The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-27
PENR OS Fps REPORT
SHOWING OF THE DEVELOP
MENTS IN WORK AT WHIT
MAN COLLEGE SINCE 1894.
Remarkable Growth Made Under His
the Erec-
ton of New Academy Building.

President S. B. L. Penrose, has pre-
pared a report to the trustees OF Whit
man college which will shortly be
printed in pamphlet form, showing the
recent developments Of the college and
its financial status. This is the be-
ginning of President PenrOse's tenth
year at the head of Whitman and in
spectOn of the report wildly I'M
presses one with the remarkable
growth which the institution has made
under his administration.
He became president in 1894. At
that time the property of the college
consisted of only 612 acres of ground
on the south side of Boyer avenue and
four wooden buildings, now the col
lege owns twenty seven acres In all
and besides the original four build
ings three large and substantial build
1ngs of brick and stone. The Whit
man Memorial building, Billings hall,
and Reynolds hall have been added,
at a total cost of $101, 900. At that
time a debt of $4,000 Overshadowed
the institution and the endowment
funds amounted to only $4,000 while
now they amount to $236,6S2.92I From
1000 volumes the library has grown
to 1900. The faculty of only six mem
bers has been increased until now
there are %. A greater contrast in
enrolment is seen than in anything
else. On october l, 1898, the enroll
ment was "a and the total enrolment
for the year. SO. Last year there were
registered over 800 students in all de-
partments and already the enrolment
this year is greater than that figure.
The conservatory alone last year had
165
The courses of study have been de
veloped so that the requirements for
entrance are equivalent to those at
Harvard and Yale.
The report dWells on the special
needs of the college now which are
primarily an increase of endowment
and second, an increase of accomo-
sttutiOn had compelled very heavy
OUTLAWS for equipment and mainte
nance and the income from all sources
is insufficient to meet this outlay. The
trustees have been exceedingly care
full in their expenditures although re-
luctant to check the growth of the col
lege by too rigid economy. The re-
suit has been the accumulation of
considerable debt, but this has been
more than offset by the increase in
the value of the real estate belonging
to the college. But" says President
PenrOSe, If the college is to continue
growing and if it is to be worthy of
its prOvidential opportunity, then it is
imperative that the endowment funds
must be greatly increased at once.
The college ought to have not less
than 100000 of invested funds to
meet the rapidly increasing demands
Of the next few years."
Another need called attention to in
the report is that of an academy build
ing. So great has been the growth of
this department that it is impossible
to accommodate it any longer in the
Memorial building, now crowded to
its utmost capacity. The necessity of
erecting a suitable building, immedi-
ately, to be ready for occupancy next
September, is strongly urged. It is
suggested that this building ought to
cost about $4,000
The present gymnasium is now en-
urely inadequate for the important
uses of physical culture and athletic
training The hope is expressed that
some generous friend of the college
will supply this pressing need by Civ
ing an adequate gymnasium in the