Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06
THE V. P. INSTITUTE.
THE EXAMINATIONS FOR THE
FIRST TERM COMPLETED.
4 COMPLIMENT TO COLONEL PATTON.
An Extensive Railway System Re-
quests Him to Take Charge of
the Construction of Bridge-The
New Y. NJ. G. A. building.

BLAcKsBURG. VA, February g.
(SpeciaL-The examinations for the frs
term at the Virginia Polytechnic Insti
tute were completed on Monday last. Tn,
results were very satisfactory TO the fac
ulty, showing in the main, good, steady
work during the session on the part oil
the students.
The second session opened on Tuesday
February LIST. The matriculates now
number 32S, and there are several APP
pointments still out. The probability is
that the total number OF students will
be just about what II has been for the
past two sessions-336. 1t is a curious
fact that the number OF new students
has been each year about the same, num-
bering from 1S1 to 1874. The institute has
too, by far the largest number OF stu
dents from the State OF any institution
in the State. there being here about 29C
that are Virginians.
A very handsome and we'll merited COM
pliment has been paid to Colonel
William M. Patton Of the department of
civil engineering One of the largest and
ANthSlNt ldilhd1 SySltluS mas VIII
ten requesting him to assume charge OF
the construction or repair Of one of its
most important bridges, involving thou
sands of dollars. and requiring engineer
| ing skill of the very highest order. While
| this came unsought and entirely I'M
known to Colonel Patton, it is a matter
! OF no surprise to his friends who know
his high skill as an engineer, acquired
! both by practical work, such as the con-
struction of the Baltimore and Ohio
bridge over the Susquehanna. and his
valuable work on the Chicago drainage
canal, and others too numerous TO mem
ton. and by his valuable treatises on
engineering. which are authority on the
subjects treated for the skilled engineers
Of two Continents. Such a substantial
recognition Of his talent and high skill
will afford the greatest pleasure to his
numbers Of friends and acquaintance
throughout the State.
The day Of greatest cold during the
winter was the night of February the
Sd "wednesday night, when the Their
mometer reached three degrees below
zero. The spell has been most severe
one. with high winds and a cold snow
which has lain on the ground for a week
without melting perceptibly.
DIR. SHEIB SICK.
Ut. Il. CHtlDs VI the I-llHilEH tHdlfs
has been quite severely indisposed for
a number of days. being threatened with
an attack Of pneumonia. / am glad to
say that at the present writing he is
much improved and hopes TO be out in a
day or two.
Mrs. Theodore p Campbell has been
absent during the week past, which she
spent at the home Of her mother Mrs.
John r. johnson, of Christiansburg. re-
turning on Saturday.
Mrs. NJ. NJ. Figgatt had another very
severe attack of illness on Monday night,
lasting for two days. She is now, how
ever much more comfortable.
Mrs. DIR. Kent Black left last week to
visit relatives and friends in Ashland,
KY, and will be away for some time.
Mrs. William Lybrook, whose illness
was noticed in last weeks Dispatch. con-
tinues 10 improve.
Mr.. Writ Dunlop, attorney at law and
Mayor Of the town. was absent for seve-
raj days this week on legal business in
Pulaski.
Rev. Mr.. Davidson, assisted by brother
ministers Of the town, has been conduct
ing a very interesting series of meetings
in the Methodist church during the last
two weeks. They are still continuing.
and much genuine interest is manifested
in them.
At a meeting recently held Of the Vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute Young Mems
Christian Association, IL was decided 10
send a delegate from this association to
the International Students Volunteer
Convention, to assemble at Cleveland, o.,
on February the 23d.
The subscriptions for the Young Mems
Christian Association Hall, to be erected
here as soon as practicable, have passed
the limit Of $500, which it was deter
mined they must reach before active ope-
rations commenced. Subscribers are now
being called on TO pay one fourth part
of their subscriptions, as it is desired to
commence work as early as possible. A
most handsome plan, drawn by Mr.. VIII
liam C. West, an architect of Richmond, |
has been submitted and accepted. 1t |
will contain a large assembly hall, library, |
gymnasium, bowling alley, |
secretary's offices, Bible class-rooms, !
(hot and cold, running |
track. and seven bedrooms which will be |
rented.
Such building will fill a long-felt want |
at the institute, and its completion will
be hailed with delight not only by the
association, but by the faculty and the
student body.
There has been established recently at
the institute an interclass athletic league
by which interest in both baseball and
and in athletics generally, will
be greatly enhanced. A series of games
between teams selected from the four
classes has already been arranged, by
which games are scheduled to be played
twice a week, beginning on March the
Goth, and ending May the 7th. q.
PERSONALS.
Miss McBryde, the popular daughter OF
President McBryde, left this week to
De absent from home several weeks. While
away she will visit friends in Baltimore,
and Washington.
Her departure, together with that OF
he Misses Patton last week, leaves
very large gap in the younger social cir
cle of the faculty.
Mr.. Willoughby Reade, Professor Of Elo-
luton in the Episcopal High School at
Alexandria, spent a few days here this
week as the guest Of Professor and Mrs.
smyth While here he gave one of his
charming readings for the benefit Of the
Institute Band.
The Sabbath school Of the Presbyterian
church here took up recently a semi-an-
iual collection Of $35 for the Assembly's
Home and School at Fredericksburg. The
title ones deserve great credit for this,
which is really a handsome sum, when
{ is known that the enrolled pupils num-
Der only thirty.
The county has been well represented
n your capital city during the past
week. Messrs. John r. Johnson. A. A.
c. A. Johnston, Sidney Shelf
nan, Of the county, and Professor George
" Miles, of Radford, were all down
he first four 10 give expression to the