Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

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vSCIKXCK HALL.

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RET R.O S P E CT I V E The first act for the establishment of the State Agricultural College and School of Science was passed March 9, 1890. The governing board was called “ file Commission of Technical In¬ struction ' and it was obvious from the first that the general object was to establish an institution for technical instruction and applied science. The curriculum provided for in this and subsequent legislation confirms the same view. The institution was not opened for instruction until January. 1892. (ieorge Lilley, L.L.l)., was the first president. Mr. Ki lley was succeeded in December. 1892. by J. Heston, who served until September, 1893. The opening in 1892 gave promise of rapid growth. When the term opened in the fall of 1892 the attendance was large and the pros¬ pects of the college so far as attendance was concerned seemed very bright. I hit troubles came and the year was full of disaster, so that it ended with a very small attendance, and the reputation of the college throughout the state had suffered severely. The gloomy fall of 1893 came with its financial panic and its ruined crops and the college opened with a mere handfull (23 students). Meanwhile a new board of regents had been appointed, consisting of C harles k. Conner of Spokane. 11 . S. Blandford of Walla W alla, IT S. Ingraham of Seattle. J. W . Stearns of Tekoa and T. R. Tannatl of Farmington. ' The board effected a complete reorganization of the institution. Knoch A. Bryan of Indiana was chosen president, and steps were taken for the reconstruction of the cur¬ riculum. The Board proceeded at once to construct the Mechanical Kngineering Building, com¬ pleted in 1893, and the Administration Building, completed in 1894, Stevens Hall was built in 1895. ' I he growth of the college has been rapid, the year 1900 closing with an enrollment of 9

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53 The curriculum, equipment and faculty have been enlarged and perfected as the enrollment has increased. Xo departure has been made from the conception of the work adopted at the time of the reconstruction. A notable thing in connection with the college has been the original contri¬ bution to science by the staff of scientific men connected with the college and experiment station. The year 1900 saw the completion of Science Hail, one of the best buildings for the purpose in the west. At the present time the college is building a Chemistry Building which will add still further to its scientific work. It is destined, without doubt, to be the leading scientific and technical insti¬ tution of the northwest.