Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29
RAPID IN ITS GROWTH
Advance of the Agricultural
College of California.
STATE GENEROUS IN AID
Attendance Increased From 81 in
1884 to Over 1900 Students.
FACULTY NEARLY FOUR SCORE
Institution Aims to Train Citizens
for Agricultural and Mechani-
cal Pursuits.
FACULTY NEARLY FOUR SCORE
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

CORVALLIS, Ore, September 20, 1909.
The Agricultural College of Oregon, sit
uated in the village Of Corvallis sixty
two miles south of Portland, is entitled to
the first prize for order and neatness, and
may be judged from all points of view. In
comparison with the college the town Is
fll-kept and ragged, but Is improving in
appearances, and Mr.. Kline, secretary of
the Commercial Club, declares that If we
Will come back here next year we will
find very different looking place. The
people are moving down the weeds In
the cutters and roadways; they are fixing
up their door yards and repairing their
fences; they are painting their houses and
trimming their trees, paving the streets
and building sidewalks. Corvallis is
purely an agricultural town Of slow
growth, hut is surrounded by a very
fertile country, capable Of raising large
crops of grain and fruit and vegetables,
and l am told that the farmers are rich.
But they do not have much pride in ap-
pearances, and the neighborhood might be
made very much more attractive than it
Is.
But the Agricultural College is one of
the most progressive institutions In the
country, and has been growing rapidly in
numbers and Importance, especially since
PRESIDENT William Jasper Kerr came here
IN 1877 and took charge: He is a native
of Utah, graduate of Cornell University
and was formerly president of the Utah
Agricultural College.
President Kerr has an able stan-James
Withcombe, an Oregonian, is director of
Cordley is dean of the Agricultural
School; Prof. Grant Adelbert CovelI from
Cornell University, is dean of engineer
ing; Prof: John Andrew Bexell. from Chi
cago University. is dean of commerce,
and DR.: Juliet Greer Of Vassar and Chi
cago University is dean of domestic
science.
The legislature of Oregon is generous
to the institution and last year appro-
priated $780, for the regular work of
the college, $4,000 for special work at
three branch stations. $4,000 for new
land, $4,000 for new buildings and $780,
600 for new equipment
An armory and drill hall 300 by 40 feet
ana 40 feet high. made Of concrete and
steel, with truss roof, is now being
erected, and plans have been adopted for
several other new buildings, which will
make one of the most complete and per-
rect educational plants in the country.
contracts have already been let for the
central agricultural building, $50 by 175
feet In size and four stories high which
VIII be the center of a group of four uni
form structures devoted to the argricul-
tural sciences. Contracts have also been
let Tor a central heating and power plant
and for group of propa eating houses
and other buildings will be erected as
rapidly as appropriations are made.
Foundation Of the College.
The institution is one of the numerous
land grant" colleges founded under the
authority Of the Morrill, act Of Congress
In 1862 and the Hatch act of 1887. AS
there were no state colleges in Oregon in
1868. the legislature gave the interest
upon the educational fund to Corvallis
College, a private institution In Benton
county, Which was then under the control
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church South
None of the land was sold for a number
of years. and the legislature made small
annual appropriation for the support of
the school. In 1895 the church volun-
tarfly relinquished its claim and the state
assumed control. The legislature of that
year provided fors permanent location
at Corvallis on condition that the citizens
should within four years erect on the
farm containing thirty-five acres in the
immediate vicinity of said city, known as
the Agricultural College Farm. brick
buildings for the accommodation Of said
state agricultural college, at a cost of not
less than $50 600" During the summer of
1887 the corner stone Of the building
erected by the citizens of Benton county
was laid by the Governor of Oregon amid
imposing ceremonies.
This structure, now known as the adj
mnistrat1on building, was the nucleus
! around which other buildings soon began
TO cluster as necessity and growing in
| terest demanded. For a year or two there
was ample room; but, as the institution
grew, more land was needed and provided
and instead Of 35 acres originally COM
prislng campus and grounds. 1t now owns
"a acres. and instead Of one structure
there are now eighteen
Growth In Attendance.
There has also been an increase in the
attendance from 81 to upward of LOO
students. Twenty years ago most of the
students came from Benton and neighbor-
ing counties. Now every county In Ore
gon. twenty other states and two for
eign countries are represented. The in
crease In the number Of students called
for an increase In the number of the fac
ulty. This body. from the number Of
five In 1884, has grown until 1t now closely
approaches the four score mark. Other
features usually found in connection
with progressive educational institutions
have grown in equal ratio. The courses
have been strengthened. the standard has
been advanced. and other improvements
made from time to time, which have
added to the thoroughness and efficiency
of the work.
The experiment station staff includes
the president of the college, the director
of the experiment station and the heads
II
Of Agriculture that are engaged in re-
search and experimental work. The men,
bers Of this staff are engaged in the in
vestigation of problems encountered in
the development of the agricultural in
terests of the state. They also distribute
! information regarding their investigations
by means of correspondence, circulars
| and printed bulletins.
Purpose of the College.
1.-THE purpose of the college, as de-
scribed by President Kerr. lis to provide.
in accordance with the acts Of Congress
under which 1t is maintained. a liberal,
| thorough and practical education-an edu-
cation that will afford the training re-
quired for efficient service in different
branches of industry. The distinctive
technical work covers the three great
| fields of production. manufacture and
commerce. Special attention is given to
the application of science. All the prac-
teal work in the laboratories, in the
shops, in the orchards and on the farm
! is based upon scientific principles. While
the industrial or technical work is en-
phasized, the Importance of thorough
general training, of mind development
and culture is recognized in all Of the
work throughout the institution.
"The college owns 224 acres Of land"
said President Kerr. Upward of forty
acres of this is required for campus. leav-
| ing about 100 acres for the farm Rar-
dens and orchards-an amount entirely
inadequate. Iowa State College of Aeri-
cultural College. 40: the Massachusetts
vi