The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26


nal is about 100000 acres, of which
about one-quarter to one-third is al
ready actually cultivated.
The department publishes a BIZ
ennial report, the one for 1866 con-
tanning valuable agricultural statistics
and general irrigation information.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The University of Idaho, chartered
by the territorial assembly in 1889, was
opened to students in 1892 with a total
enrolment of 1870 students, all being
registered in the preparatory depart
ment. Upon the opening day only two
teachers were employed. There was
no library or apparatus and only one
wing of the contemplated building was
completed. In 1896 class of four stu
dents was graduated from the college;
in 1897 five students received bacca-
laureate degrees, and the prese~+
graduating class consists of seven
members. The enrolment at the pres
ent writing is 225 students, over one
third of which are in the college
classes.
The faculty consists of 20 cultured
and experienced teachers
The library consists of nearly 1900
purchased volumes, besides a full Sc
ries of public documents, many valu-
able reports and pamphlets, bound
magazines and files of state and coun-
ty newspapers. The scientific equip
ment is worth about $4,000.
A magnificent pressed brick struc-
ture, costing $125,000 is now occupied,
besides a wooden structure, which is
devoted to armory, creamery, domestic
science, and working rooms for the ex-
pertinent station.
With collegiate courses of study
are now given special courses in
music, art, woodwork, military science
and tactics, dairying, cooking and ag-
riculture.
The Agricultural College of Idaho is
constituent college of the university
affording the use of the funds granted
by the federal government, thereby en-
aiding the state to maintain a first
class institution at a nominal cost to
the state
Although the classics and philosophy
are not neglected in the instruction of
fered, the school is industrial and sci
entific affording election between the
purely cultural branches upon the one
hand, and the applied sciences upon the
other hand. One of the most popular
courses in the mining engineering, the
school Of mines, is fast assuming mark
ed Importance, and is destined to be-
come q conspicuous department of the
UNIVERSITY.
The university has a land grant of
$4,000 acres, which has been fully select
ed. Under the constitution of the state,
this land can not be sold for less than
$40 per acre. The income from this
source, accordingly, is inconsiderable.
The state generally accords the univer-
sity and it's management d generous
measure of public support and appro-
baton.
With a constantly increasing attend
ance and added efficiency of the public
schools, there'fwill rally about the uni
versity such support and public expec-
tation as will give high standard of
attachments, security in its enlarging
plans and generous patronage.
The university affairs are administer
ed by q board of nine regents, whose
sagacity and fidelity have done much
TO confer not only a broad working pol
icy, but the confidence of the public.
+. B. Gault the president, taught the
first class inlthe institution, and is to-
day, in point of continuous service, the
ranking university president in the
northwest.
Few changes have been made in the
faculty, thus securing continuity in the
plans and methods of the institution,
thus placing the university, not upon
an experimental, but upon a permanent
basis.
PENITENTIARY
When Charles Van Dorm was ap-
pointed warden of the Idaho state pen
itentiary year ago, there was no mis-
take made in the selection. Under his
careful management expenses have
been reduced to a minimum, and var
iOuS needed improvements made. The
daily per capita expense of prisoners
has been reduced from 50 to 81 cents,
while similar savings have been accom-
plished in other respects. The several
buildings are of white limestone, taken
from the qunrries on the .lenitentiary
grounds. The grounds comprise 375
acres-40 acres IL orchard 40 acres in
pasture. 90 acres in garden, and the
remainder in grazing land. 1t can read
lily be imagined that, so far as neceS-
sary garden truck is concerned, this
institution is self-supporting, while
within the next few years the orchard
will furnish all the fruit required.
Warden Van Dorm has now in the
pens 120 hogs.
Among the new improvements al
ready started are a prisoners dining
room, guards dining-room, shoe shop,
bakery, laundry and butcher shop, all
to be under one roof. These improve
ments will be paid for out of the mar
gin remaining of the $4,000 appropria
ton, which sum was only supposed by
the legislature to meet the actual eX-
penses of maintaining the institution
for two years. The number of prison
ers confined Nov. 80 wasi147.
SOLDIERS HOME.
By courtesy of Superintendent
Charles A. Clark, The Herald CORE
spondent was shown through this insti-
tuition, and gathered the following in
teresting information:
The Soldiers Home was founded by
the state three years ago, at a cost of
about $25, 600, and consists of 40 acres of
ground, three-story brick structure,
and necessary outbuildings. The main
building is appropriately furnished,
steam-hea-ed and we'll lighted, and
makes as comfortable a home as the
most exacting veteran could wish.
Daniel Harvey, an inmate IS years old,
who died q short time, furnished the
Home with a handsome piano, a small
library and needed hospital appliances.
The average monthly mebership for the
three years was: First year, 40; second
year, so: third year, rs.
For maintaining the Home the state
appropriates $4,000 per year, and the
for each inmate. The average annual
Home is a monument to the patriotism
of Idaho citizens.
STATE LIBRARY
Idaho, although young in years,
established in 1871 by legislative act.