The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-03
TIE PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
The Proposed BuiIdIRgs-DesIgn OF
The EnstIlutl0n-tOst TO The State
Nothing.


As Indiana will soon add another
to her already numerous and noble
institutions, a brief statement of the
location, description of buildings.
&c, Of Purdue University, will be
interesting to our readers, A CORES
pendent, writing from Lafayette, gives
the following particulars of the insti-
tuition:
The site selected for the University
is a tract of land containing one hun
dred acres, located on q plateau on
the west side of the river, and over
locking the city of Lafayette. This
tract will be laid out with a broad
carriage drive around it, and other
drives and walks located as convent
ence and taste may dictate. The out
side drive will be bordered with sugar
and elm trees, while evergreeDs,
shrubs and flowers will be planted
within.
The design embraces six buildings
and an Observatory, but the main
building only, with Chemical Labo
ratory, will be built this summer, the
others to follow as necessity and con-
Veniencc may dictate. For the pres
ept, the main building must be made to
subserve the interest of all the build
ings as they will be when completed.
1t will be one hundred and eight feet
long and fifty feet wide, and will con-
tain, on the ground floor, a room for
the President, another for the Fac
uliy, and six recitation rooms, be
sides two broad corridors leading
across the building. In the second
story is a large Library and Read
ing room, In the centre, a Cabi-
net and Art Gallery, and another
large room which Will probably be
used temporarily for Laboratory. In
the third story is the Chapel, In the
center, with society rooms in the
wings. The building is to be brick
with stone iaciDgs and trimmings
quite plain in external appearance,
but very substantial in every respect
Judge Purdue, whose whole heart
seems to be in the work, will person
ally superintend every portion OF the
work and see that none of it is
sighted. The contracts are already
made for nearly all the material, and
it is intended to have the building
ready for occupancy by next winter
Steam is to be used IN heating, the
general design embracing a boiler
room under ground Ia the central
area, from whence all the buildings
may be heated when finished.
The cost of the main building is es
timated at $4,000, which will GER
tainly be cheap The other trustees
favor one with more external embel-
lishment. which would cost about
$50, 900, aud this would certainly not
seem unreasonable, when the wants
of the State and the extent of the
funds at hand are considered. Judge
Purdue, however, is disposed to look
at strength and stability almost ex-
clusively, and says he wants some
money left after the buildings are NJ
to set the Institution in operation as
it should be, and make it success.
One thing Is very evident, that at
this the tax payers may rejoice. The
expenditures will b. kept we'll within
the available means, and the State
VIII not be called upon for appropria-
tions to carry out a magnificent de-
Sign, as was the case with the Normal
School building. 1t will be none the
less likely to prove successful, how
ever, on that accounts, aud with the
interest which Mr.. Purdue feels in it,
the amount of money at his command,
his over caution, perhaps, balanced
by the experience aud knowledge of
the other trustees, it certainly bids
fair TO become such an institution as
will be an honor to the State.