New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-22
PARDEE HALL.


NEARLY HALE A MILLION OF DOLLARS GIVEN TO
PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTION.
FRoh AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.i
EAsToN, Penn, Oct. 18.-Pardee Hall stands
in the eastern part of the college grounds The
stone was laid months ago. and since then the
work has been pushed energeticaly forward. IL has
been erected cost OF s2500O and is the gift OF Mr.
Ario Pardee of Hazeton. the founder of the Pardee
Scientific Department, whose gifts to the college anoant
in all to nearly $4,000 The structure has front
OF 256 feet In length The center building ~ five
stories In hight, and back 81 feet On each side
are lateral wings 81 feet length and 81 In width, Join
ing which at the extremites OF the building
wings with front OF AZ feet and deDth OF SO. Tho
whole building is surrounded by a Mansard roof and
from the center building rise two turrets. The aroh-
tectural effect Is pleasing In its construction, the
erial used is Trenton brown stone, with trimmings OF
hight Ohio sandstone. The building stands on an ele-
waited knoll The slope has been terraced In front and
the disposition of the grounds adds materially to the
appearance of the building
The first floor is chiefly devoted to the nses Of the
chemical department. There metallurg1cal lecture
rooms and private laboratories for blowppinP,
for assayng and assay stores laboratory for dressing
Ores and another for capitalization. The rooms for
voumetrc. organic, and gas analysis are complete The
latter has constructed In such manner that " -
possible maintain constant, equaDle temperature
One Of the this floor contains miniature coal
mine worked by steam. All the operations OF mining
coal may be at a glance. Cars on a gravity road
carry away the coal Breaking and sitting machines are
at work Some of the miners preparing blasts, and
others working away their shafts. The piece of
machinery gives a good idea OF how mining carried
on ana to-day of the chief objects OF attraction
visitors. The different floors are reached by "a
fight of stairs that winds around the front OF
the center building. and also by "A staircase NJ
each of the wings. The second floor is princi-
cabinets and the Lecture Hall. The latter II the
finest room in the building Il occupies nearly the
whole OF the center floor. and win comfortably seat $50
persons. The weekly exercises In defamation and
original speaking under the charge Of the professor Of
elocuton, will be held here. spacious gallery extends
around three sides OF the room. The pews and wain-
coating are in chestnut iand walnut The freseong IL
in neat and elegant designs, and expense has been
spared to make the beautiful. It was in this
that the inaugural address OF Prof Raymond dehy
cred morning On each side OF the hall doors
one to the Geological Cabinet and the other to the Cab
met Of Mineralogy. Ia the former cases ranged along
the walls contain valuable collections OF geological
specimens. Among these may be noted very complete
collection Of shells formerly the property OF Dr. Beade
of Philadelphia. There are numerous plaster easts Of
fossil animals and 10 the ordinary visitor these form tue
chief object OF attraction. The skeleton ~ the
megatherium. copy from the original now IN
the possession of the British Museum, oc-
a
feet in length. II animal similar In form and
habits to the slOh though widely differing in size. Tie
bones were first discovered in the Pampean formation
South America. There are also casts OF the Gypto
don DinOtherium. and several other remarkable ami
that have been extinct for thous ind OF years The
room is we'll furnished with specimens illustrating the
different geological periods.
The cabinet OF mineralOgy Is not perhaps inferior In
interest Rare minerals gathered here from all
parts OF the world There large and pleasant let
ure-rooms geology and mineralogy, adjoining which
private studies handsomely fitted Of the Profes
sors in each Of the departments readingroom. well
stocked with scientific literature, Is close at hand. The
third floor OF the buildings taken mp by the engineers
There are spacious ecture-rooms aud large cab
inets, as on the other floors. The cabinets, In
both the civil aud mining engineering depart.
ments, are well supplied with models The remaining
floors the building the fourth and fifth have been
given up to chemistry There several laboratories
FOR cumulative and qualitative analysis.
Every effort has been made TO make the chemical de
partment complete possible. The plans OF build
and laboratories both in this country and Europe,
have been consulted and advantage taken the latest
improvements IN the prosecution Of chemical science.
The laboratories IN consequence probably the most
complete in America. There Is desk for
nearly $50 students. Gas and water
hand and every modern improvement has been intro
duced. Pipes convey gas. oxygen. hydrogen. sulphur
cited hydrogen. steam, and blast, wherever " Is
necessary 10 them. In the sore-room a valuable
stock Of chemicals has been gathered Many thousand
dollars have been expended ia chemical apparatus.a
large part OF which been made for the college In
Germany and Paris. A glass case contains very
nearly complete set OF chemical elements. Every
facility is afforded for the study OF chemical
science The building Is lighted by gas. From tank
on the upper noor capacity Of 5000 gallons water
ia distributed TO all parts Of the structure The rooms
and corridors are heated by steam by indirect radaon
the boilers for which purpose placed In the cellars
A tempersturc Of 90 be maintained ~ tho
co,dest weather. From the upper floor . staff
c.ss leads 70 one of the towers Prom the
summit magnificent prospect is spread be-
fore the eye position Of the building commanding
view of tho Lehigh and Delaware Rivers the town of
Easton different lines Of railroad, the distant
hls that bound the horizon. On the WHOLE the opinion
which seems TO have been universally expressed to-day
that the building OF the finest and best equipped
college edinces In America, 10 well established
For many years lafayette College In a languish-
ing condition, and at time IL seriously proposed
close Its doors and give Its charter In the darkest
hour OF It's history the Rev. Dr. Catch called TO the
presidency. IL Is him than any other man thar
the credit Of the present prosperity Of the college nina,
be attributed. Under his administration its con-
diton began immediately 70 improve, yas