Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-01-15
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.
4 Brief Review of the Progressive Develop
ment of the University of Mis-
souri, Mt Columbia.

st. Louis, Jan. THE Globe-Demo-
crat has this to say editorially on the
development of the University of Mis-
souri,:
"Perhaps few citizens are aware of
the full progressive development OF
the University of Missouri at Column
bia. An intelligent comprehension OF
the great work already accomplished
will give a clear idea of the next steps
to be taken to place the university
among the foremost institutions OF
the kind in the world. Since the first
classes were formed sixty-one years
ago the total of students has been
26,600 and the number of degrees con-
ferred for work done reaches 1859.
The college of agriculture and me-
chanic arts and the school of mines
and metallurgy date from 1870, the
law department from 1872, the medi-
cal department from 1878 and the en-
cheering department from 1877. In
1883 the experiment station author
lied by congress was established and
two years later the state military
school was added. In the summer
school for teachers the enrolment
last year was nearly 1000. The univer-
sity exerts a powerful influence on
the public school system through
these teachers. But not alone in this
way, for in eleven years the six high
schools preparing students to meet
the entrance requirements have been
increased to 113.
"Another fact not generally known
is that the agricultural department
of the university is practically one of
the most successful in the world. Ex-
perience has shown that to create a
working branch of this kind is one of
the most difficult achievements in the
whole range of collegiate effort. The
University of Missouri teaches real
farming on a scientific basis. For sew
eral years the experiment station has
been actively dealing with sucn prob
lens as wintering cattle and testing
the comparative value of feeds. Rec
ognizing the exceptional merit of the
agricultural labors at the University
of Missouri, the department at Wash
ington is specially cooperating with
it in the study of beef production,
and has requested it to prepare a re-
port on the subject. The government
cooperation also extends to soil sur
vey, irrigation and certain difficult
,pirtc in oprlinl hOfonu IT. &c nSti-
mated that insects cost Missouri
farmers and horticulturists between
$4,000 900 and $4,000 a year, and
these pests can only be controlled by
scientific means. The Columbia ex
pertinent station is credited with sew
eral notable discoveries in combating
insects that prey upon fruit trees.
Missouri has attained the first place
in the number of growing apple trees.
and is at least fourth as a fruit state
Two years ago the university paid
for C. complete survey of all the water
power in southern Missouri and fol
the publication of the facts gathered
1t has also carried on researches In
coal, cement rock and mineral waters
and, through the department of en-
cheering, conducted extensive tests
in behalf of good roads.
"The university had been in exist
ence nearly thirty years before it re-
ceived any aid from the state, and tht
appropriation then was $4,000 a yea
for two years. Only a comparatively
small sun now is granted by the leg
lslature. President Jesse says on thi'
point in a recent bulletin: What w
are asking out of the general revenu'
fund for maintenance in the next hi
ennial period amounts to l cent
year on every 500 of property in TIL
state. A man whose assessment i
81, 900 would pay 10 cents a year to
maintaining the university 1t ia
small request indeed compared witt
the educational and industrial bene
fits that come in ever-increasD1!
measure from the institution o
which the state feels proud, and yet
at times, overlooks. Sixteen hun
dred young men and women are ur
. der instruction at the university
| President Jesse's summary of it
} work and needs is a convincing doc,
ment and will go far toward securin
; the modest appropriation desired"