The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22
VISITING BLACKSBURG.
SEVERAL IMPORTANT IMPROVE
MENTs DETERMINED UrON.
A New Dormitosy, Commencement BAL
and Profeskors' Houses to be Erected NJ
Once-Lifs Among the Cadets.

Some OF the most pleasant recoilec-
lions and which viii be remembered for
a long time 10 come, are those t"@'
cluster around the meeting OF the boaia
of Visitors, OF the Virginia Agricuitui'"
and Military Institute. held at b'aoA'-
burg. during the past week. 1t WAS
the first gathering since the appoint
ment Of the new members by Governor
OFerrall. and It's chief object was INC
consideration of the manner In which
the money appropriated by the Lexis
latcre. during the recent session. loi
additional buildings might be spent ii'o''
judiciously. ~.
The meeting was called for last tues
day evening at 8 o'clock, ana AT . ~ ~,
that morning, Councilman Joseph ".
Thomas, the Richmond menioeI, 80
rnvself left for Christiansourg over n.ie
~-srsoix and Western Railroad. The
trin was rather uneventful, but before
~ came TO the end OF our rahroau
travel we had picked up al Out W.
,nenbers of the board. After siioil
resting spell, which was very "ise'y
spent in partaking of Wen se'NeN
snpper at the Wilson House. we coh-
tinued our Journey to BlacKspul :, /"
| distance OF clSnt iAA'NFf
convcyauce In turning the corner JuS'
before reaching the college GROUNDS we
were discovered by an improvised sentlhel
who gave the signal OF our arrival py
| heating "A drum. The firing or salute
| of thirteen guns from the -FOUR pieces VI
the artillery company notified every Nv
| ing soul for miles around the INSTITUTION
| Of the important event OF the "ittso4
| OF the board. In front OF the oilce
| building the visitors were -. - ~
| mr. / M Mcbride, the president OF 'ne
College with his wen known true corui-
-. ,,a,icb made at once everybody feel
| perfectly at home. - 40.
shortly after 8 o'clock the poaru inet
- H. NcRride's Office and those present
| ,.ara cantain c. u. Vawter' OF Sro]e''
| hlhe,narie county: Hon. John r. Massey,
| az richmond. superintendent OF uDii '
destruction; J. NJ. Barton OF hefn 1s..'..
! Frederick county, }. Ihoinpaon 81
90 pr,er,leld BEDFORD county . u.
| C-.,,os OF Roanoke; II. J. Mathews oi
| NJ Meadows. Wythe county; T. A.
iIa~,,o of HarrisOnburg, Rockingham
| aa,,rt,, and Joseph W. Thomas, OF hich-
| rnond Judge John Gardner tne .ree ,r
"a. of tbe hoard. acted as secretary Inc
roaottno was a very protracted one ana
a midnight an adjournment was '"Ae"
| until . o'clock the next AFTERNOON. ,
/ crtbiprtg were llplVhN''1
and the final discussion was unanimous ,
! 81 os,e general satisfaction. Ut NJ
| Did euhnitted his report in regard 10
| ~ .,.orls done at the institution since
,Dooon,ber 1898 when the board had ~
De.. o lIe.,,o. This report contains among
n,bor things the following statement
DIR. McBRmEs' SUGGESTIONS.
Several students have mariculalee
1 al
| has reached go, an increase ol %
| az compared with the last sessic" 90,
,ao 90 con,nared with the session oil 1871
~ ~ a. rho loss has been the usual one
,ro,dent 10 colleges Of this class ana
In NOT exceed u per cent OF the at
| ,,,,darce a gratifying record me con-
| duct of the students has continued SOU,
| ,ot q single case of serious ulsotue' mas
| been reported this session.
~ nfcRride urges the necessityrot pro
| ,fdirg houses for the professors am III
| roferfnce to the proposed new p"ruNnsS
bo saws that their cost had heeh est'il''1
| ed AT $1,000 each. while the Lesis't'ure
| crpropriated only $4,000 each. lie un ,,,
:, I'm no very difficult. IL not Impossible
| IN huild. heat. light. ana lurhlsn 'Hs".
| - ,,,, omount at the disposal OF the
| board. -, ,.,,,~o,,o,,.nts
mr. JcRride says The present cnSNie'
| dvnamo. and boilers cannot carry any
S1t.ional TIGHTS. Some arrangements
| sbo,,Id he made as 10 the purchase or land
around the spring from which the wafer
| supnlv Is derived: also In regard 10 me
| pbrchase or exchange OF the E'nhsef
| property and the purchase oil HOUSTON
| Land.
| Another matter worthy Of consideration
mentioned bv Dr. Mcbride is the detail
of an army officer TO succeed IAeuiena1t
| Hartman. whose term OF services 'nds
| This summer. The applicants are L'euten-
| ant Anderson, alLnnus or the coHeIe'
| and Lieutenant Shinks. a native OF 81
| lem.
It is hoped tina. II quarters and ra-
| tions are offered irem as we'll as low
transportation rates 10 take the cadets
| to Richmond on Nav Both. the occasion
| of the unwilling Of The Private Soldiers
| and Sailors Monument. Their Trip 10
| Norfolk last spring was an exccl'en; al
| vertlsement for The college AMI brought
TO the institution twenty students from
| Norfolk and Portsmouth during the pres
| ent session.
| During the sessions DIR. Mcbride submit
| ted n plat showing ne various buildings,
| the erections Of which will become ne
cessary in the future which was approved
by the board. Ii provides for NO large
| dormitories, and a commencement hall 10
| be erected during the next few years,
| and II also takes INFO consideration the
| construction Of three additional dorm-
| tories and two more halls, which VIII
| subsequently have TO be provided for.
WHAT THE BOARD DID.
| The board gave out the contract for
| the construction Of n -four story dormi-
tory 10 be built Of brick. which will con-
| tain ffty-nve rooms and accommodate 40
| students It's contract price Is slD,)J0.
| The board also practically agreed upon
| the plans Of the new commencement hail.
| which will cost u similar amount. IL
will also be OF brick. aud its dimensions
will be 100 by 80 feet. On the ground
floor. the mess hall. kitchen, pantry. etc,
| will be located. and the nett floor viii
be used as a commencement hall. II was
| also decided TO call for proposals for me
| erection of six brick dwellings 10 be erect
ed FOR the use Of some Of the professors
at an expense not TO exceed 5000 each.
| authority having been given to the board
| by the Legislature 10 borrow money for
| that purpose under certain conditions.
The president was further authorized
| 20 negotiate for the purchase Of the
| property around the spring. and the bar
| gain will probably be closed at the June
meeting Of the beard The matter con-
corning the purchase of the Houston prop
erty. which would bring about "A shortening
| of the distance 10 the railroad station,
was laid over for the time being.
| An Auditing Committee consisting or