The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-13
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
Jefferson" Gives an Interesting Sketch
of This Institution of Learning.
It's Origin and Isocafion-A Description
of the Edinee and the Various De-
parfmenfs-The Faculty and
the Literary Societies.


Especial Correspondence of the Sentinel
LAFAYETTE, Ind. March IA sketch of
this institution will doubtless be read with
interest by the readers of the Sentinel.
Being the youngest in the family or our
state colleges it is not so we'll knewn as most
of the others, though in the SIMPLE title of
Purdue university it is already recognized as
one of the rising institutions OF the land.
Its broad foundations have been laid, Its
system of financial sustenance is fixed, and 1T
has started out N its educational career
with as much promise and with as auspi-
cious prospects as any one of our state
institutions.
An appropriation made by congress some
10 years ago to establish an agricultural
college gave large body of land 10 this
state on conditions that such an institution
was organized and in running order by the
month of October, 1874.
An act was passed by the legislature of
1878 accepting the offer, and immediate
steps we're taken to organize such school,
and the law of the appropriation was met
and the institution began life as the Indiana
agricultural college.
LOCATION.
One hundred acres of land was donated by
the friends of the enterprise, lying a mile
west of the beautiful city of Lafayette and
the same distance west of the Wabash river.
some 90 dCreS more were purchased on which
now stands the buildings of the institution.
The institution is one of picturesque eleva-
ton and romantic beauty. From the doors
of the college the view is magnificent. The
city of Lafayette is in full sight on
the eastern shore of the classic river,
Chauncey fill up the more immediate sur
r0undings on the west side. The whole
farm lies like a plain, and every acre is
visible TO the eye from the village buildings,
which gives to the locality an attraction of
beauty which is not excelled by any liter
airy institution in the state Nature
itself has seemingly marked the spot
with her original fingers and.points to it as
a place that might be made OF classic fame
without doubt or fear of subsequent crit-
cism. The grounds of the campus are some
100 feet above the streets of the Star city.
This elevation assures relief from the MAS
matte atmosphere of the low lands, which
affects so many with disease and suffering.
EDIFIcEs.
The buildings of the institution are com
plete in number and of the most substantial
character. University hall is the main col
lege edifice. 1t is four stories in height and
admirably arranged in all of its appoint
ments, the basement being used chiefly as a
museum depository of their numerous speci-
mems. On its second floor we
find the academical rooms, which are spa
accommodations in acoustic and ocular
demonstrations on their blackboards, and in
the exhibitions of their drawings etc. 1t
may be remarked that the buildings of the
university are all well located for protec.
ton in case of fire, as any one of them
might be destroyed without affecting the
others. The boarding house contains on
the first floor a spacious dining
hall kitchen, laundry and rooms for
the family and servants. The second
story is divided into suits of rooms designed
for the faculty and the young lady students.
Its furniture is plain, but substantial and
convenient. The young mems dormitory is
four stories high, and will accommodate per-
haps 40 students 1t is well arranged, with
bath rooms on each floor, offering to the
young gentlemen the luxurious inducements
of clean lives and good health as we'll.
The laboratory is neat and appropriate
edifice, judiciously arranged in its
different chemical, physical and smelling
departments.
The Military hall presents large drill
room, and appropriate rooms for storing
arms. Gymnastie exercises are also con-
Quoted in this hall. The boiler aud gas
house manufactures the steam and gas for
heating and lighting the entire group of
buildings. Its engines pump all the water
needed for the whole establishment.
The engineers house, gas refinery and
stable complete their building conveniences,
and, as a whole, they make very neat and
attractive display of university edifices.
The farm house, barn, granary and other
farm buildings are located few hundred
yards west, and are occupied and efficiently
managed by Captain L. A. Burke, superin-
tendent OF the farm. The entire arrange
ment of the buildings shows the best of econ.
omy in construction, as well as accomplished
taste and judgment.
APPARATUS AND CABINETS.
The university has an ample supply of
chemical apparatus and a well equipped
laboratory. Each student is supplied
with all necessary chemicals for proper
experiments. In the department of physics
large additions have been made in apparatus
affording the finest facilities for illustrating
the principles of the sciences. 1t is especially
complete in the departments of electricity
and magnetism.
GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS.
The university is fortunate in its collec-
ton invertebrate fossils of the paleozoic
ages, including the Silurean and carbonifer-
Gus ages; several hundred species of inver-
tebrate fossils of the tertiary age also give
interest to the cabinet The collection of
mineral specimens make a striking addition
al attraction.
GEOLOGICAL MUSEUM.
The specimens of anatomy of the horse,
COW, deer, dog and lion are the finest we
have ever seen, while the suites of marine,
fresh water and land shells serve to keep up
the conception that this has been a wonder
full country, If it is not now. This museum
department OF the university is being rap
idly augmented in every possible particular
The effort Is a commendable one. To gather
specimens of every bird and animal known
to the state; fish and serpents and every
class of the lower-life animals and insects
can not fail to add to the variety and rich
ness of this museum.
THE HERBARTUM.
This department. which is unique and
practical, contains about thousand species
of manuted plants 1t is rich in ferns,
grapes and scages. All the lights of nature
around US are seized upon by this institu-
ton to give the minds Of the young students