The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-01-16
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
Field Agent Barbe Tells What was Ac
compiished in '96 and Predicts many
Steps in Advance During %.

done during the year which is now
at its close. take pleasure in say
ing that the Universityhas done
more extensive and betterwor K than
ever before in its history. The use
fulnessof school cannot be meas
ured, Of course, by the length of its
naturalization list. but the more stu
dents in attendance, the large will
be the fieldof its influence. The
University this year passed the four
hundred mark, the enrolment for
the fall term being about 4l0, With
good prospects for at least AS by
next June.
The graduating class will be larg-
er this year than ever before.
More young men are taking the
mechanical and civil engineering
courses than ever before, and the
facilities for thorough work in these
departments have improved greatly.
An immense amount Of practical
work is being done in the shops and
in the field.
The number of young ladies in at
tendance has increased.
The law classes are the LARGEST
The School has ever known.
The Freshman class is much larg-
er than ever before.
The requirements for admission to
the Freshman English class have
been raised and are now the same
as in the old eastern colleges and un-
iyersities.
Work In the natural sciences has
been improved greatly by the sepa-
ration of the chair of chemistry and
physics and the creation Of the
class Of physics with Professor Thos.
+, Hodges in charge.
Much new apparatus and many
new specimens have facilitated the
work in the department If geology.
The Agricultural College, with a
thorough course extending through
four years, has been established, and
farm of ninety acres has been put
under cultivation by the experiment
station in connection with the new
department of agriculture.
The Episcopal Hall has been en-
larged to accommodate about sixty
students
The Baptists have taken steps to
wards the building of a hall at the
university, and also hall Of the fine
arts for young ladies.
Provision has been made in the
chapel of the handsome new Presby-
terrain church, for looking after the
welfare of Presbyterian students
Indeed, all of the Morgantown
churches are very active in theii
good work among the students.
The University Young Mems
Christian Association has arranged
a lecture course on the Bible, to b,
given by various professors. This
course was opened by DR.. Reynolds
with four lectures on THE Bible and
Civilization" Judge Okey johnson
will follow with four lectures or
''The Bible and Jurisprudence" and
Professor Armstrong will give four
on 1.-THE Literature of the Bible.
Others will be announced later.
The Young Mems Christian Asso
citation has also started movement
to Organize state league of similar
associations, taking in the various
colleges, seminaries and Norma
schools in the state.
The system of advisers for thu
students was introduced this veal
and promises good results. Every
student has some professor as his
special friend and adviser.
During this year DR. Reynolds
has been delivering a new course OF
lectures ON finance, which has at
tracted much favorable attention.
The cadet corps is larger than
ever before and it certainly never had
a better commander than Captain
Hewitt, United States Army.
More counties in West Virginia
and more states are represented
among the student body than in any
previous year.
The new professors, Prof. Hodges
and Prof. Barton, have already
proved the wisdom of their appoint
ment,
Athletics have had their share of
attention and the gymnasium has
been put to constant use.
OF course all of the regular courses
and departments have been carried
on, and with steady effort at in
creased efficiency and thoroughness.
| have simply tried to set down
some of the new things of the year,
i'll accordance with your kind re-
quest.
The University belongs to all of
the people Of the state, and perhaps
the most gratifying thing that can
be said is that the most perfect har-
inony exists between the university
and every other school in the state,
They are all working together for a
common and glorious cause. The
University reaches back through a
| oeiouS udpioot, w lclts w 1cit NlOuOu-
gala Academy was founded, and its
future is in the hands of loyal
friends.
The winter term for 1897 will be-
gin January 5, and the spring term
April l.. Students will be admitted
at the beginning of either OF
these terms, or at any time during
the University year.
Probably the most important ad-
dition in sight for the coming year,
is mechanical engineering expert
ment station at the University, to be
under the support and direction of
the United States government. A
bill to this effect is now before Con
gress, with good prospects of pass
ing.
WAITMAN BARRIE,
Field Agent. West Virginia Uni