The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-03
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EGGLEsT0N's EFFORTS
During Administration Of Retiring
President of v. p. I. Many Notable
improvements Were Made.

Improvements Were Made.
Especial to The Richmond virginian.)
Bfacksburg, w., Jan. 2.-~'lf have
been drafted for service by the board
of trustees of Hampden- Sidney col
iege, and believe 1t my duty to ac-
cept the call and will not plead ex-
emption."
-t ss,- "a -ze 81 &. -e.ttont
president of Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute since July !, 1913, announced
today his acceptance of the presi-
dency of Hampden Sidney college. to
which position he was unanimously
elected by the board Devember 10.
DR.. Eggleston did not state when
he would sever his connection with
the college here, but it Is expected
that he will serve until the end of the
present session. Misunderstanding in
December came directly under con-
troll of the Presbyterian Church in
Virginia, and the first act Of the
board appointed by tife synod was TO
elect DIR. Eggleston as president.
Since the announcement on De-
cember 20 of DIR. Eggieston's election
letters and kilograms have poured
in from the alumni of the Y. p. L.
and prominent people of the state
urging him to remain in his present
position. and from the friends of
Hampden Sidney urging him to ac-
cept Practically all of the Virginia
Tech alumni chapters throughout the
country held called meetings and
wired or wrote the president urging
him to remain. Among the alumni
who have been insistent that DIR.
Eggleston should continue here are
many who opposed his election five
years ago.
At a recent meeting Of the faculty
resolutions were unanimously adopt
ed expressing to President Eggleston
the deep concern of the professors at
the prospect of losing him, their keen
appreciation of the peace, prosperity
and advancement that have attained
at the V. p, /. during his administra-
ton, and their high esteem for him
as man and as an executive. These
resolutions urged him not to con-
slider the question of leaving at this
time of prosperity and greater use
fulness of the institution. when q
change would bring so much peril
and unrest.
Some of the things that have been
accomplished during his administra-
ton are: The building of concrete
walks and bridges over the campus:
the installation of shower baths and
lavatories in all but one of the five
barracks buildings. the construction
or purchasing of ten residences and
the renovation of number of old
houses; the undermining of the hos
pital. and the construction of a dis
posal plant for sewerage.
The attendance has increased
steadily each year during the present
administration and this year over six
hundred students were enrolled dur
ing the first term. The mechanic arts
building, said to be the handsomest
of its kind in the South. has been
built, and TO date equipment installed
IN all the departments. A building
for the extension division workers has
been provided, 225 acres Or land
added to the college, most of it for
farm purposes, and the farm put on
paying basis for the first time in its
history The college herd has been
brought to the highest state of ef-
dciency. and many needful improve
ments nj Adero on the experiment plots.
Wherf In Eggleston came to the
Y. p. |. the library was housed in
badly lighted. poorly ventilated room
on the third floor of one of the aca-
demic buildings. One of his acts was
had been built for an auditorium. but
never answered that purpose. into a
library building, and there is prob
ably none better at any college in
the South. An athletic building for
the benefit of the students was built
during the past five years and many
othes things have been provided for
the physical welfare of the cadets.
During the present administration
the salaries of the full professors in
the college have been raised from
$500 to $4,000. and those of the as
sistants. instructors and laborers in
Largely through Presi-
dent Eggleston's efforts the annuity
which the college receives from the
ftate has been about doubled. DR.
EeSleston was largely instrumental in
securing q modern school building for
the town of Blacksburg, and he con-
tributed literally OF his personal
means to this. II was through his
efforts that four acres OF additional
land for Fairgrounds. etc. WI 81
secured.
He came to V. P. I. at a critical
time in its history and his construc-
tive work has gone far towards put
ting 1t on the substantial basis 1t is
today. By the exercise of tact and
Judgment he has succeeded in har-
moV1Eing all the elements that are
concerned In the administration Of
affairs of the institution and the bond
between the alumni and the school
Is stronger than ever before.
yJrNK MAN nAScES