The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-12-12
A Day in West Virginia.

But thirty-three years old. the state
of West Virginia is interesting be-
yond its years. 1t is peculiarly ma
lures coal house and woodshed; the
hiding place of vast treasure troye in
the way of mineral resources; beau
tY spot of earth in mountain scenery
and riyer-riyen landscapes; and with
al commonwealth entitled to nu-
merous other and higher distinctions
than that in national elections it
ranks as politically doubtful state.
The population which in 1870 aggre-
gated 442, OLA had grown TO 61S, 45T in
1880, and to 1872, 704 in 1890. At the
same rate of increase the present pop
ulation would be nearly million
But it was not of West Virginia
that we began to write, but of the
West Virginia University at Morgan
town, where we lately spent a day
with the honored president, j. l..
Goodnight, ID. D., of our own church.
This institution was chartered In
1867 under the title, f'Fhe West Vir-
ginia Agricultural College, The
scope was later enlarged and by act
of the legislature the school was re-
chartered as university. The loca-
tion is ideal. Morgantown is quiet,
homelike little city on the eastern
bank OF the beautiful Monongahela
river. Thanks TO the liberality of the
government, daily packets are able to
run from Pittsburg to Morgantown.
The university occupies SIX principal
buildings, which with their equip
ments are valued at a quarter Of a
million dollars. One OF these is the
Agricultural Experiment Station, es-
tablished and conducted at the ex-
pense of the United States. Ii Is
said to be one of the handsomest and
best equipped stations in the country.
Besides the interest upon the endow-
ment of $l14, $50, the university re-
ceives biennial appropriations from
the legislature and other funds, maxi
ing In the aggregate an adequate sup
port for the thirty or more members
of the faculty. The university is or
ganized into colleges, and these In
turn are divided into schools, and the
schools into departments. There are
four special schools. There are four
colleges: Academic college, with a
special department in medicine; Ag-
ricultural college; Law college: En-
gineeripg college, and four schools:
Physical training; Military college:
School of Pedagogy Commercial
school, Last year the total attend
ance was 39S, thirty-fiye Of the mum
Der being young women. At the time
of our visit this year the enrolment
had exceeded the total naturalization
of last year, and it is certain that the
attendance will far exceed the record
of any previous year, as last year was
muchin advance Of former years. The
buildings, while they are quite large,
are inadequate, and additions will
soon be made. The equipment is the
latest and best, and is being increased
as the demands grow. We were par
ticularly interested in the Agriculture
al Experiment Station, where much
original and valuable investigation is
being pursued, and where the wisdom
Of great nation in making large ap-
preparations for such work is being
fully demonstrated
DIR. Goodnight is happy in his
work. With him are associated the
members of an able and experienced
faculty, all of whom cordially cooper
ate with the president in his laudible
ambition to bring this at once to the
front line of state universities-Cu
berland Presbyterian.