Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-08

appointment of A IL. Daniels, Phi d..
partment from prolonged study in Ger
many and from teaching at Princeton col
lege and elsewhere. Lieut. c. u. Miller,
detailed rs military instructor after the
expiration of Lieut.. Tutherly's term, was
WITHDRAWN by the war department for
duty at Fort Monroe, and Lieut.. VIM II.
Coffin, 9th artillery, was appointed in his
place.
STUDENTS
The attendance of students in the vari-
Gus departments is shown IN the following
summary
lss4-5 1885
In the classical course. ............ t. -
Literary science.................. 10 II
Chemical and agricultural ....... II
Engineer lllE ....,....... ........... 10 ~
Farmers class. .................. is -
Post graduate. ........ ........,
Medic Al .......... .......-...... 49, lf3
Graduates in art and science ..... Il ~
Graduates IN medicine ............ IS 81
In the department of arts and sciences,
it will be observed that the general gain
IN attendance over the figures of the last
report Is 30 per cent, while in some of the
sub-departments the attendance has been
doubled. 1t is gratifying to be able to add
that this increase i'll numbers has not
been at the expense of quality as regards
either scholarship or character. On the
contrary, the professors have remarked in
the later classes an Improvement in prepa-
ration, and, in consequence, a capacity for
more rapid progress and advanced work.
FINANCES
The following exhibit sets forth the
financial condition of the University, both
as regards Its permanent property and the
income and expenditure tor the past two
years
Total value IF property. cXclus,rco Of
:, ConEr, s>ion1h fund, estl.nuted.... S520,0O0
value OF lands. --......... CO.,. i}O.WU
Value of buildings. ................. 20O.UNl
Value OF collections. ..,........ -...... dO,N1
Trust funds. ........-. ......... ... 10000
OF the above the only Item which in
cludes any gift or grant from the State
to the University Is value of lands" The
restrvH. ion OF lots for the benefit of the
univ er,ty III The latter grants to town
ships resulted IN securing to the univer-
sity about $1,000 acres of land scattered
Throughout the state, mostly wild noun
tain land OF little value. From the pub
lie lands included in the above item, an
annual rental of about 81 100 is received,
making the gift to the university from the
state to he OF the value of about $3.50
AS most of these lands We're at an early
day leased in perpetuity, their rental value
can never be greatly increased.
THE UNIVERSITY GENTRY.
For the temporary relief of the treasury,
until plans for permanent endowment
Can be carried into effect, it is proposed
that one hundred persons or subscribers
to one hundred shares in an association to
DE called The University Century'' shall
pledge themselves to the extent of $50 per
annum for each share for five years, to
make good any deficiency that may occur
IN the ability of the trea. ury to meet Its
necessary annual expenses. At the time
of writing, nearly half the shares have
been taken by the trustees, alumni and
other friends of the institution.
PROFESSORS OF AGRICULTURE
Mention has been made in former re-
ports of the efforts made by the trustees
to lind Il suitable person for professor of
agriculture, and of the difficulties they
encountered in searching for the right
man. They have, however, felt justified
in appointing to that position Mr.. w w.
Cooke, and he has accepted the appoint
ment. Mr.. Cooke has been under employ
ment by the University since January
last, having attended the meetings of the
Board of Agriculture IN the capacity of
lecturer on the part of the college, and
having acted as State chemist in the
analysis of commercial fertilizers as re
quired by law. Mr.. Cooke also gave in
struction to class OF farmers at the
University building, as will be hereafter
mentioned. Testimony for the most part
unsought and spontaneous, to the accept
abeness and value Of Mr.. Cookies services
in the ways above mentioned, came with
such frequency and decisiveness, in some
cases from those who had been critics of
the college and of its former efforts in
IuIS ulItCllOllt lItJ the lIuSteeS venture
to hope that they have found the man
they have long been searching fOr-one
who Will be able to make scientific re-
search and contribute some practical
benefits to the agriculture of Vermont.
We trust also that Prof. Cookies abors
among the farmers of the State will tend
to promote goodwill and confidence be-
tween the college and the farming com
munity. II Prof Cooke succeeds in con-
vincing the farmers, or the more intelli-
gent among them, that such work as
college can do, through laboratories and
experiment stations and the like is of
real value to practical husbandry, it will
be very simple matter also to convince
! them that for the proper development of
! this work greatly increased resources are
needed, and that Vermont must follow
the example of almost all other states and
make some adequate appropriations for
carrying forward such an enterprise.
THE LIBRARY.
The Billings library, referred to at
length in the last report, has since been
completed and occupied. 1t proves to be
as convenient and delightful for use as it
| is charming for beauty. The total cost
! was $l14, G63 2S. One OF the effects of such
! n building should be to invite into its Sc
cure and attractive alcOves from all parts
of the state and elsewhere, books for
which the owners desire safety and schol
arly appreciation. The eloquent appeal
of so many empty shelves has INSPIRED
the alumni to attempt the raising of
! fund for the increase of the library. An
! expert in catalOguin2 is engaged, at the
expense of Mr.. Billings, in makinga com