The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-02


the university The large room on tne
norfa side of the top floor was originally
intended for the normal department. and
n this department Is placed there II IS
likely The normal society. conPose1 OF stu
dents taking work IN pedagogy. VIII hoia
its meetings IN the same room
Ample Provision tor Athletes
The gymnasium and drill hall will BE ore
OF the best appointed buildings On the
Coast. II is a frame building. but IS most
substantially constructed Of fir timber IL
is said that the large circular roof IS fun
OF such strong trusses that heavily load
81 freight train could be drawn with safe
II across IL. The drill hall portion OF the
building contains the larg-s. clear floor N
Washington which is SIKH feet. The floor
81 the gymnasium part Of the building IS
s5xSo feet. Along each side Of this long
building are constructed wings for the
cadet company rooms. and on the south
side are dressing and bath rooms for the
women. on the north side are similar
apartments for the men
BESIDES this necessary preparation for
exercise and body building OF the students
necessary because Of the prolonged rainy
DAYS OF the wet season.. there are nurner-
Gus splendid opportunities for outdoor eX-
ercss. \ large portion Of the ground be-
tween the main building and the gymna-
stun has been cleared for ball grounds,
tennis courts. race tracks. drill grounds.
football, etc. With water frontage on both
Lakes Union and Washington. with its
close proximity 10 Puget sound. there are
opportunities for boating and aquatic
sports the equal Of which is not probably
possessed by anv other educational insti-
tuition in the world. The main boat house
Will be constructed on the shore OF Union
bay, an arm of Lake Washington. directly
east of the main building. This hay is so
peculiarly hedged in and protected from
ter the wind may be blowing. that the stu
dents are always assured Of unparal-
leled campus for their aquatic sports and
exercises.
An Extensive Campus.
The university grounds cover about $50
acres. located so that unsurpassed
view may he obtained Of Lake Washing
ton Lake Union and the mountains in all
directions The contours OF the land are
such that the most beautiful effects can
he secured when they become cleared and
the necessary drtveways are completed.
The position chosen for the buildings is
on the highest ground and is much more
level than any other part. Numerous gull
leys and narrow valleys lead from this
high ground toward Lake Washington on
the east and Lake Union on the south.
Natural Features Preserved.
Nearly the entire surface of the ground
nearly all the conifers, deciduous trees.
shrubs. MOSES and plants Indigenous 20
the Puget sound region. II is the pur-
pose to preserve as much as possible OF
this natural vegetation. there being ample
room to add from time to time trees.
plants and shrubs that will thrive in this
climate. thus producing an abortum or
scientific botanical garden that will na-
turaily be OF great use from scientific
standpoint but will add materially TO the
attractiveness Of this region from a point
OF beauty. As nine-tenths of the forest
cover of Puget sound consists of the or
binary fir of commerce, known as Psue-
dotsuga taxifolia, so on the university
grounds this species is the most numer-
Gus and Is found from the giant Of COM
mercial value through all graduations
down to the smallest seeding. The next
most numerous tree found here as else
where on Puget sound is the cedar spo-
ken OF by botansts as Thuya plicata.
which is likewise found in all stages of
growth. Next comes the hemlock (Abies
mertensiana). which with its dropping
branches and delicate foliage forms one
Of the most beautiful of all conifers of the
West. There are only one or two speci-
mems thus far found on the grounds or the
following three conifers: Pine Pinus con-
torta). spruce Picea sitkensis), yew TAX
us brew fola).
Among the deciduous trees the most
numerous and beautiful is the large
leafed maple Of Puget Sound (Aeera ma
Crophyllum). There are a few specimens
OF western ash. and also of barherry or
Chittum-wood. which is known as
Rhamnus purshiana. Scattered all over
the grounds are specimens of one of the
most beautiful trees OF the West, viz.
the western dogwosd (Cornus nuttallia)
whose white blossoms Ticking the SOM
Der green of the forest in early spring
produces one of the finest effects in the
western landscapes. Another noble tree
with numerous representatives on the
grounds Is the madrona. sometime SCALED
the laurel This tree is known TO the
botansts as Arbutus menzesii.
Among the shrubs on the ground are
three which bloom vigorously. one with
white flowers. another with bright red and
the third with golden clusters. These are
respectively the juneberry (Nuttallia GER
asformis); the red currant (Rihes san
guinea. and the Oregon grape (Berherris
nervosa). This last named shrub has n
sister Of much larger growth, but with
the same beautiful blossoms. which is
known as Berberris aquifolium. These are
only few from the moro prominent spec
linens of plants found growing on the
grounds and II must suffice to say that
an instructor in botany would be very
difficult TO please who would ask for a
better living laboratory in which 10 con
duct his studies in the important science
OF botany and arboriculture.