The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-26
PURDUE'S CONDITION.
Report of the President and Trustees Of the
Years Progress at the College,

The Governor has received the tenth annual
report of Purdue University Lafayette, for the
college year ending June 30, 1884 1t includes
the details of the work in every department OF
the college, and it must be said, as the volumin-
Gus mass of paper presented itself to the report
er, was not fair to look upon, being exceedingly
scrappy and slovenly, and Astounding in thumb
marks and erasures In this day of type-writers
it seems strange that a frst-class institution,
like Purdue should exhibit so little care and
neatness in preparing an official paper-a docu-
nent that is to be filed away among state papers.
President Smart in his report notes that the
year has been measurably a successful one, not
withstanding the institution has labored under
serious financial embarrassments. The whole
number of students in attendance during the
past year was 2l3 of whom 10l were connected
with the preparatory class. Ten students grad
uated The lower class of the preparatory de-
partment was abandoned pursuant to an order
of the trustees. The total enrolment OF the year
showed an increase over the previous year of
twenty-eight. The gain was made chiefly in the
preparatory department, andis considered sub
stantial one. which will manifest itself in the
freshman class OF 1856. The students attend
ing the university represented fortysix different
counties.
At the close of the college year of 1883 the
tuna IOE bn6 current expenses Was eAllduSISd
and through the failure of the general appropri-
alton bill the university was left without means
for the current expenses. In order to meet the
Immediate obligations, the board from time to
time, borrowed money from the friends of the
institution Up to the close of the fiscal year Oct
go 1884, the sum of $l2 $50 was thus borrowed.
The amount of Indebtedness on account of gen
eral fund, on Nov l, was as follows: Due for
borrowed money, Sill 7l2 So; due other creditors
for supplies, labor ETC., ST. 74S 81; total, $40 1852
&C. 1t was only through the most untiring eff
forts the part of the president and the officers
that they We're enabled to meet the imperative
demand upon the treasury and keep the institu-
tion open The faculty, employees and laborers
have been fully paid, up to date. The total re-
cepts for the year, including interest on the en-
dowment fund, applicable to the payment of sal
aries fees paid by students, etc, were So, 230.
50, while the total expenditures, including sala-
ries, cost of maintenance, etc, were $40 49,. So
The farm has been well managed during the
year 1t has been improved in appearance, and
ally increased. The expenses of conduct
ing it reduced, while the income
was increased, the net balance in favor
of the faPm-heng $50. The experimental work
limited account of the lack of money.
The president is of the opinion that the expert
mental work should be largely increased; in
deed" he says, 'the chief value of a college farm
will be realized only when the larger part of it is
used for experimental purposes" 1t is not the
business OF the State to manage farm as
money making scheme Such purpose is en-
trely foreign to the end for which Purdue
University was established. If the Purdue farm
cannot be used for other purposes. it should be
sold or rented" He believes it is safe to say it
is quite possible to increase the value of the agri
cultural products of Indiana twenty-five per cent.
without increasing the area under cultiva-
ton. This would produce a total annual in
crease of values to the amount of $75 600 600
bnt it can be secured only through expert
ment. The amount famed in the appropria-
ton bill of the last General Assembly was
500, 900 per annum, but President Smart says
this amount is not large enough to pay the cur
rent expenses of the institution and leave any
considerable balance with which to make such
permanent improvement as the growth of the
university demands. He has made careful
estimate of the cost of improvements that are
needed, and says the amount required will not
vary from $3l. 800
Following the report of President Smart are
detailed statements of the years work, " W.
G. Latta, professor of agriculture; William F.
VI. Goss. professor of practical mechanics; Albert
w. Stahl professor of mechanical engineering;
l. S. Thompson, professor of industrial art; NJ
c. Stevens, professor of mathematics; E. f.
Smith, professor of English and history; Robert
3. Warder, professor of chemistry, and Oscar J.
Craig, professor in charge of the preparatory
lass.