The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-28
THE FARMERS COLLEGE.
THOUSAND DOLLARS
ASKED FOR.


Facts--The Needs of the InstitutIon--Do
ing Great Work.
The annual reports of the president
and officers of the board of trustees,
president and officers of Clemson Col
fege and of the South Carolina expert
ment station were issued yesterday.
All of the reports are exceedingly in
teresting, particularly that of he
president. Today, however, we
can only give the summarized
report of the trustees, which is as fol
lows:
"On the night of the 22d of May last
the main college building was burned,
together with all equipments therein.
The fire originated on the third floor
in room in which the States exhib
it's were stored, and, notwithstanding
the heroic efforts of the professors and
students, everything in the building
was burned, owing to the fact that
shortly after the fire was discovered it
reached lot of articles preserved in
alcohol, and Immediately the vessels
burst and scattered the burning fluid
all over the large museum room. Eff
forts were then directed to saving the
large and handsome chapel which ad.
Joined the burning building. By the
aid of the well equipped fire depart,
ment, these efforts were successful and
the chapel was saved.
This building was insured for the
sum of $50, 600, all of which was paid
promptly. Immediately after the fire
the board of trustees met and proceed
ed to have the building re-erected.
The contract for this purpose was let
to Messrs. Guide & Walker of Atlanta,
Ca, for the sum of $23, 1893, to be com
pleted January 1st, 1895. These gen
tlemen gave bond for the faithful per-
Torrance of their contract At this
time the work is progressing satisfac,
torily, and we feel assured that by the
beginning of the next session, Febru-
ary 18th, 1895, the building will be
ready for use again.
cat the same meeting the board de-
cided that it would never do to sus.
pend the college exercises. Such tenn
porary arrangements as were possible
were made and exercises were contin-
ued until better arrangements were
effected. To this end a large wooden
building was hurriedly erected and is
now used for class rooms. When the
college is completed this house is in
tended to be used as hotel, the want
of which has been for long time felt
upon the ground.
"The destruction of the class rooms,
with their equipments, the library,
offices and fixtures, necessarily pro-
duced considerable disorder for some
time, but both the professors and the
students met the situation with COM
energy and self-sacrifce,
which resulted in but slight interfer-
ence with the regular routine of col
lege duties.
1.-THE heating apparatus, electric
plant and water works, together with
the class room fixtures and eqnip.
ments and library, were all destroyed
iii this building. To re-equip the new
in the same manner and pay
the difference between the contract
price for it's re-erection and the
amount received from insurance will
require about $4,000.
"A board of visitors, composed of
one gentleman from each of the Con-
gressional districts in the State visited
the college in August last, and spent
two days examining into the organiza.
ton of the several departments, and
the building plans and purposes OF
the college. Their report is herewith
and we ask that it may be
particularly read and examined.
"Since making our last report, the
hall has been enlarged, in
fact doubled in its capacity, and, with
the necessary machinery put into it, it
will be sufficient to supply the de-
mands necessary to afford practical in
struction to at least 300 students, or
fully one-half of the entire possible
in the college. To this de-
partment also has been added partly
equipped foundry and forge.
Satisfactory instruction has not
been given to all who desired instruc-
ton in this department during the
year, owing to the fact that the new
addition wasi in process of construction
and for the want of more machines 10
equip it; but, Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, a class of work has been
turned out by 4he boys which surpris-
es every one who has seen it.
"A levee has been built for the pro-
lection of the river bottoms against
freshets.
"The dairy has been completed and
equipped, and cheese of the first quail
ity is being made daily.
GA hotel has been built as aforesaid.
'The water works have been taken
up and relaid, and with the additions
thereto we are able to report that there
need be no more apprehension of dan
ger from that source.
"a great deal of work has been done
around the dormitory, and upon the
grounds generally, which it would be
hard to particularize.
Heretofore the water closets and
bath rooms have been in the dormitory,
and although they were we'll arranged
the board was fearful that it might
prove to be injurious to the health of
the boys, and hence they have con-
tracted for buildings outside in which
these conveniences may be placed.
These buildings will cost about $3, 600.
1.-The board, in its anxiety to receive
as many boys into college as practicable
directed that four boys be placed in a
room, which would make the attend
ancc GOO. This large number of boys
crowded into one building we consider
ilanperO,lS tO both health