Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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t i . HIRTY vears ago the most imagina- tive would not have beheved that within three decades Purdue Univer- sity would stand as the foremost engi- neering school of the West. John Purduecalledthe institution a grow- ing High School : and Governor Hen- dricks, who in 1873 dcli -ere(l tliv first Commencement address, ventured the hope that within twenty years the graduates would number one hundred instead of one. At this time, when Purdue drew its stu lents from Tip- pecanoe county alone, and had but fifteen enrolled in the four classes, it hardly seemed possible that the time might cimie when the enrollment would jaass the fifteen hundred mark, com- l)rising students from not only every state in the Union, but from manv foreign countries as well. The M.mk Entk.wce In this steadily increasing growth, we can not fail to read the worlil ' s generous recognition of the successful work done by the Purdue Ahunni. In this sketch no attem])t is made to give the details of the origin of I ' urdue. It is niereh inlen led t(i |)resent the ups and downs of her early development when President and Trustees labored together to tide the Universitv over the dark davs of her early existence, and to picture if possi1.)le the monument of to-day which stands as an emblem of the untiring energv of men like our presidents. Emerson E. Miite and James H. Smart. In 1862. Mr. ? Iorrell with the assistance of Senator Wade, succeeded in passing an amended form of the original Land ( irant Pill which had been ve+oed bv President Buchanan in 1858. I ' , this act each state accepting the bill was entitled to 30.000 acres of land for each Senator and Representative in 13

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I ' .l.lA IKi.AL Rl ILlMNi;

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( ' oiij;ri-ss. aciNinliiij; tn the i -nsiis of lSi (). riii l.unl was lo Ih ' sold ami tlii. ' money used in llu- maintenance of collet es wliose leading; oI)jects slioidd be. wilhoiit excluding other scientific and classical studies, and includiuL; military tactics. to teach s;-ch branches a.s are related to the Agricullnre and the Mechanic arts. This hill was accepted hy the Slate of Indiana in 1X65. I ' i the sale of the public land for which it provided, and the sub- sequent investment of the sum in bonds, an endowment ol S.M().0(K.) was formed, ihi vielding an aimn.il income of The schixil was first called The Imliaiia Agriciiltiiral Cdl- lege. In 186 ' ) John Purdue ' s donation of $l. (l.()l)() was ac- cepted, the State agreeing to cb.iuge the n.ime to I ' ln-dne I ' niversitv. . t the same time the donation uf .S. D.ODO from L.MiiEs ' Hall l i])pecanoc conntv and 100 acres of land from the citizens of West Lafa etle were accepted and later the present site was decided ii])on as the best location for the University. In 1S70. The Ladies ' Hall, riiarmacy P uildiiig. Purdne I l.ill, then known as the Men ' s Dormatory, Poiler House, IMil- ilar llall, and I ' .ani were erected and preparations were made for the o]ieiiiiig of the I ' nivcrsity. In lS7i, Professor Richard ( )wen. of the department of X ' atural l cience in the St.ale I ' niversity, was chosen President. I ' rofessor lloughman was appointed as his assistant. It was found impossilile to oikmi the l ' nivcrsit - in 187, and in the spring of IS7-t. President ( )wi, ' n ix ' si; ' ;ncd his position. An act of ( ' ongress reipiired tin- ojieiiing of the I ' niversitv by Jnlw ' I ' iiL UU) iJui.:.i 14