The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-20
Facts the People
Ought to Know

fat~ u 2bhtts 1HG
town Is situated on the Monongahela
river. amid the foot hills OF the al.
leghanics. and within the limits of the
greatest q a and iron district In the
world. The most convenient means
Of access IL Afforded by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. BY rail Morgan.
town Is distant four hours from Pitts.
burg. eve hours from Parkersburg,
in the western edge Of the State. nine
hours nom Harper,s Ferry in the east.
ern corner, twelve hours from Charles.
ton, the State capital, and fifteen hours
from New York City.
Morsantown Is one Of the Oldest
college town settlements in the State,
but for nearly a century it remained
u quiet rural village. In 1895 It had
1000 Inhabitants. Now It has paved
streets, electric lights and street cars,
an abundance Of cheap natural gas
fuel, and 10000 or 10000 people.
History Of the University.
The history Of the West Virginia
University extends back to 1914, when
Mononsa,ia Academy was chartered by
the Commonwealth Of Virginia. The
institution existed as an academy III.
I'll 1857. when 1t became the property
of the newly organized State of West
Virginia under the name Of the West
virginia Agricultural College. The
grounds and buildings of woodbur1
Seminary in Morgantown were also
donated. The next year the name Of
the new college was changed to West
virginia University. For many years
It's staaeat body was not very large in
numbers. and the institution went
through the experiences of the early
days Of most State universities. 1t
had to o1tgrow political influences,
and TO establish itself in the conf.
dence and affections of the people. But
during that period, as in all its his
tory, many noble and scholarly men
were connected with It's faculty, and
the work done was efficient.
Mode Of Government.
The general government of the Uni
versfty Is lodged in a. board Of nine
regents who must be residents and
voters IN the State. Appointments to
this board are made by the governor
and confirmed by the State Senate.
The regents n divided into two
groups OF four and five respectively.
The lcngth Of appointment is four
years aud the term OF office Of the
groups expires alternately. Not more
than SIX members OF the board may
belong to the same political party.
The immediate direction OF the univer-
stty Is in charge Of its president and
a Unfyersfty council. This council
consists Of the heads Of various de.
rartnents and Is appointed by the
president of the University. The de.
tail work Of the University is carried
on by stsnding committees. The head
of each department Is class officer for
students who elect their major work
in that department, His function is
TO aid students in selecting and ar.
ranging studies, to make up their
courses. and his power is partly man.
datcry and partly advisory. Every
ldsnt IS assigned to some class Off.
Ger.
Organization.
The University organization now in.
ciudes twelve different departments.
The most important of these are the
College of Arts and Sciences, the Col
iegs Of Engineering and Mechanic
Arts, the College of Agriculture. the
College Of Law, the College OF MeIi-
cine. the School Of Music, and the
School a Fine Arts. The College Of
Arts and Sciences Is the Oldest. hay
ing existed from the time when the
State took over
and began comforting degrees. The
other colleges and schools have grown
up around 1t.
Extent and Value of Equipment.
The University has made greater
additions to its equipment and facul-
ty in the past eight years than in all
the preceding years Of Its existence.
Az present the University buildings
and their values are approximately as
follows: The Library, 100000 0
Woodbatn Hall s1s8.ooe.oe; the Pres.
dents House, s45.0Oo.oo: Agricultur.
az Hall house, barns, c~onservatories
and other buildings. s4o,ooo.oo; Me.
cfauicafs Hal. 100000; Science Hail.
s%so.ocooD; Commencement Hall, $50.
ooo.0oj the Armory, 100000; Martin
Hall ss5.ooo,oo; the Power Plant (un.
der c%onstraction) s~2o.ooo.oo; the
Grand Stand, Observatory and out
houses, $ 100000; Fife Cottage, So.
10000. Total, s575.ooo.oo. The Ii
brary. Mechanical Hall, a wing Of
woodburl Hati. Presidents House,
Armory, Power Plant. Grand Stand
and Fife Cottage have been secured
nee 1898 The appreciation of real
estate in Morgantown has been So