Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-01-10

tue CIIIZeuS Oh OpedTDSH nave duVdUC-
ed 81 1858 towards its completion, but
even this mount was insufficient to
finish it. The legislature should
promptly pay the amour. advanced by
the citizens Of Spearfish.
STATE UNIVERSITY.
u The State University, like the other
schools / have mentioned, has an in
creased attendance. Last year the reg
istration showed 1886 students and dur
ling The present year the number Is
considerably larger.
All Of these students receive instruc-
ton in one large main building con-
!taining the physical. chemical, biolo-
lgical and geological laboratories, all the
class rooms, the chapel anu the libra
Try. The result Of this crowding. espe-
icially during the change of classes, is
detrimental to the discipline of the in
istitution. Few of the professors have
the undivided use Of their class rooms.
The obvious remedy for this state of
things is a new building to which al
the laboratories with their appropriate
lecture rooms, can be relegated.
The board of regents recommend an
appropriation of $4,000 for such a
building. ! fully concur in their re-
commentator, for this amount Is not
excessive. This building is absolutely
necessary to meet the growing de-
mands of the university if we are 20
keep pace with like schools in other
states. The regents also recommend an
appropriation for a law library, and
the establishment of a department of
law, without which a university is in
complete.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The attendance at Bookings was
very large last year and promises to be
| still larger this season.
A two-story brick creamery has been
built to take the place of the one de-
stroyed by fire. The building while
fairly well planned, is entirely too
small, and is not in keeping with the
character Of the institution. The ma
chinery in this building is of the lat
est patterns, and the most scientific re-
cults in butter and cheese making are
obtained.
A gymnasium has been constructed
also, with a drill hall On the first floor
for girls and a like hall for boys on
the second floor. Unfortunately the
contract for this building was not let
until there was a large advance in the
cost of material. About 81 800 was eX-
pended for heavy iron truSses to sup
port the roof, which | believe to be en-
tirely unnecessary and detrimental TO
its appearance and utility. This
cmount should have been expended in
making the building at least forCy feet
in order that it might be a
model building for the purpose for
which 1t was constructed. The origin
III plan, when the appropriation was
made, was to have the heating plant
occupy a part of this building. This
plan was changed and the old building
containing the heating plant has been
repaired at a considerable expense, as
1t vas in a badly diiapidated condition.
The heating plant is o in fairly good
shape but the location is undesirable
ind adds to the risk of fire.
The cyclone of August 10 last dam
aged the buildings to the extent of Si,-
1S4.S5. which sum was advanced by
Horace Fishback to make imperative
repairs in The absence of an appropri-
htion for that purpose. This sum should
be repaid with interest under an emer-
gency clause.
SCHOOL OF MINES.
No institution in our state has made
such q rapid growth as the School of
Mines. The attendance at the present
time is several times larger than it has
ever been before, there being between
eighty and one hundred students. The
school has grown in popularity under
the able management OF Prof. Slagle
n his assistants. Regular courses of
study have now been adopted, and de-
grees will hereafter be conferred.
Owing to the large increase in at
tendance, the present buildings are
much too small to meet the requires
ments. The regents denounce the
buildings as unfit for such a school,
halls being narrow, stairways sleeps
and class rooms not large enough. and
they have recommended an appropria-
ton for a new building.
The mining industry in the Hills has
taken on a new activity owing to the
new scientific methods that are on
stantly being discovered for extracting
gold, and ore that under the old pro-
cess was considered worthless, can now
be worked at a good profit.
A good School of Mines is therefore
necessary and should be properly
maintained to assis. one of our i'm
portant Industries.
BOARD OF REGENTS.
The practice of the board OF regents
of holding long distance meetings, by
passing motions through the mails to
one another instead of holding sessions
as is contemplated by law, canEo. be
too severely condemned. 1t . an eva
sion Of the law and a fraud upon the
public service. officials who find their
work unremunerative or incompatible
may always find refuge in private life.
Another practice wnicn deserves the
severest condemnation is that of as
signing to each member of the board
IN school over which he has absolute
control. The recommendations made
by each member In regard to the school
of which he has charge, are almost in
variably accepted as final; whether
they are for the best interests of the
institutions is not given serious con-
sideration. This practice should be
prohibited. and no business should be
transacted without a majority of the
board being present. The favoritism
practiced by one member of the board,
who uses his position 60 give employ
men. to his relatives, likewise deserves
a reprimand. 1t is not a question
whether the relatives are competent.
Nanpxic~n hoe Iryax,, h,~.-l3 49,