Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-02-28
THE INTERESTING ROMANCE
OF THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL
How the Educational System of the State
Has Developed from Meagre Begin
ming to the Best in the Land


school in the state of Washington
was built by Whitman and Spalding
beside the sparkling Walla Walla
river at Wailatpui. One pupil in
this school, Mrs. N. 0. Jacobs of
Spokane, is yet living--the sole sur
vivor of the Whitman massacre. She
alone has lived to see the realization
of the purpose of Marcus Whitman
in the Saving of Oregon" the re-
tention and settlement of the great
Northwest, and its wonderful devel-
opment in industry and education
She has witnessed the building of
railways and manufactures, the hew-
ing down of forests, the breaking
up of the prairie-she has seen ag-
-iculture take the place of hunting
and trapping, and commerce the
place of primitive Indian trading.
Lastly it has been hers, and hers
alone, to see the advent, the early
struggles, and the present wonder
full growth of that one institution
which is the foundation stone of our
western clvilization--the school.
Seyenty-seven years have passed
in the first fifty of which appeared
the little log schoolhouse--in the
last twenty-five of which came the
modern structure of brick and stone
The first fifty years saw school en-
rollment grow from to 10000
the last twenty-five years from
$4,000 to 225,000. The first half
century saw the value of school
property rise from 0 to $2,000,359
the quarter century following saw
it rise from 100000 to $19,0S9,-
112. The first period saw the es-
tablishment of the State University
and a number of private managed
schools and colleges-the last period
the founding of the State College,
the three State Normal Schools, a
large number of business colleges
and institutions of collegiate rank
of the sectarian type, and lastly the
great growth and development of
the high school.
When the State University opened
on November 4, 1861, the popula-
ton of Seattle was estimated at 200,
hence the ~" was little more than
pioneer, frontier school. In the
second year there were 81 students,
only one being above preparatory
rank. Statehood marked a new ep-
och however, for in 1889 the site
of the University was changed to
the present beautiful campus of 355
acres overlooking Lake Washington.
Since that time its growth and de-
velopment has been in keeping with
the growth and development of the
state. 1t is one of the twelve insti-
tutions west of the Mississippi which
the United States Commissioner of
Education has put in Glass One"
In his rating of schools of the coun-
try. 1t publishes a daily paper which
is everywhere acknowledged as one
of the best put out by any school
In the country. 1t has the third
largest enrolment in the United
States, and it owns as famous a set
OF chimes as Is to be found anywhere
in the world. 1t, like our own State
College, is Founded to promote the
practical and liberal education of the
Industrial classes" In conjunction
with our Pullman school it is turn
Ing out trained men and women who
can do expert work in the different
industries of the state, who are en-
gaging in those manufacturing proc
esses and those building and con-
structive operations which involve
civil, electrical and mechanical en-
cheering. From these two institu.
t1ons come many Of our lawyers
teachers and newspaper men; our
modern farmers, our artisans and our
professional men; our home makers
our legislators, our officials - in
short, a great number of our most
broadly educated citizens.
There are now nineteen regular de
partments OF work in the Washing
ton State College-eaeh one havina
Its own particular field in preparing
future citizens, and in promoting the
practical and liberal education Of
those who are already citizens. Nc
statement could be more true thar
that Of President Bryan when. in z
recent report, he said The Stat,
College tries to fulfill the very widest
function. and in so doing to come
in contact with the industrial life
Of all the people of the state To
make the services of the institution
available to the greatest number. ex
tension work has been established In
the form of winter short courses
summer sessions OF six weeks dura