University of North Dakota - Dacotah Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

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V ing and the President's House in 1903. J11 1899 the Law School was estal , lished with temporary quarters in Grand Forks: and with H011 G. C. H. Cor- liss, recently Chief Justice of the State, as Dean. In IQOI the Colleges of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering were established, and the College of iXiining Engineering tthe State School of Minesa, provided for by the Cow stitution 0f the State, was first opened. At present the Faculty numbers eleven full professors, seven assistant professors, and eighteen instructors and lecturers, a total of thirty-six mem- bers of the teaching staff as against four in 1884. During the same time the student enrollment has increased from seventymine to almost an even hve hundred. The graduates number about two hundred fifty. The one man whose life has been more Chisely identified with the growth of the University than that of any other man, is Mr. William Budge. Vx'hen the existence of the University was threatened by the Governorts veto in 1895, Mr. hulge came to the rescue and raised sufficient funds by popular sub- eeription to tide the institution over until the state again assumed its support in 1997. In recognition of his great services to the University, a bill was passed by the last Iriegislature, and signed by the Governor, making Mr. Budge a life member of the hard of Trustees-wan hunor unparalleled in this country exceptiin the ease of John S Pillsbury, Whom the State, of Minnesota made, a life member of the University Board of that state. The University has thus far organized twelve distinct departments and offers more than one hundred fifty courses Of instruction. There are at pres- ent eight buildings on the Liniversity campus. The entire plant of the Uni- versity is valued at more than $325,000. The University has received from the Federal tkwernment 126,080 acres of land, of Which 19,763 acres have been sold at a net return of about $325,000. and 96,317 acres remain unsold. The entire net income of the Univermty for the present year is not far from $80: 000. It is estimated that the University lands will eventually yield not less than J52000,.000. Illllltllllllillliii H ! nu ' .uunn I Iii

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Spragne resigned in March. 1891, andwas succeeded in the presidency by Professor W'ebster Merriheld, 1n the summer of 1887 a ladiest dormatory, now known as Davis 112111. was erected. L711 tn this time all nem-resident students had been aceonnnodated with board and lodging in the Main Building. In 1893 the building now known as the Cottage was erected for the accommodation of the male pre- paratory students, the young men of college grade being still lodged 011 the top Hour of the Main Building. T11 1895, Gov. Roger Allen vetoed the Lini- Versity appropriation and it looked for a time as if the institution would have m eloge its doors for at least two years. However, a movement was $0011 started, headed by Hon. XVm. Jmdge of Grand Forks, to raise a fund by popu- lar subscription for the maintenance of the University until the meeting of the, next Legislature. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Budge and the generosity of the people of Grand Forks and 0f the state generally. the doors of the Univer- 9ity were kept open until the succeeding Legislature made an appropriation for its maintenance. The governofs veto, so far from killing the institution. as was at Erst feared. really brought to it the support and confldenee of the state as perhaps nothing else could have done. The University maintained a slow but steady growth, in spite of the crea- tion of several other state institutions of higher education and of two denom- inational colleges, until the passage of what is known as the twortifths mill law in 1899. Under the Operation of that law the income of the University has been far more liberal than it had been hitherto, and with increased means and 21 consequent rapid increase of the teaching force, buildings and equip- ment, the institution has enjoyed a very rapid growth. In 1890, Budge Hall and the present power house were erected and sixty acres of land adjoilr ing the University campus on the west, which had been donated to the state for the purpose of a state fair, were by act of'the Legislature turned over 10 the University, thus giving the institution a total campus area of eighty acres. Science Hall was erected in 1901 and the Mechanic Arts build- :11 llil 2:31:15 mm ::,,::11111Ii:s .55; i!:! 1 11' u: 3! UN I: E! 111111

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Enrmvr Hrwihmm. WM. M. BLACKBURN, D. D.. LL. D. h h 7 ILLIAM MAXWELL BLACKBURN was born near Carlisle, Ind., December 30th, 1828. His boyhood days were spent in Indiana. At the age of twenty- one he received the M. A. degree from Har- vard College, Indiana, He then took up study for the Ministry. graduating from Princeton Seminary in 1854. After this he tilled vari- ous pulpits in eastern cities, and at the same time began to be known as a lecturer and an author. In 1862 he traveled in Europe in order to study church history, and in the next year became pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian church of Trenton, New Jersey. At this time he began the publication of various religious and historical works. He was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Princeton, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Worcester University. In 1868 he became Professor of Ecclesiastical and Church History in the Theological Seminary 0f the Northwest. Where his reputation became na- tional. After thirteen years of earnest work here he resigned, and soon after accepted the pastorate of the Central Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio. In the summer of $44 Dr. Blackburn came to Dakota and spent the season at Devils Lake for his health. in the fall of that year he was offered the presidency of the Unie versity of North Dakota, which was at that time just ready to open its doors. He ac- cepted this position and served faithfully during the first year of our Universitys existence. The following; year Dr. Blackburn became president of the Presbyterian Synodical College, at Pierre, South Dakota After having filled this position for thirteen years, he resigned it on account of failing health, the same year in which the institution was re- moved to Huron. Dr. Blackburn was then chosen president emeritus with the chair of Mental, Moral and Political Sciences, and Geology. At the end of the first term of the collegiate year, 1898, he went to his home at Pierre, where death suddenly overtook him and he passed on to the great Beyond, on the eve of his seventieth birthday. The University is indeed highly favored to have had such a gifted and noted scholar as Dr. Blackburn connected with its early history. 16