The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-18
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
rRox OUR own CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBIA. December l6
The Executive Committee Of the Board OF
Trustees OF the University Of South Carolina nave
made most responding report to the Legsla-
ture. They state that when the present board
took charge Of the University late in last session.
It was under embarrassing circumstances; the
number OF students was small, only sixty-dve
having matriculated during the year. The build
ings were in a most deplorable and dnapldated
condition. there being scarcely one room or dweii-
ing in decent repair, and very many almost unten-
able. The lights in the windows OF the students
rooms were almost entirely destroyed. The faculty
was unsettled as to whether they would remain al
their posts or abandon their connection with the
| institution, and up to this time the chairs el
| chemistry, pharmacy, mineralogy and geology,
natural and mechanical philosophy and astrono-
NV. law, mathematics, civil and military engi-
| neerinc and construction, modern languages and
literature, ancient languages and literature have
been vacated. (Leavng only three OF the profess
sors in the literary department.) Under such cir
cumstances, large attendance OF students III
the opening session could not be expected; but
the prospects ere daily improving; confidence Is
being restored, and about forty students nave
already entered, who are reported by the faculty
rs n very temperate and studious set OF young
men.
REPAIRS.
The board OF trustees have been greatly en-
barrassed in every attempt to improve anu repair
the buildings, by the want of funds; neverthc'
less they have made great improvements, ana
are continuing the repairs by an engagement
with Mr.. Alien, who has been kind enough to do
such work as was indispensable and await your
actlon for payment [rhe cost OF repairing inc
buildings belonging to the University was es'i-
mated, on the 10th OF December, 1867, by hf'
Allen. TO DO secent1-.hree thousand scren hafldfei
do,lars.l Nothing has yet been done except sIcn
work as was necessary to preserve The property
HOPES.
Mr.. James Davis was elected bursar and mar
shal, instead OF Mr.. w. H. Orchard, removed.
The chair OF law has been filled by c. d. Melton,
EST, or Columbia, a gentleman OF line legal AZ
talnments and ability. Great dlllcslty has been
experienced in finding suitable and competent
persons TO fill other chairs. The peculiar crcum-
stances surrounding the institution requires
special fitness which all persons with scholarly
attainments do not possess. A very great num-
Der OF applicants for each OF the vacant cnilrs
have been placed before the board, many OF whom
are gentlemen Of high character and unquestioii-
ab,e capacity; but the board have only elected
two professors; it is hoped that they have made
good selections, viz: one for the chair Of natural
and mechanical philosophy and astronomy anu
another to the chair Of modern languages and
literature. Temporary arrangements have been
entered into with gentlemen to continue the
course OF instructions in the other SCHOOLS, untli
such time as the board may be able TO supply the
vacancies. An extra professorship has beeA s.
tablishcd in the medical school, and John Lynch
NJ. D., OF this city, elected thereto. The EXccu-
tive Committee conclude their report with two
modest .hopes," "that enough will he appro-
priated by the General Assembly to put al the
buildings In good condition." and that by
propcr management this institution may be in
the future, as il has been in the past, pride and
honor to the State"
TIE LIBRARY COMMITTEE
In their report inform the ''IIOnOrabe Board OF
Trustees" that the library of the University Of
South Carolina, comparing favorahly in point Of
size and material, with any public library in the
Southern States, contains upwards OF twenty-five
thousand volumes, many of which arc rare ana
valuable works. The selection OF books is very
fine, most OF them big elegantly bound and
from the best editions. There is very little trash
in tslis library. "The only source of revenue to
the University library is derived from library foes
ten dollars per session for each paving student.
Under the present circumstances, this amounts
to q mere nominal sum. Much OF the income
derived from library fees, which, properly, should
be applied exclusively for the benefit AID
enlargement Of the library, has been
expended for other purposes such as postage,
stationery, printing, advertising, repairs on the
carnrns y kr The committee care intOrmed that