Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-10
COLUMBlA'S BIG DAY.
The Semi-Centennial of the State Uni
versity CeIebrated-An Immense and
Enthusiastic Crowd Assemble to Com
memorate q Triumph of Civilization.

COLUMBIA, Mo-, July 4.-The celebra-
ton of the semi-centenniala anniversary
of the State University of Missouri IS
coincident with the celebration of the
Nations birth. It was on the Fourth
| of July, 1S40, that the cornerstone of
| the original edifice was laid, and to-day
| that event was celebrated. The men
who have consecrated their lives to the
| up-building of this institution saw, afar
off, the approach of that monumental
/ year which should mark the close of the
! first half century of it existence. They
/ began to prepare for its observance in
fitting and proper way. 1t was
designed to make the occasion one
of commemoration of the past and
prophecy of the future. With that
zeal and energy which has characterized
them in every thing pertaining to this
work they began the formulation of a
programme which should represent and
express their civic spirit of the State.
This they have carried out, and their
efforts eliminated to-day in a memora-
/ BILE observance.
| Governor Francis, State Treasurer
/ Stephens, Secretary of State Lesseuer,
Attorney General Wood, Geologist
Arthur Winslow and Adjutant- General
! Wyckham drove over in carriages last
night from Jefferson City. They were
! joined here by Colonel Garth, of Han
nibal, member of the Governors
staff. The official party thus
included about ten persons, and besides
from all the countries comprising this
+ - Al
began running into Columbia at
| an early hour this morning. One from
Fulton and Sturgeon arrived at three
o'clock. The regular trains on the
Wabash branch from Centralia were
| double their usual size and every seat
was filled, with many passengers stand
ing. On all the turnpike roads for
which Boone County is famous, carriages,
wagons and four-wheeled and two
wheeled vehicles brought thousands
more, until by ten o'clock the broad
streets of this beautiful university
town were crowded with mass of people
from outside points mum bering not less
than five thousand.
A procession was the first thing in or
der. The line of march was along
Broadway from the courthouse east,
and return to the university. The
order of the procession was as follows:
First music; second, the survivors of
1889; third, Governor d. R. Francis and
staff and all other State officers; fourth.
board of curators, executors and officers
of the board of visitors; fifth, the alumni
of the University; sixth, the presiding
officers, chaplain and orators of the day;
seventh, the builders of the University
and all its additions; eighth, the Uni
versity faculty and eX-members of the
faculty; ninth, presidents and facul-
ties of other colleges, high schools
and academies; tenth, University stu
dents and ex-students; eleventh, invited
guests; twelfth, citizens; thirteenth,
Boone County Court and all county Off
GERS and ex-officers; fourteenth, fifty
ladies on horseback; fifteenth, $50
wheelmen.
Governor Francis and party occupied
closed carriages near the headeof the
procession.
The great auditorium of the Univer-
sity, capable of seating over three thou
sand people, was filed to overlooking,
little after ten o'clock. A great num-
were unable to secure admittance,
and the corridors outside were soon
filed and the crowd surged out
over the wide flight of steps leading to
the east entrance of the building on
the front. The vast stage was empow-
cred in flowers, and in addition to the elo-
quence of the flowers there were notices
expressive of the occasion and the spirit
of the day. After the procession had
reached the University campus there
was but little delay The heroes of 1889,
who are called the '49ers in University
parlance, were conducted to seats on the
stage. There were twenty-one survivors
of the original subscribers to the Uni
versity fund present. They constitute
the roll of honor of Missouri and will
have place in the records of to-day as
follows: Mathew Barnes, Dripping
Springs; James J. Joyce, Rocheport;
Henry Caum baugh, Columbia: Sanford
Conley, Columbia; William III. Duncan,
Columbia; James Estes, Columbia; Gen
eral John Ellis, Ashland; Jeffe<son
Garth, Columbia; Ed Henry, Columbia;
Jacob OJohnston, Columbia: Mont
gomery P. Leintz, Fayette; Rollin Ly-
Columbia; John Reed, Boone County;
John w. Ridgeway, Hallsville; James
Rodgers, Columbia; A. N. Turner, Co.
lumbia; William III. Wade, Columbia;
A. B. Weldon, Boone County; r. Porter
Waters, Hainesville; Reuben j. Wade.
Hinton.
Beside these, and occupying seats on
the platform, were other survivors OF
the great event of fifty years ago.
Hail, Columbia, Happy land" by |
the Lexington Military Band, was a |
prelude to the regular programme. At |
it's conclusion Robert L. Todd, cashier
of the Exchange National Bank of Co
1umbia, the oldest living graduate OF
the University, who was of the class OF
1S43, delivered an address of welcome.
Mr.. Todd paid an eloquent tribute to edu-
cation as an aid to civilization, and said
hat this University and all institutions
of learning like it are but monuments
created to commemorate work done and
inspire to work yet to be done.
Mr. Todd introduced General Odan
Guitar, of Columbia, who delivered
discourse historical, analytical and
critical in character.
At the conclusion of General Guitars
address Governor Francis was intro
duced In concluding, the orator pledged
himself at the coming session of the
Legislature to urge justice and liberal
ity to the University. and drew picture
of the centennial anniversary in 1910, |