Evening journal., 1893-01-07
A BLUE HENS CHICKEN.
Lyman Z. Powell, Delaware Boy, in
Extension Work.

The Review of Reviews. one OF the
leading illustrated magazines published
in New York, denotes much space this
month to University Extension in
America. The article is particularly
interesting to Delawareans because IL
speaks in highly commendable terms Of
Lyman p. Powell, Delaware boy WHO,
although young, has made his mark
among the educators of the United
States. He is particularly well-known in
Dover, where his boyhood days were
passed. The magazine contains n very
good portrait of Mr.. Powell and m kes
the following comment upon his work
''ln many respects the most interest
ing development of the University Ex-
tension movement has been in the state
of Wisconsin In the fall of 1891 the
faculty of the university announced the
willingness of its members to fill, as far
as circumstances should permit, engage
ments for outside work. It was not pos
sible for the university fully to satisfy
the demand for courses, which immedi
ately made itself felt. Before the new
year came many of the faculty were
forced TO refuse further invitations, and
in the course of the year one had given a
course on literature seventeen times A
eight times on geology seven, on bacteri-
ology six, on economics three; and on
electricity, Scandinavian literature and
botany each, two times. Thirty four
towns and cities, ranging in size from
Milwaukee, with population Of over
| 200, QUO inhabitants, to Poynette. with
5l7 inhabitants, were visited, and fifty
courses were given. Invitations from
twenty other cities we're received,
many of them outside the State An es-
timated average attendance on the lee.
lures was 170 and on the cla<Ne ~ To
SO. who passed the examinations, Uni.
versity certificates were awarded, accred-
iting them with one-fifth study for one
term at the University. AS a result OF
the experience Of the year and after a
careful consideration of the relation of
the University to this work, President
9. x. Adams recommended as one of the
first acts Of his new administration tho
formation Of an Extension department
in he University and the addition to the
faculty of men who should devote them
selves principally to this work
Lyman p Powell was chosen secre
tary of tn G department, and on him was
laid the responsibility of promoting the
| organization of centers, of editing a
bulletin for State use, and also an Exten.
sion department in the Wisconsin Jour
nal of Education. So far this year ten cen.
ters have been organized, many Of them
in the extreme portions of the State.
The prospects are that more courses
will be given than were delivered last
year. thirty five engagements having
already been made A special phrase OF
University Extension activity in Wiscon
sin will doubtless be developed in con
fhection With the Farmers Institutes,
which were established under the control
of the University by law
passed in 1885, and for which the
General Assembly now appropriates
$12, 900 annually. The close connection
which is thus established between the
university and the large farming popu,
lation of the state will certainly contrib
ute directly to the rapid and effective
organization of centers It is only fail
to say that, Judging by results, no uni
versity has SO far organized university
extension so carefully, and that nowher'
are conditions more favorable to tn,
work than in Wisconsin, and under tht
direction of an active and efficient secre
tary, and aided by large and growing
staff of lecturers, university extension il
Wisconsin will certainly prove mos
important factor in the education Of tn
state