The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-21
THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTION
Its First President, J. H. FOrney, Tells Of
Growth and Standing Atnined in a
Few Brief Years-PFids Of Our Ysnng
State.

J. III. Forney was the frst presi-
dent Of the University Of Idaho, oc-
cupying the position during a brief
period, and was later 3 regent and
president Of the board Of regents Of
the institution. He always talks en-.
Enthusiastically and Interestingly Of
the university. In discussing the
early history of the institution and
it's later triumps, be says:
81 led two members of my faculty
across a plowed field TO the unfinish-
ed wing Of a building not yet in esse,
and, standing among bundles Of lath,
piles Of brick and mortar beds, they
were introduced to our new univer-
sity, and felt the keenest sympathy
for the disappointment they must
have experienced.
"a few months later, October 3,
1892, the institution was opened,
with faculty Of two members and
80 students, none Of college grade
and some who could scarcely spell
their names-without a book or
piece Of scientific apparatus, without
chairs or seats Of any kind. The
only chairs about the place we're the
igurative ones occupied by the mem
bers Of the faculty, and, by the gift
of faith in ourselves and the people
Of the state, and Of courage for the
future, we called II the university OF
Idaho.
The university has grown stead
lily, and strongly, since that date,
velut arbor in aevo. II had to grow
in order to keep abreast Of the educa.
tional needs of the state, and also it
had to grow Ia order TO fulfil the
promises which it's name implies.
In IL years, as the governor we'll said
in his message to the Legislature. 1t
has attained the stature and standards
Of true university
what lie q state university? Il is
not, Of course. the universe, nor Is It
intended TO embrace universal knoWl-
edge. According to the definition Of
the most modern educators, a state
university is simply a group of pro-
fessional colleges or schools cluster
ed around a common center-the col
lege of liberal arts-the whole en-
doWed and supported by the state for
the higher education of lite citizens.
| According TO this definition, a uni
versity attains true dimensions when
IL reaches, in due course Of time, and
with proper educational standards, a
collegiate organization.
The University Of Idaho was mod
eled after that Of Wisconsin. The
object Of the regents was and is to
make a strong centralized iustitu-
ton embracing group of efficient
colleges. The University of Idaho
at present comprises three colleges
the college Of liberal arts for educa
tion in the msthematieal sciences. the
natural sciences, languages, history,
political science and the theory OF
education; the college Of engineer
ing, for education in the applied
sciences, mining engineering, civil
engineering, and the college OF agri-
culture, the latter embracing animal
husbandry, agronomy, horticulture.
chemistry, botany, entomology and
irrigation engineering.
81 believe it lie the intention Of
the regents 20 call the attention OF
the Legislature to the desirability Of !
making provisions for legal education 1
as soon as the exigencies Of the case
demand, and a law school will then 1
be added to those now in existance
as soon as our circumstances will per.
nit The prospect for medical
school lie more remote, though the de-
mand, even now, Is becoming insis-
tent. Already the state and the
youth Of Idaho have come to reap the /
benefits Of this sensible, scientific /
and modern organization for higher
education. Il ia not only the most
inexpensive organization for the
state, but Il secures, through wise
combination, the best and highest
results for the individual student.
The university costs the people Of
the state OF Idaho only small frac.
tion Of the amount that il levied per
capita on the people of those states
that organized their systems on other
lines.
THE system followed In Idaho
you viii and exemplifed In the uni.
versities Of California, Nebraska,
and Minnesota. These in
are Of international repnta.
tion. Compare this, II you will,
with the state system Of Colorado, I
the Dakotas, Montana and Oregon. IN
which the various colleges are scat.
tered throughout the respective states,