The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-07-21
CLEMSON COLLEGE.
President Craighead's Last Uffcial
Report.

Report.
The following is the final report Of
President Craig who has recent
" resigned the presidency OF Clemson:
To the Board Of Trustees: In view
OF my resignation which has been
rendered you, through the president Of
the board, I have thought it OF auiss
briefly to summarize the work OF the
past four years. The enrolment has
been as follows:
1S93-5.-.. ...,.....,.....'... 3o5
1898 o................ .....,..-.'.. .'.7i+
1876 G.-.....-->s,..... 74V
The enrolment Of students during
the first two years was abnormally
large By reason of the fact that many
students came hare ou: Of mere
curiosity and being without fixed pur-
pose soon left. Again, few OF the de.
partments at that time were adequately
equipped, the barracks at times over
crowded, four cadets frequently oc
cupying the same room, professors
aDd students uoacquainted with each
other and thus, il is probable, that
students seriously inclined left dis.
appointed. At any rate the average
attendance during the first two years
was scarcely greater than during the
past two. During theyear jus: closed,
the average attendance has been about
three hundred, all the rooms Q, the
barracks cccIpied most CT the time,
two boys to the room. The cadets
who now come here have for the most
part serious purpose and the pnpu
larity Ct the institution rests upon a
much more solid basis than ever be-
fore. Clemson is still TIE largest
school Of toe kind in the South. We
are far better prepared for thorough
work than ever before
The mechanical department is al
ready SIS well equipped as ass;milar de,
partments N the Oldest and best
Southern aericul:ucal and mechanical
colleges. There is reason 10 believe
that the department nay te made the
POLYTECHNIC scaool o. the South, Civ
iag not only practical ins!rr c:ion IL
the mechanic arts, b1t excellent
courses in civil, electrical and mec Ia
| nicsl engineering.
The department OF chemistry has &li
alons been admirably conducted. Fey
institutions fer better opportunities
for the study of chemistry.
The departments OF hortiou ture,
botany, veterinary science. dalrJing,
geology and miaeralogy ctf9r excl.
lent opportunities for instruction both
practical and Theoretical. The ac4da
mic department., ircluding mathema
tics, English ard history ofers ctu'
ses as extensive as can be IN the tims
allowed.
Thesgricultural department has snf.
fered from frequent changes. Tue
chair of agriculture in a Southern
school IS hard 10 fill. It calls for a
man who possesses not only scientific
training. but practical knowledge Of
The details of the faro, ability to
teach, ard the power to inspire others
with love of agricultural lu u'sui:S.
Such man was the late Prof. Me-
Gee, but his untimely death left tee
chair OF agriculture vacant. Tie
crescent incumbent, Dr.. W. J. . lick,
has suffered from serious illness dur
ing the past session and thus the work
Of the department has beeo ere2tlg
iinpeied. Hence for reasons beyond
my control this department has not
met the reasonable expectations OF is
friends.
The preparatory department has
o,en and still is necessity hare, |
have all along been OF the opinion
that only the most successful and eZ
perierced teachers should be en- qloyed
/! in the training school. Bright young
graduates may, as tutors, render Valu,
able assistance to College professors,
but the fitting school demands the
very best teaching talent.
The library contains several volumes
and is daily opened to cadets
Isubmit herewith the financial state
ments of The professors ia the several
departments.
The work of holding farmers il
stitutes has been constantly growing
in magnitude and interest. Institutes
have already been held al the follow
ing places: Greers, Gafney, Fair
view. Johnston, McColl, Seneca. and
WiDnsboro. Engagements have been
made for holding institutes in the fol-
lowing counties at an early day: Or
angeburg, Darlington, Marion, Ker-
shaw, York, Chester, BaGn1ell, Sa-
luda, Newberry, Lexlngton, Uaion,
Colleton, Anderson, Ab5evi!le.
The work O. the session just closed
has been most successful. The average
attendance of students has bsen better
than ever before. The health OF the
students until tae recent outbreak OF
malarial fever has been excellent. TIE
department of cadets has been admir-
able. None ha7e been expelled and
but few dismissed. The faculty is
composed OF able, energetic men and
work harmoniously together.
In conclusion it affords ne great
pleasure 10 thank most sincerely the
members OF the beard VINO haye
supported me so Loyalty during the
past four years and wish for Clemsor
the largest possible success.
as Bad as Thisc