Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-08-11
Communicated.
Beloit College.

y
Illinois, draws its students from q
more extended area, and enjoys q
wider reputation than these two
states together can afford. 1t is a
matter OF congratulation that we can
claim as our own college which
compares so favorably with the best
in the East. Gradually gaining
strength it is now established upon
a sound basis, which places its sue
cess beyond q reasonable doubt, Of
fering, as it does, many inducements
to those wishing to pursue course
Of study.
Its home is ia the beautiful city.
which bears the same name. and it is
very easy of access, four lines of rail-
road converging to that point from
Freeport, Madison, Racine and Chi
cago. The city. of five thousand in-
habitants, is built upon either side of
the charming Rock river, and as a
consequence, has an extensive manu-
featuring interests. The population
is largely made up of substantial fam
! lilies from the Eastern states, and the
place has decidedly the looks of q
cultivated, we'll to dc New England
town of good size. Society there
opens its doors to the student with
more good will and cordality than
is shown him in the large cities.
The college buildings stand upon
the East side of the river and COM
mand an extensive view of the roll
ing country for miles around. The
grounds comprise nearly twenty
acres OF the crest of the hill, by our
last class survey, and are cmbellish-
ed with numerous Indian mounds
and goodly variety OF trees of ra-
lures own planting, beside elms and
evergreens set out by different class
es as d gift of remembrance to their
alma mater. The edifices are four
in number including the beautiful
Memorial Hall, which will be COM
pleted before winter; Middle College
contains recitation rooms for the va
rious classes, with apparatus, &c;
North College is dormitory South
College holds the chapel and rooms
for the Preparatory Department
and Memorial Hall is destined to re,
ceive the cabinet and library. The
last named edifce is built in Gothic
style wita steep, slate roof, of white
stone, brought by rail from Batavia,
ILL.,, and has two stories the lower
sixteen feet in hight, to hold the ex,
tensive cabinet, the upper, twenty
feet high at the sides and thirty two
in the centre, to contain the library
The latter consists now of but six
thousand volumes, but is constantly
receiving additions, and upon its re-
moval to the new quarters is 10 be
considerably enlarged, and have the
care of q permanent librarian. 1t has
already outgrown it's room in Middle
College. The Literary Societies also
have library of about thousand
volumes, to increase which the mem
bers vote frequent appropriations.
There is quite a demand for rooms
to rent by the student, since the sup
ply is rather deficient for both de-
partments of the college together
But q fine large dormitory will be
erected shortly, when the present
building operations are completed
the plans and specifications are al
ready drawn up, and it will accomo-
date nearly one hundred occupants.
The rent for single good room is
fifteen dollars per year; for suite
of three, thirty dollars. The former
will accommodate two individuals, the
latter three, making $3.50 to s1Oper
year for each occupant. If one wish>
es to fit up his room cheaply, second
hand furniture may generally be Sc
cured from former occupants, and
sold again at but small loss. Fur
nshed and unfinished apartments
are provided by private houses in
the city for those who prefer them at
reasonable rates.
The popular resort for hungry
young men is the college boarding
club, which has numbered about nine
ty during the past year. A steward
is chosen from their number and al
lowed small salary for buying pro-
visions, providing cooks and neces
sary help and exercising general su
pei vision. The college provides
rooms and furniture, so that we re-
ally get board something below cost.
The steward makes his report month
IL, dividing the entire expense among
all the members. The price varies
from 50 90 in summer to $3.50 in win
ter, averaging the past year not over
1925 per week. 1t seems that the
price must decline to still lower fig
ure when the cost Of provisions falls.
Flour and butter have been exceed
ingly high the past season. Board
with room in private families from
So so to $500 per week.
The cabinet is a very entertaining
and instructive place of resort pre-
sehting a large collection of minerals
from this country and Europe, rep
tiles, stuffed birds, &c. Among the
objects OF interest is the greater part
of the collection of specimens made
in the lead region for the Sanitary
Fair in Chicago, by the late Rev. Mr..
Reynard of Shullsburg. The Lake
Superior copper mines are also finely
represented.
The scientific apparatus is very
fair, and is to be made ) ct more ample
by immediate additions.
The College has connected with it
a Preparatory Department, which
seems to be almost indispensable
to the success of Western Colleges
The college proper is supplied with
seven professors, besides the chair of
modern languages, which is filed at
present by temporary instructor,
but has competent man in prospect
TOR permanent professor. The lower
department receives benefit from its
connection with the college, as the
Senior Preparatory class is instruct
ed in the languages by the professors
There is principal for this depart
ment, who is aided by assistants
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