The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-01-17
JOHNSON CITY TENNESSEE, THURSDAY, JANUARY H. 1895.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY
Reports Progress aud Announces That
1t is Now Open to All.

NbClnS uOCumelb anu contains muCD
in the way of encouragement for all
those interested in higher education.
At its last commencement the uni
versity celebrated the founding of its
parent institution, Blount College, by
appropriate exercises. An historical
address was delivered by Mr.. Edward
7, Sanford, A. M, class of '83, which
the be ard submit to the General AS.
sembly, for publication with their re-
port, as contribution to the literature
of the Centennial of the State. Blount
College was established by the frat
General Assembly OF the Territory
South OF the Ohio, on September 10th,
1894, and the institution now known
as the University of Tennessee is,
thus. nearly two years older than the
State itself. Mr.. Sanford's paper is
the result of much original research
and will prove of great value to all
interested in the beginnings of our
Commonwealth.
The past two years, though hard
ones financially, have witnessed ma.
terial improvement to the property
OF the university. A wooden cottage,
the only building hitherto provided d
at the College farm for the accommo
dation of agricultural students en-
gagged in practical work upon the
farm, has been recently displaced by
an imposing brick and stone building,
fitted with all modern conveniences
which make for the comfort and gen.
eral welfare of this class of students.
The tower of the building is arranged
as an observatory which will be equip
ped with full outfit of meteorological
Instruments valuable means OF in
struction, and an aid to the Expert
ment Station in its beneficial work
for the farmers of the State.
The total yearly attendance upon
the Academic Department of the uni
versity has been as follows during the
last eight years; 1867, 100; 1878,
2O3; 1888 9, 249; 18899O, 259; 1890 l
229; 1872, 241 1928, 266; 1898 t.
334, When it is remembered that all
preparatory classes have been aban-
doned, and that the standard of al
mission to this department of the uni-
versity has been considerably sd-
vanced during these years, this steady
increase in the number of students
is the best evidence OF the excele Mt
and thorough work being done by the
insti
One OF the most important features
OF the report Is the announcement OF
the Board OF Trustees to the General
Assembly and to the people of the
country that the university now offers
free tuition to all students of proper
age and character who apply and pass
the required examinations for admis.
sion to its classes. All schools, pu bic
and private, whose courses Of study al
least equal that provided in the laws
OF this State for secondary schools and
which may be accredited to the Uni
versity OF Tennessee, are authorize
to certify students to it, who shall
then be admitted to its lowest class
without examination and will receive
free tuition. As another method o
admission, the Faculty OF the univer
slty is instructed to hold, or cause to
be held, at convenient points through
out the State, examinations for ad
mission, for the purpose Of giving op
portunities to such persons as may
not have had the opportunity to at
tend any of the above schools. AL
who pass these examinations are, also
received, with free tuition. This nev
. plan OF admission has worked mos
successfully during two seasons and i
now announced as permanent fea
ture OF the institution. 1t will tax,
the place OF the old system of appoint
i. ments which never worked we'll. TIL
4 chief present need Of the university
, according to the report, is thst OF
/, commodious central building worth
of the institution and the State. Th
university occupies magnifcer
:, site on noble hill overlooking th
Tennessee river. This hill is at pres
: ent crowned by three small building
- entirely devoid of beauty or state
: illness, and so old, and so cheapl
constructed in the first Instance, tn,
: they are rapidly approaching tina
: condition in which necessary repai
ing, even, is well nigh impossibl
The Board of Trustees believe this
the absence of q splendid and adj
quately equipped building on this hI
- one worthy of the site of the instit
Us ton and its place among the higher i
p stitutions of learning in this country
10 is doing much TO prevent the ins
Ve tuition from exercising the inAuen
ID in education, and doing the work T
by the youth of the State, that it cou