Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1902-02-27
CHARTER DAY.
The State Agricultural College Cele.
brates is 2ld Birthday.

The college celebrated the twenty
first anniversary of the founding OF
the institution last Friday with ap-
propriate exercises. Owing to the
limited capacity OF the chapel gener-
al invitation to the public was not ex-
tended, for the student body could not
all be seated, many having to stand
up during the whole of the exercises.
The original contributors to the fund
who are still living In the city and
state we're invited, and those who
could attend were given seats on the
platform.
The bill locating the Agricultural
college at Brookings was approved by
Governor Ordway on the 2lst day of
February, 1881. Oneof the conditions
was that the citizens OF the town
should purchase and deed to- the state
eighty acres OF land within the corpor-
ate limits within certain date. The
names of fifty-seven citizens appea r
on the original subscription paper and
for 5000 the eighty acres, upon part o I
which the buildings are now located,
we're purchased from Mrs. Randi Pet
erson.
The addresses delivered were mostly
of reminiscent character. Mayor
Mathews, the first speaker, gave a
general review of the work of the 14th
and 18th territorial assemblies Ia To-
eating and endowing the various edu-
cational, charitable and penal institu-
tions Of the then large territory. He
related the main incidents connected
with the passage of the bill locating
the college In Brookings and the part
our members had to do with 1t, espec-
tally that of councilman j. OBJ.
Scoby. He closed by sketching the
various vicissitudes through which the
college passed before it could finally
open its doors for the reception OF stu
bdents in the fall of 1884.
Hon. w. FL. Roddle followed with
many interesting episodes connected
with the political and financial feat
ures of the early years Of college his
tory and gave due creditNto those who
contributed of their then slender
means in the days OF its beginning.
Il. Il. Kerr read the original sub
scription list and gave few statistics
showing the growth of the college
from its beginning to the present
time. Adding the total enrolment
by years there are 5056 names, repre-
senting about 340o different students
Including the present faculty some So
professors and instructors have served
since the opening Of school, and SO
honorable citizens of the territory and
state have assisted In guiding its des-
TIMES, as regents and trustees. There
have been BOT graduates in the regu-
lar courses and 80 In the Pharmacy
course besides a large number from
the commercial and shorter courses
who have received certificates of pro-
ticiency. Forty of the graduates are
either farmers, machinists, scientists
or teachers of some Of the scientists.
or the 78 young lady graduates about
35 can be called domestic scientists
with the title Mrs. There are at pres
ent over 500 students in attendance.
Since the founding of the college
the state has contributed $344 900 for
all purposes and the national govern
ment $4,000 for instruction and ex-
pertinent station work.
Hon. Philo Hall spoke on the rela-
tion of the college to the community
and reviewed some Of the features III
its later growth and also related the
experiences Of local members of the !
Legislature in securing appropriations. |
Pro-. Ejll, Of the city schools, gave !
an exaeii9nt paper on the relation OF
theshign school to the college.
Mr.. Horace Fishback, In behalf OF
the subscribers to the land fund,
thought that OF the many invest
ments they had made In behalf Of
public enterprises, the money sub
scribed at that time had been the
most productive of returns.
The college orchestra contributed to
the exercises very materially by their
excellent rendition OF two numbers
and song by the quartette, consisting
Of Messrs. Mann, Crozier, Hoard and
Wescott was very much appreciated.
1t Is the intention to make Charter
Day regular anniversary with APP
propriate exercises. 1t is the one oc-
casion of all the year when the college
can indulge in self-congratulations.