Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-04-24


Congress in 1887, provided for the
establishing of agricultural experiment
station in connection with the colleges
established in the several States under
the provisions of the land grant act
which Senator Morrill, had passed, and
Of which Delaware College was then q
Beneficiary. The Hatch bill provided
for an annual appropriation Of SIS, 600
for the experiment station and had no
reference to tho military instruction in
the college
The second Morrill, bill, which was
passed by Congress in $780, provided
for an additional outright appropra-
tion from the government of sl5. 600 for
the first year and an additional 81, 900
each Succeeding year for 10 years, and
after that an annual appropriation of
SD 600. This act provided that five
per cent of tho appropriation should 60
toward the maintenance of u colored
college, and under its provisions the
State College for Ctolored Students ut
Dover WAS established and receives its
portion Of the money each year. This
money is appropriated, according to
the wording of the act, for the follow
ing purpose: "# to he applied
only to instruction in agriculture, the
mechanic arts, the English language
and the various branches of mathemati-
cal physical, natural and economic
science, with special reference to their
applications in the industries of life,
and to the facilities for such in
Struction.
On March Goth, 1871, the Legislature
of Delaware passed an act authorizing
the governor to issue arms and equip
munts to the president of Delaware
College from time to time as they may
be needed for military drill Of the
students
The college receives about S4j, 600
annually, all from the Federal govern
mcnt, but the Legislature has made
liberal appropriations from time to
time, chiefly to keep up repairs and
make additions to the buildings.
The college, many think, is not
appreciated MS it should be by the
people Of Delaware. Many would like
To see an annual appropriation from the
State, which would enable it to extend
its scope, as the State derives great
benefit therofrom, directly and in
directly There is hardly the interest
from the people at large that might be
expected, although the interest has
been growing and the attendance is
much larger than in some former years.
. Tuition is free to all students from
the Stat of Delaware, = says the cata-
| lOgue, 80 that the college constitutes
part of our system of free public in
struction. She places within the reach
| OF the young men of the State a
| thorough collegiate training with nc
| other cost than that of living and the
| provision of necessary books and u few
| inconsiderable ices to cover expenses
incurred by the institution Her work
is laid ont upon broad lines, andstht
! culture of liberal learning and tho
practical usefulness Of the applied
sciences are equally emphasized in hel
schome of education. While, in pur.
| suancc of the special aims of sheI
organization, stress is laid upon those
| departments which build up good citi
| zenship and useful manhood, the place
so wisely provided in the foundation oI
the land grant college is given to The
refining graces and amenities of tn,
older learning.
The following interesting sketch o
the college was compiled by tho Rev
| William H. Caldwell, ID. D., while h,
was president of the institution:
In the early TART of the last centur.
| leading citizens made several efforts L
establish an institution of learning o
higher order than had previousl,
! existed, but nothing was done unit
1921, when the General Assembly passed
an act ''to establish college at tht
village of Newark or it's vicinity, fo
tho education of youths in the English
Latin and Greek languages, beside
arts and Sciences . This act provided
that the institution should bear til,
name Of Delaware College. 1t re
| quired that the board of trustees SHOULD
consist of not more than 80 member
and be appointed by the General AS
semhly. This act was never carrie,
into effect4nd on the 9TH Of February
1883, the. Legislature passed anothe
act 10 establish u college which SHOULD
bear the corporate name of eth
Trustees of Newark College. " All tn
stock and money Of II college fun'
which had been created pursuant to
resolution of the General ,.Ass,mbl
passed on January 2Sth, 1924, wer
paid over to the trustees Of Newarl
College, and on May Sth, 1884, tn
trustees assembled in the college hal
and proceeded to open the institution
by the Inauguration of Profs. Natha
Munroa and john Holmes Agnew
Sixty three pupils we're enrolled onl
one, however, in the college course
the others being in the preparation
department, some Of whom were no
over o years old. Alexander Gray wa
the first who matriculatod in the col
lege course, and he was received int
the sophomore class
F.. 4, / a
delaware College, y the sale Of liquo
to students was prohibited, and in 1s5
the college was reincorporated wit
essentially the same features as before
In this act Of reincorporation u norma
school was provided for in connectio
With the college, directions were give
concerning the use Of the endowmen
fund, and the secretary of State wa
required to furnish the institution wit
certain public documents. In 1850 til
governor Was made ex-oflicio II membe
OF the hourd of trustees and has cor
tinued such ever since.
The institution remained under til
old regime antil 1850, when it wa
suspended ana closed until 1917
During the % years of its active caree
I5t students matriculated. Many mo.
, careful and eminent citizens wei
educated within its walls, and man
of the alumni became distinguished fl
4 virtue, honor and fidelity to principle
j IL was established by State authoril
and has continued under State eontrt
/ ever since. Although not richly ei
dowed nor abuudantly equipped, it h;
i been noted for the surroundings an
: thorougnness Of its training.
1 In 1852 the Congress OF the Unite
r States passed an act donating to I'll
several States 1900 acres of publ