University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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The University of Minnesota

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The Greenhouses. The Growth of the Campus. It is not necessary to describe again the gilt ol ' I ' raiiUlin Steele to tlie Uni- versity. March 3d, 1854, the Rea;ents decided to |)iirchase a lot ot land owned by Messrs. George and Taylor and thereon locate the new university. Thiit lot com- prised twenty-seven acres of the present Campus. It reached from the bank ol the river to University aveinic, but imlbrtunately extended along University ave- nue less than twelve rods. The price paid for this was $0,000. On the inaugtiration of |)lans for building in the early 70 ' s, it was seen tluit a grejiter frontage was essential. (Governor Pills- bury jjurehased by his own means the thousand feet along University avenue jjlatted as Thatcher ' s Addition, and held it until the State could appro- ]5riate funds to reimburse him. This was done in February, 1877 and the most essential part of the Campus, a beautiful frontage, was secu red fi-om Twellth avenue to Seventeenth, at an expense of $18,000. Soon, even this enlargement was found to be insufficient for the prospective needs of the immediate future. Again, the phenomenal growth of the cities. Minneajiolis and Saint Paul, warned the Regents that what was done must be R?S done quickly. An- other appropria- tion for enlarging the Campus was asked and granted March 10,1879, of $20,000. The next request for more ground was re- ceived by the legis- lature and ap- proved in voting February 24, 1S8-1-, the sum of $20,- 000 in addition to the ordinary Uni- versity budget. The final addition to the grovmds was made two -ears ago by the gift of the late Hon. Richard Chute, who had served for some years and at two different times as a Regent. The gilt consists of a narrow strip extending on the south side of University avenue from Eleventh avenue southeast eastward. It has given that finish to the westward extension of the grounds, possible only when a street frontage is secured. — 15— The Plant House. The University of Minnesota ji

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A Touchdown. Save in the erection upon it of the buildings, tliis piece of gi-onnd remained almost as nature left it until 1894-. In that vear tlic j rounds were laid out by a distinguished landscape gardener and the legislature appropriated $12,500 the following winter for their improvement. Accordingly driveways have been opened, stone sidewalks have been laid, the surface has been graded, and a well- planned system of improvemcntshas been begun. Rejiresenting a total cost to the state of less than $80,000, it stands at current prices for several times that amount. It was planned iji . . v Hy,.- m. . ' ' ' SO ' s to make the Campus a t S i S mt TX ' ■. ? L, f 3K grand Arboretum in which to grow every tree and shrub that would thrive in the state. The project was, for practical reasons, given up almost before any work and experimentation in that direction had been instituted. After the decision to o])en teaching colleges of law and medicine, it was soon realized that this gi-ound would be needed for the rapidly developing lecture-room and laboratory work of the institution. The group of buildings which has sprung up as by magic, even now proves the wisdom of the step then taken. The Campus, enlarged by these several increments, contains fifty acres. It is of magnificent extent and surpassinglv beau- tiful in situation for a seat of learning. It stands in the very heart of a flourishing commer- cial and business center. The Agricultural Col = lege Farm. In accordance with the ret|uirenients of the act ofreorgani2ation,the Re- gents in 1868 purchased the Agricultural College Farm, a quarter of a mile east of the original University Campus. All preliminarj ' arrange- ments were made and the Regents announced that so soon as the farmers send us a sufficient number of their sons, this department of the institution would be in a flourishing condi- tion. Many lines of experimentation were entered tipon during the subsequent years. Between 1875 and 1880 gieat activity was shown by Professor Lacy. The Barn. The University of Minnesota — 17 —