less assistance from it. If space permitted, statistics might be presented showing the importance of these Land-Grant Colleges in our educational system. The amount of capital represented and the number of students in attendance constitute very impressive totals. Purdue University, owing to wise and conservative management, has always kept well within the letter and the spirit of the statute. She assumed the very definite work set forth in the Act of Congress, and has been one of the most conspicuously successful of the Land-Grant Colleges. The trials and tribulations of the early days of Purdue form an interesting and instructive chapter in her history. For a considerable time she was not a very promising infant. Those with Spartan instinct-s would probably have allowed her to perish, but, fortunately for the cause of applied science, there were those who saw something of her future possibilities. Care- ful nurturing and wise management caused her to wax and gi ' ow strong and ultimately to fulfill the fondest expectations of her most sanguine friends.

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President Stone. lOC ' TOR WINTHROP ELLSWORTH STONE, to whom this edition of the Debris is dedicated, was elected President of Purdue University on July (3, 1900. He was, however, thoroughly familiar with the history and policy of the institution for many years before that time. His long term of residence at the University had also familiarized him with the history of education in Indiana and had brought him into contact with imiversity problems generally. He is, then, no stranger to the State and not new to educational circles. President Stone is a native of New England — that section which has furnished so many sterling and aggressive men for the development of the more remote parts of our country. The achievements of the sons of New England in various parts of the United States have fully justified tlie statement of William Stoughton made in his election sermon of 1688, when he said, God sifted a whole nation, that he might send choice grain into the wilderness. President Stone was born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1862, and in 1878 he entered the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College at Amherst and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bache- lor of Science in 1882. In 1886 a similar degree was conferred upon him by Boston University. After serving his alma mater at Amherst for a short time in tlie capacity of assistant, he went to the University of Gottingen for special work in chemistry. He remained at that institution for two years and then returned to America with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. After a very brief connection with the University of Tennessee he was called to Purdue in 1889 to take charge of the Department of Chemistry. It was in connection with this department that his reputation as a scientist was made. His name soon became a familiar one in the periodicals devoted to chemical research, and his work on the chemistry of sugars gave him an international reputation. It was also in connection with Purdue that he gave evidence of unusual execu- tive ability. He employed business-like methods in the administration of an important and rapidly growing department, and soon was afforded an opportimity to use this same ability in a still larger field. He had been at Purdue but three years when he was made Vice-President of the institution, and from that time to the present has been intimately and influentially connected with the management of the University. During his vice-presidency that office became one of increasing responsi- bility owing to the failing health of the late President Smart. This responsibility, however, he met in such a way as to command the respect and admiration of every one familiar with affairs at Purdue.