The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-11-21

=
ing a state university first took form when
congress approved an act granting two
townships OF land for the purpose of es-
tablishing university. In the following
year the legislature OF the territory of
Washington enacted bill locating the
university at Seattle. with q branch at
Boport Plains. Nothing was done, how
ever, toward procuring site for the uni-
versity, and in eighteen hundred and
fifty-eight another bill was passed chang
ing the location to Cowlitz Farm Prairie,
south of Chehalis. Two years later still
another act was passed relocating the
university at Seattle, on provision that
ten acres Of land in Seattle should be
given for building site. As result the
present site of the old university. eight
acres OF which was given by A. A. Denny,
was chosen and the building erected upon
it that for over thirty years housed this
growing institution.
In its younger days the institution was
10 very Strengthened circumstances
several times. and It may be OF interest
to some to learn that at one time the uni
versity was only able to keep open by a
liberal advance OF money from Henry
Willard.
1t Was seen several years ago that the
growing attendance would soon necessi-
tate the erection OF larger building. Ac-
cordingly in eighteen hundred and ninety
three, the legislature Of the state relocated
the university on a peninsula between
Lakes Union and Washington.
A more beautiful site than this could
scarcely have been found, overlooking as
it does the fine lakes to the south and
east, while far to the eastward rise the
snowy tops of the Cascades, to the west
ward the white cleaning Olympics, and
to the southwark the grand old monarch,
Rainier. The site comprises three hun
dred and fifty-five acres, probably the
most magnificent campus belonging to
any college in the United States.
The buildings now erected are the main
university building, gymnasium and drill
hall, observatory and power house. The
main building stands upon prominence
near the west side OF the campus, from
which the land slopes gradually down to
the lakes. This building is magnificent
structure that any state might well be
proud to possess. 1t is built of dressed
stone and brick, being faced on all sides
with the dressed stone. In height it con.
sists Of three stories and basement and
is surmouuted by very pretty beIfry
tower. The building has something the
shape of the letter T. the stem projecting
toward the north. Without this proiec-
ton the building is two hundred and
for:y-four feet in length and seventy in
width. On each side of the corridor on
the first and second floors are most of the
recitation rooms and professors studies
On the third floor are the society rooms
and library, while in the north wing on
the frat floor is the great assembly hall,
known as Denny's hall. Ia the basement
below are the chemical laboratories and
the museum.
The gymnasium and drill hall is about
one hundred by one hundred aud sixty
feet in dimensions. The gymnasium is
very finely equipped with all kinds OF APP
planes that can be used in developing
muscle or Strengthening the body.
The observatory is a substantial stone
structure north OF the main building. 1t
is not yet completed. but will be in few
days. The telescope has been taken
apart and moved from the old observa-
tory preparatory to setting up in the new.
As this telescope is equal to any on the
Pacific coast, and Prof. Taylor is an en-
thusiastic astronomer, mis- classes should
obtain very good knowledge Of general
astronomy.