The evening times., 1896-09-08
UNIVERSITY HALLS REBUILT
Virginia's Historic Institution
Completely Rehabilitated.
LEGACY LEFT BY JEFFERSON
Handsome and Commcdious Buildings
In Course of ErectiOn-Beginntng
of New Era-Improvements In It's
Various Experimentation One
of the Finest in the Country.

The University OF Virginia, situated AT
Charlottesville, one of the most historic
institutions of learning in this country, ane
which was last fail SD badly damaged by
fire. has been completely rehabilitated-
The University of Virginia is the intel
lectual offspring of the genius and mat,ired
wisdom OF man who has left impressions
on Americaninstitutions more marked, NOR
lasting and more cherished, perhaps, than
those OF any other one Individual, and n,
other institution of higher education II
America is SO unique in its history or its
character. No other has eXerted SO pro
found an influence on Southern higher cdu.
cation, aud few realize no " great has been
itsinflueDce also ON the colleges and univer-
sites OF the North. Though on scale limit
ed by the means tiep ohtainable, it was the
first real university to he founded in Amer
lea, for at the time of its foundation Har-
ward and Yale and Princeton and Columbia
were elementary colleges.
NEW DEPARTMENTS A DDED.
In recent years, especially there has been
q rapid expansion III nearly every depart
meuJ OF the university, lectures on his
torical science, Including political economy.
and on modern languages being given by
five professors, where formerly only TWO
were SO employed; three schools have taken
the place OF the single school of natural
philosophy, and III law and medicine nearly
doubled The new biological laboratory
safely outranks any other in the Sout h, and
the Mccormick Observatory contains the
largest telescope in any university in
America. The technologicalniuseumis isalso
unrivallcd in this country, and is kept up to
date by Continual additions.
More Than two-thirds OF the library was
destroyed by fire last October, but, for
tundtely, the books rescued We're those most
used, and the law library, together with
the libraries OF the biological laboratory
and astronomical observatory were uiiin-
jured. Friends of the university have al
ready made many valuable donations to-
ward the restoration OF the general library,
including, among other collections, the
Hertz library of classical phiIulogy, con-
taining about II 900 books aud pamphlets.
The fire also destroyed the engineering and
physical laboratories. but these will be at
once restored and enlarged.
AN IMMENSE LIBRARY.
Work is progressing as rapidly as possi-
BILE on the new buildings to replace those
destroyed by the recent fire. These have
been planned by the weil-kuown arcii-
tects, Messrs. McKim, Mead & White, of
New York, who have already designed so
many other notable buildings. The ro-
tunda Will be fireproof, and will be re-
stored unaltered in external appearance.
A 80 In, -, ;. 81,
the Pantheon at Rome.
For the reception OF the library Is re-
served the noble. room, which will occupy
the Whole interior of the rotuDda, from
the floor OF the portlco upwards, and will
accommodate nearly 100000 volumes.
In the basement. and adjoining it, viii
be six wcl-iighted lecture rooms, which
will be completed and ready for use by the
opening of the coming session OF the uni
versity.
Facing the rotupda, at the foot of the
lawn, will stand the man academic build
ings, flanked on either side by the physi-
cal and mechanical laboratories. The
academic buildings will bear a Noticeable
resemblance to the famous aUla OF the
OF Goettingen, and, besides a
loZen lecture rooms and smaller as
sembly room for ordinary uses, will con-
tain large and cummodiols public hall
for special occasions.
The physical laboratory will contain
an ampiiitheater lighted from above, sew
eral rooms for general laboratory purposes,
a workshop and a power room, besides
six laboratories for special research and
a room for optical work. The mechani-
ral laboratory will be the headquarters
for technical work i'll electrical and me-
engineering In addition to a
eCtu re-roon and laboratories, it pro-
vides a drawinS-room, with Photographic
and printrooms attached, n room for
periodi calls and department libra ~,
and a room for engines and
dyDamos.
A PROMISING FUTURE.
An annex will contain forses and foup-
lries. together with boilers for heat and
power. The rotuDGa and the new build
ngs will be heated from this central plant
These buildings will be constructed in
classic style, the zwhole forming, with the
the arcades and the prOfessors'
residences, a group at once unique and
beautifully harmonious both in form and
color.
The future of the university was never
% promising as at present. Opportuni
les for instruction in all branches have
lever been so great, nor have they been
n the hands of abler specialists.
Now new era begins, and, with I'm
proved laboratories, with modernized and
library, with fellowships
nd other encouragements to advanced
with the growth of the spirit OF
escarch, Of a desire to Increase knowledge
IS well as impart It, the hold of the Uni
'ersity of Virginia, on the education of the
south is sure to exceed anything attained
q the past.
DR.. p. B. Barringer, professor of physi-
logy in the university, the newly-elected
hartman of the faculty, is thirty nine
'ears Of age, North Carolinian by birth,
md a son of the late Gen Rufus Barringer
I the Confederate army. He is graduate
n medicine both of the University OF vir-
inia and of the University OF the
'ity OF New York, besides having spent
more than a yearin special study in Europe.
He is member of various medical and
ther sicieties, and the author of valuable
on scientific subjects. He has
he confidence Of his colleagues, and DOS
esses many personal qualities which well
it him for the important duties of his new
oSition.
eashore Excursions via Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad.