Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22
ABOUT DELAWARE COLLEGE
It's Present Condition and
Most Urgent Needs.
TALKS WITH LOCAL TRUSTEES
Co-Eduoation and the Eleva.
ton of the Standard.
Sbouid tho Membership of tho Board of
Trustees be Reduced in Number FL
nahcinl Resources of the College--Somo
Interesting Interviews.


year if no oftener-as the time for the
two regular meetings of the Board of
trustees OF Delaware College draws nigh.
Only two stated meetings are held a
year. These occur in the latter part of
March, and on the Tuesday preceding
commencement day in Jnne. The next
meeting occurs on Tuesday, March 9th,
and as coming events cast their shadows
before friends of the college here and
throughout the State are beginning to
wonder, oftentimes audibly, what matters
of Importance, if any, are to come before
the next meeting. OF course there are old
students of the institution in every hum
dred and village, large or small, in the
state, who have for years followed the
history OF the college through all its vicis-
situdes, which have been many indeed.
Bntthe Delaware College of old-struggling
mhnfully along for years OH the very verge
OF financial bankruptcy suggested by the
education of half hundred students and
the maintenance of the college on
an Income which amounted to only
S49S0-is not the aftluent institution Of
the present day with over seven times its
former income, or s36, 900, and with hardly
twice the number of students more to
educate than before. To-day it fairly
basks in the smiles which the gods, other
wisethe general governmentand the State,
have bestowed upon it in the way of an
nual endowments, and occasional appro-
priations for specific purposes. until it
really sometimes becomes problem
among the half dozen trustees who
virtually manage the institution as to how
themoney shall all be spent under the re-
quirements of the Federal laws making
the appropriation, there being u provision
in these acts of Congress which requires
that the amount of money unexpended at
the end of the fiscal year. chall be re-
tanned by the government from the next
years appropriation.
The material results of such munifcence
on the part of the government have been
yery considerable. The number of pro-
fessors has been more than doubled. the
salaries have all been increased to size
commensurate with the new resources and
additional duties, several new buildings
have been erected and the different depart
melits OF chemistry mechanics, physics,
civil engineering and electrical science
have been wonderfully enlarged and
equipped with the latest and best ap-
psratils, supplies, books, &C., obtainable,
sothat these departments will bear very
favorable comparison with many of the
larger colleges of The country having three
or four times us many students. The faculty,
consisting of IL professors, as a whole is a
most capable one and ranks well with
other colleges. As to the number of stu
dents and the standard in instruction the
college has not for some reason seemed to
keep pace with the new conditions, though
the belief is general that with its great in
come the college could widen its sphere of
usefulness to remarkable degree through
some sort of an aggressive and progressive
policy which would bring its educational
facilities to the attention of the people and
by such other changes as would in every
way popularize 1t ana make il the most
dearly loved institution in the State.
Acting under the written instructions of
his paper THE GAZRTTE's correspondent
has interviewed number of the local
members of the governing board to get
material from them for a general article
with reference to the college, its financial
and collegiate standing, the work it is now
doing and its future prospects, with special
reference to what plans, if any, are con-
sidered by trustees or others interested as
to changes i'll its management or policy;
treating the subject from the standpoint
the public nature of the college demands,
after making due and careful inyestiga-
ton.
THE GOVERNMENTS GENEROSITY.
The college has three sources of revenue,
all from the national government. The
Oldest is the land grant of 1862 on which
the college was first started as q public in
stitution. This is a bill which set aside
certain tracts of land to be sold for the
purpose of establishing colleges in the
states to teach agriculture and the me-
chanlc arts, not excluding the scientific
and classical studies and including military
science. Ninety Thousand acres were set
aside for the purpose and this land was
sold, realizing SS3 900, which
was invested by the State OF Delaware the
annual income from the same being
handed over to the college. While appear
ing to come from the State land many
suppose such is the case) this interest,
TO S4,9SO yearly, comes from
.he government land grant. With this
paltry sum the college managed for many
years to get along ana do remarkably WELL
having from 4Oto 10 students most of the
line and exacting a standard from its
students which, unfortunately, has not at
III times been lived up to under the present
In 1888 Congress made an annual appro-
Driation of $4,000 to each State for the
of an agricultural expert
nent station i'll connection with the al
eady established agricultural colleges.
The Delaware station was of course estab-
ished at Delaware College and has ever
ince been doing great work for the
agricultural interests of the State. All the |
'lficers OF the station, with the exception |
# the director, are professors in the college |
md 1t was in this way that the faculty has |
'een almost doubled in the last few years. |
IN lS9O Congress passed the Morrill, bill |
which still further enriched the college by |
making It the beneficiary of an act appro-
'riating $4,000 for the further endow-
nent and support of the agricultural col
eges. Each year this sum was to be in
reased 1000 until the limit of S25. 600
vas reached at which figure the fund was
D remain stationary. From this amount
ne-iifth had to be taken for the colored
ollege at Dover and one-fifth of each sub
equent appropriation has been likewise
appropriated BY law, to the college at
Dover.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
George q. Evans, the careful custodian
I the college funds for many years, was
he first member called upon and though
egretting exceedingly the publication of
II article of this nature agreed to furnish
he correspondent with some facts regard
lg the financial standingof the college, its
eyenue, &c, "rhe three funds" said the
reasurer, (which maintain the college are
he vested land grant fund, the Hatch Ex-
eriment Station bill and the new Morrill,
Ct" The amounts received under these
AVIS dnring the year ending August 30th
ext are as follows:
and grant fund. & dgso
atch appropriate on,.................. 5000
orriil aot''''''' '......................... 15a00
|
$35,lS0
- There can be safely added to this about
SO0 received in minor dues from the
.udents during the year, this bringing the
ltal income from all sources up to
b, $50, or practically $4,000.
The amount paid in salaries to the di-
and 0ftirnrq nfa tho |