University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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State Appropriations. It can l)c said to the glory of the eoniiiioinvealth that whenever called tipon by the Regents, aid has been voted without comi)laint and with practical unanimity, to the full extent of the re(|ucst or to the last dollar the state could properly command in support of the institution. Some of the more important special appropriations may be summarized : Between 1867 and 18S1 for construction : 1867. Repairing the I ' niversity building .$15,000 1870. Further repairs on the building 10,000 1873. Appropriation for erecting a front part to the same, and a building for College of Agriculture 30,000 1881. A si. years ' appropriation, of $80,000 per year 180,000 .$255,000 Owing to calamities which liclcll the state, the last appropriation was not drawn upon until 1883 and following years. Between 1891 and 1895 for construction; 1891. . ppropriation for Itcpartnients of Law and Medicine $ 80,000 1893. •• Library and Assembly Hall 175.000 1893. ' ■ ■■ Workshops at the Karni. 30,000 1895. ■• •■ Dining Hall at the Farm 42,000 1895. ■■ ■ Hairy Hall 15,000 1895. ■■ Blacksmith Shop 7,000 1K9S. ■• ■• Laboratory of the Medical Sciences 40,000 1895. Astronomical Observatory 10,000 1895. ■• The Armory 75,000 Total, $474,000 It will he noted that there was appropriated for new buildings between 1891 and 1895 more than twice as much as during all the preceding years. If 1884, the year in which the change in administration occurred, be taken as the divide, only $114,000 had been actually expended, while since that date $620,000 represents the state ' s investment in buildings alone, or more than five times the earlier amoimt. For the libraries : 1891. Appropriation for the several libraries - $10,000 1895. •■ General Library 20,000 Total, $30,000 Some special appropriations: 1S9I. . ppropriation for establishing the School of Mining and Metallurgy $6,000 1891. ' opening a Department of Pharmacy 5,000 1891. salaries, Electrical Engineering and Mining, annually.. 4,500 1895. maintenance. School Mining and Metallurgy, .. 5,000 Some points to he noted in the approjjriation by the State from year to year are as follows: In 1878 an annual tax of one-tenth of a mill was voted with an assessed valuation that year of nearly $230,000,000. But in 1881 the income was insufficient, and there was added $ 23,000 1885 The sum appropriated was increased per year to 35,000 1887 the sum appropriated for annual support was changed to 50.000 1889 there was voted for additional allowance 25,000 1893 a tax of 3-20 mill was voted; assessed valuation for that year about 635,000,000 1895 an urgent deficiency bill added 60,000 The significance of the foregoing lies in the fact that the University has grown at such a rapid and unintennipted rate that even the oldest legislator has not — 21 — The University of Minnesota

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The. University of Minnesota Tlie stcarHiiessofptirposcwliich from the first has been a marked feature of the Kovenimeiit of the I ' niversity.has held the Geological and Natural HistorySurvey to its work. After twenty-five years of uninterrupted research, a still longer period of useful investigation lies before the several departments of the University charged with the prosecution of this work thus far so successfully carried on. Grants, Appropriations and Gifts. The first condition of success in the development of any institution is the financial one. It is well at this point to note with what resources the University has been endowed. They have Ijeen derived fi-om three sources. Fn-st, Congressional ai)propriations; Second, Legislative appropriations; Third, Individual gifts and endowments. Congressional Appropria tions. The Congres.s, in February, 1851. one day after the ap]5roval by Gov- ernor Ramsey of the legislative act creating the Uni- versity of the Ter- ritory of Minne- sota authorized the Secretary of the Interior to set apart two town- ships . 46,080 acres, for the use and sup- port of the Univer- sit3 ' ot the Territory of Minnesota. In 1857 therewas ap- propriated an ad- ditional two town- ships consisting of a like amount. In 1862 the historic Morrill bill made a grant to the State of Minnesota of 120,000 acres. In 1887, $15,000 annually was appropriated for the establishment and maintenance of an .Agricultural Experiment Station. In IS ' JO, $15,000 annually was approjjriatcd, also for agi-icullure, with an additional $1 ,000 each year until the total should reaci ' $25,000, at which figure the appropriation shall stand until otherwise ordered by Congress. Of the above, much of the earlier grants was swept away in the financial dis- asters preceding and attending the civil war. The few hundred acres saved from these and the lands accruing under the Morrill bill have substantially all been sold and the sum invested in interest-bearing securities. This interest, with the $36,000 a year under the apiiropriation acts of 18S7 and 1889, represents the income ft ' om government grants and appropriations. — 20 — TIic i.enernl Xluseiim — Tlic hlcrbariuw.

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The University of Minnesota