The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-27
Especial Correspondence VIRGINIAN.1
LETTERS FROM COLORADO.
NUMBER FOUR.
EDUCATIONAL

j lance east OIL ColOrad0 springs, Wnere
tract of twelve acres is set apart for it
use. Thorough training and patient per
severance have achieved great success il
surrounding obstacles, and impartins
knowledge to the pupils. They communi
cate weekly with the world through tn,
Deaf Mute Iadec, creditable little jour
nal.
The splendid strength Of Colorado IS com
mon-school system is everywhere acknowl
edged. Eastern educators come here
marvel. and go back to admit that it i
superior to the average in the east. The
examinations passed by the teachers are
searching and wide in their range, EN-
bracing topics not ordinary included. The
reason for this lies in the fact that in many
a lonely mining camp the teacher must not
only teach, but altogether educate, stand
as exponent of all the culture and progress
with which the community comes in con-
tact, and a high order of ability is de-
manded. These circumstances have COM
bined toproduce a band of earnest, thought
full, well-trained men and women. who
frequently meet in teachers conventions
4 for mutual benefit, and are laying a sub
stratum upon which will rise a glorious
future in the new west. On Cascade Ave
nue.. facing the mountains, stands the Col
orado Springs high school building. 1t is
two stories in height, spacious in it's di-
visions and surmounted by an imposing
cupola. 1t is built of magnetism sandstone
with white trimmings. Two branch build
ings to accommodate the overflow, are es-
tablished respectively i'll the north and
south ends OF town, and third, after an
approved plan, is now in process of cree
ton. The average attendance in the pub
lie schools is about 500, and a corps of
twelve teachers is employed.
| When Colorado Springs was laid out in
1871, the colony put aside tract of twenty
acres as college reservation. In course
OF time, this grant was generously in
creased SO that Colorado College now pos
sesses about 100 acres of land. In 1874,
this enterprise took shape and eighteen
trustees inaugurated the establishment of
q college,by putting up small frame build
| ing which was used by the collegiates until
the present building was ready for occupa-
ton. AS the railroad trains approach Col
orado Springs, Colorado College is one of
the first buildings singled out. 1t is erected
in the northern part of the city, facing a
campus, already laid out as park.
The central building is surmounted with
a cupola and is aanked by two wings, one
extending to the north, the other south
ward. 1t is constructed of d pink volcanic
limestone, with white trimmings which
edge its gothic windows and pointed arches.
Colorado College is under Congregational
auspices, though not sectarian.
The President, Rev. E. P. TeDney, is a
a Congregational clergyman, and his abil-
ity and arduous efforts have established
the college on firm and prosperous basis.
The curriculum issimilar to that in eastern
institutions with especial attention given
in the departments of mining and metal
lurgy, to assaying, blow-piping and chem
ical analysis and a remarkably thorough
historical course is advocated.
There are three courses of instruction ::
|. Collegiate, of four years for those who
wish to take the degree of Bachelor of
Arts
III. Academic, offering two courses of
three years each, the classical an d the nor
NAL school.
Ill. Course in mining and metallurgy.
One hundred and twenty-five students
were in attendance upon the college last
session, of whom two took the degree of
B. A.
The cost of tuition in the colleg late and
academic course is, 81 a week.
For the third course the tuition is $1,000
$4,000 for analytic chemistry and a de-
post is required for supplying apparatus,
&c. Special arrangements are made by
which students can board and lodge at the
most economical figures if necessary, and
those who wish to earn their way through
college, are supplied with work. The col
lege has fine library of about six thousand
volumes, q herbarium of State specimens,
twelve hundred in number, a geological
cabinet and q collection of ores and min
erals and precious stones, which is prob
ably unequalled by that of any other college
in the country.
The advantages ofobject teaching in the
natural sciences, which the wonderful state
OF Colorado afforns, takes the student fire.
quently out doors, and those who are com
PEELED in the east to forego study by reason
OF i'll health, may resume it here with the
strength impaired by Colorado air. In the
neighborhood of the college and still fur
Their north, the Colorado Springs Invest.
ment and improvement Company has di-
vided into plots and irrigated a large num-
Der of lots, many of which are for sale, and
many more occupied by settlers from New
England. This tract is popularity called
New Massachusetts,
| There is a grand future for Colorado
| College. Its moulding influence upon the
plastic material Of the new west will be a
! potent power in the republic in years to
, come. Its work will be. in part. of mis-
! sionary character, among the Mexicans.
| Indians, and Chinese who stand at it's
gates.
To the lawlessness, the laxity of morals
and manners which invariably prevail in q
new land where strays from all sorts of
civilization are cast up-and such are CON
| tinually being added to the area of the
new west-the college will oppose its pow
ers to educate and elevate. 1t is a beacon
light amid the uncertain mists which
shroud the future of the countries in our
| vicinage.
There are also several excellent private
schools in Colorado Springs Corona In
stitute is superintendent by Mrs. Nj. II.
Shropshire, an accomplished lady who has
! file. the place of principal with acknowl-
edged Success in many select educational
| institutions. languages, music. drawing
calisthenics, &c. form part of the regu-
lar course. Prof. II. l.. Krauss, for many
years connected With Harvard, is also
DrlnPlDal of Il nriV1tn school and q lyindar-