Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-20
OUTCROWINC ITS CLOTHES
Nebraska State University Up in the Front
Rank Educationally and Otherwise
NEEDS FOR COMING BIENNIAL PERIOD
Regents Ask for Larger AppropI n
tion for Maintcnnncc ana Also
for New NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
from All over the World.

from All over the world.
LINCOLN, Jan. 19-(Special THE re-
uort of the Board of Regents OF the State
University to the governor contains large
amount of information of interest to the
public and the friends OF education. Follow
ing are some extracts:
The whole number or enrollments In the
preceding bennium was 2,S3S; In this bien-
mum 3,56S; a gain of 25.7 per cent. The
whole number of students In 1896, the final
year OF the preceding biennium was 1905
In the final year Of this biennium, 1885, the
number was 1,9l5; gain OF p per cent.
There was a gain of 15h per cent In the at
tendance OF 1898 over that OF 1897. 1t is
particularly encouraging to note thSt the
increase has for the most part been In the
genuine university and collegiate work,
though. as would naturally be the case in
new schools beginning with small numbers
the rate Of increase appears large in those
schools. The gain in attendance Of collie
giate students is 13 per cent; in the attend
ance in the graduate school 261s per cent.
In the new schools that have been partcu-
larly emphasized, that of mechanic arts,
shows an increase in attendance OF 1875 per
cent and that of agriculture "a per cent.
1t is cheering to find that nothing has been
lost from the harvest following the gen.
erous seed sowing OF numbers under the
preceding administration, as Is shown by q
gain OF 81 per cent In the number OF collie
giate graduates, 312 in the present biennium
over the number 1863 in the preceding bien-
num- The number of alumni has almost
been doubled within the last three years.
There is an increase in this period of SO per
cent OF which more than SO per cent were
collegiate graduates From the founding Of
the university to 1895, inclusive, the entire
number taking higher degrees was fifty, as
over against eighty during the last three
Oumber
same periods taking other degrees were as
follows: A. b., $50, as over against 206: b.
Sc. 12l as over against 112; LII. b., 1O5, as
over against 49, In short. Of 1,073 alumni
SIT have been graduated in the last three
years.
Field is Widening.
The university is drawing from a wider
area than ever before. Six more counties
within the state are represented in attend
ance than two years ago. The seventyfve
counties represented embrace most Of the
counties that are really settled. In the age
Of the students, ranging from only at Is
years Of age to one at 81 years Of age, there
has been decided gain In maturity The
largest number of any one age in the last
biennium was 176 at 10 years, as over against
263 Of 81 years Of age in the present ben
mum. The average age at present OF all
students is 22.4 years. The quality of the
student body Is not only surely improving in
maturity, but also in the preparation. Four
hundred and three prepared at colleges In
this biennium, as over against 1872 In the
one preceding; 702 at accredited high schools,
as over against 534; $40 in other than ac-
credited high schools as over against 101
in the preceding biennium; 1877 at teachers
normals, as over against eighty-one; seven
ty-four in academies, as over against forty
three in all private schools in the preceding
period. The number from grades and dis
trict schools is relatively smaller. only 253
as over against 236. 1t is especially signif-
mt ~ tha 80 .t,,lN l~l.. 4
the proportion of women to men is rapidly
increasing and Is above the proportion in
other co-educatcnal institutions Of like rank.
The whole number Of women in 1S96-97 was
76l; in 1898. s72 In recognition CT this
constituency the regents in June 1898,
created the Office Of Dean Of Women and ap-
pointed an alumna OF the university dean.
Becomes n Genuine University.
The figures are suggestive of quality as
well as OF quantity. An alumnus Of the in
sttution recently responded to a toast en-
titled The New University" He recognized
that the University Of Nebraska is not only
In position Of numbers to be the leading
Transmissssippi university but also on ac-
count of its spirit The establishment and
development OF the graduate school Is bring
ing in the real university.
The groups of study have been revised to
meet the demands Of the new university.
The groups have been greatly increased
and elaborated. Opportunity Is given for
general liberal and technical education and
also for specialization.
In the new university it is realized what
had long been dreamed of for a state univer-
sity, which must be peculiarly peoples uni
versity-the organization OF the schools Of
agriculture and mechanic arts, in conjunction
with colleges Of literature, science and the
arts.
These schools, the organization Of which
simply was reported to the last legislature
have developed as fast as the equipment of
the schools would permit. 1t Is with pride
that we announce that provision has been
made to supplement these schools with a
school Of domestic science that is opening
the present year with promise.
Regents Estimates for Biennium.
only slight conception of the many sided
ness, remarkable growth and consequent ur-
gent demands Of the university for pecun-
larry support. The unanticipated increase
during the last biennium in the university
has made it difficult for the regents to main
tain 1t without a deficit. BY the utmost
economy and almost imposition upon their
employees have they barely succeeded in do
Ing so, with the excepticn OF a slight de-
ncn IN me fuel, gas. water and light ac-
count ADD to the accumulated needs that
the economies practiced have made the most
conservative estimates as to the normal in |
crease In the university for the coming bien-
mum and it will be evident that consider
VIII be necessary for its maintenance apart
from all expansion. The regents have made
the budget as small as they could on the
side OF expenditures without threatening
actual retrogression.
The estimated resources from the taxes
OF the biennium, income from university |
funds and payable from state general fund |
is $311 500.
In addition to the above the university will
receive from the United States government
Tor the next two years $25 900 annually.
known as the "Morrill fund" limited to
special uses by the act Of congress- also
$4,000 annually for the United States aerl-
cultural experiment station. limited by act
OF congress to original research and expert
ments upon subjects connected with agri-
culture Also there will be collected from
students OF the university for various uni
verslty purposes sums estimated, per annum,
as follows: Matriculation and diploma fees, |
$4,000; law college tuitions, 81 500; labora tory
cash deposits, $4,000; also farm cash receipts. |
estimated at 5000.
These will be asked to be formally ap-
proprlated by separate bill or bills in the
specific cases.
Permanent improvements Asked.
In addition to the above the following ap-
from the state general fund for
buildings and permanent improvements have
to be asked:
For farm school and experiment
station building and for maintain