The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-01
AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITAL.
Report of the Commissioner of Edu-
cation on Purdue University.
An Agricultural School Well Endowed and
Equipped for Its Work-A New Line
of Postal Cars.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
The Commissioner of Education on Its Con
ditioE and Character.

The Commissioner of Education Oh Its Con-
ditior and Character.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29-The report of the
Commissioner of Education on industrial
education, prepared for the Interior Depart
ment, contains the following interesting i'll
formation relative to Purdue University:
purdue University is located at Lafay
and has been in operation since September,
1874. 1t was first organized exclusively upon
the basis of special schools for technical stud
dies, but after two years experience the IN
stitution was reorganized on the plan de-
scribed below, which, though more fully
developed, has remained substantially I'M
changed.
John Purdue, after whom the university
is named, donated $3.50, 900, on condition that
the institution should be located within
Tppecanoe county. The county gave $780,
600 and four citizens 100 acres of land. The
proceeds of the sale of the land, 800 900 acres,
amounted to $212, 235.50. This endowment
has been largely increased, and now amounts
to $40 900. The buildings and grounds are
valued at $500 The university has re-
ceived State appropriations amounting to
S148, 900. The faculty consists of eleven pro-
fessors and instructors in the collegiate de-
",
three assistants-in all sixteen instructors
Purdue University embraces three depart
ments, designated as follows: First, the col
lege of general science; second special schools
OF science agriculture and the mechanic arts;
third, the university academy.
The college provides five general courses
of study, viz: the scientific course and three
industrial courses, designated as the agricul-
tural course, the mechanical course, and the
industrial art course. The aim of the scien-
tific course is to give thorough scientific ed
ucation as general preparation for all in
dustrial pursuits; and, secondly as an ade-
Quate preparation for special courses of study.
The natural and physical sciences are the
leading branches in the course. 1t also gives
unusual prominence to industrial art The
university has well-equipped chemical
laboratory, a good biological laboratory,
choice museum of natural history, large geo
logical cabinet and other first-class appli-
ances for scientific instruction and training.
THE agricultural course aims not only to
give good scientific education, but also to
impart strong and practical knowledge of
the principles of agriculture and horticul-
ture. The students are required to work two
hours daily in the experimental field during
the fall and spring terms (receivipg pay for
satisfactory work. and in the mechanics
shop during the winter term. This manual
labor not only imparts increased skill, but it
also fosters active interest in industrial
pursuits.
"The agricultural department of Purdue
University is well equipped for thorough in
struction and practice. 1t occupies a COM
modious building, recently erected, and its
means of illustration include the university
farm, experimental station, conservatory and
propagation house, nurseries, orchards, etc.
The experimental station of ten acre plat is
well laid out and devoted to experiments in
agriculture and horticulture, with promise
of great success and marked utility. This
department is supplied with a full set of
meteorological instruments purchased
| through the United States Signal Office.
The weather observations are carefully made
and recorded and full statement of the
same is published in the annual report of
the university.
THE first two years of the mechanical
course furnish an excellent technical train
ing for mechanic or machinist, and also
| furnish good preparation for a course in
mechanical or civil engineering The shops
are supplied with tools and machinery of
superior quality, and especially adapted for
| the work for which they are used The OBJ
| iect of the shop instruction is, first, to pre-
pare students for course of mechanical en-
cheering, and, second, to provide prepare
ton for some industrial pursuit
The library occupies commodious and
well-lIghted room, appropriately fitted and
furnished. 1t contains valuable collection
of books uf reference in each department,
and a goodly number of miscellaneous
works. many of standard value the number
of volumes being over 1000 1t also con-
tains many periodicals, scientific, industrial
and literary.
THE main college building university
hall, contains a chapel or assembly hall an
academy hail. two large society halls,
library and fifteen other rooms, used for
recitation and college purposes. The other
buildings are the laboratory, containing also
the mechanics shop; the boarding house
Containing the ladies' dormitory, a complete
suite OF rooms for the department Of indus
trial art, and a spacious dining-hall and
other rooms for boarding purposesG the
young mems dormitory the agricultural
hall, the military hail. the boiler, engine
and gas-house, and the PIERCE conservatory.
The entire group of college buildings is
heated by steam and lighted by gas. The
university occupies one of the handsomest as
well as healthiest college sites in the coun-
try"
The report of Commissioner of Education
Eaton is an official presentation of the con-
dition and character of Purdue University,
which, in common with others, has been eu-
dowed with government lands.