The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-22
STATE UNIVERSITY.
Planning to Buy a Telescope and New
Apparatus.

u
Apparatus.
Under the liberal management of the present
board of regents the facilities of the State Uni
versity are being steadily improved. The mig
gardly policy pursued during territorial days Is
well known. The legislature scarcely appropri-
ated money enough from year to year 10 keep
the institution running. The property was al
lowed to deteriorate for lack of necessary re-
pairs, and there was not enough money to fur
nish proper textbooks and instruments The
plumbing was so bad that the building actually
became unhealthful.
Since the term opened, however, a number of
Improvements have been made, and others are
planned The plumbing has been put into
proper shape and few small repairs made that
were necessary even were the present building
to be occupied but few months.
The regents are also planning TO buy tele-
scope and decent equipment for the chemical
and physical laboratories. The latter are Woe
fully deficient il apparatus, and Professor
Johnson, the teacher of natural sciences has
had hard work to teach the puplls-especially
to keep them up with the latest and most impor-
tant discoveries in electricity. He is now pre-
pairing list of the pieces of apparatus needed.
The telescope will be used by Professor Taylor
In his classes in astronomy. He said yesterday
that he hoped the instrument would be an equa-
torial with six-inch object glass. This would
be large enough to enable him to do all prac-
Llcal Work WIN the stuGentSs anu teacn tleln
astronomy as well as it can be taught anywhere.
Such an instrument could be set up on the cam
pus here and then transferred to the new
grounds when they are ready for occupancy.
With this instrument the standard time could
be obtained by the students and sent out all
over the state as State university time, just AZ
the Lick observatory time is now sent out
The abolition OF the preparatory department
has left the teachers much more freedom for do
ing the proper college work, and when the APP
paratus is obtained the advantages of the stu
dents Will be considerably enlarged.
Last July the board of regents found that q
confusion in the laws had resulted very unfor-
tunately for the university. The custom had
been in territorial times to draw out each
quarter the proper proportion of the appropria.
ton and use it as seemed best. The theory was
that the appropriation was gift from the state
and the board could use il as seemed BEST either
for current maintenance or for the formation Of
permanent fund. Last July the regents found
that either 5000 or $7,5O0-there is difference
of opinion to the correct figures--was lett over
from former appropriation and in the state
treasury. They wished to put this money
into fund, but the state treasurer de-
cided that they could not do so, as the
law declares that an appropriation unused for
two years shall lapse to the state. He further
more held that he could pay out none of the
pres mt appropriation of $4,000 for an invest
Hent una, out mat ne could only pay 1t when
vouchers were returned showing expenditure
for specific goods bought or services rendered.
Since whatever is not used directly cannot be
reserved as a fund the regents will probably do
their best TO spend the money in getting good
equipment of books and apparatus. They declare
that the needs OF the university are such that
more than $4,000 could be expended proftably.
1t was at first supposed that the $4,000 could
he drawn on by the building commiss ion, but
James X. HAYDEN. is a her nj
| the commission and the regents as well, brought
| up the matter, and the state treasurer decided
that the commission must not trench on the
maintenance fund.