The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1953-08-06
STATE COLLEGE, MAKES PROGRESS
EVEN FOR AVIATION IN IS YEARS

who served as he first president
of what Is now Mississippi State
College might well be proud to-
day of some Of the achievements
of the institution which he helped
to launch rs years ago this year.
Stephen d. Lee. DISTINGUISHED
lieutenant general of the Confed-
crate Army, was elected. TO the
post by the first Boa d OF Trustees
on December IS, 1873, and gov
erned the campus successfully for
IA years.
On this Diamond Jubilee year
General Lee might we'll be sur
prised at the growth and progress
of the college and the many lew
services it is rendering. He most
certainly would be amazed over
the work Of one department in a
field which didn't exist in his
time.
For in addition to its . any
other services il the field Of agri-
culture and engineering, Missis-
sippi State today has an Aero
physics Department which has in
recent years made valuable contri-
buttons to the aviation industry
accomplishments which are fein-
ing even more attention outside
Mississippi than from within the
state.
The principles developed from
experimentation by this depart
ment are today being applied to
make the al raft more economi-
cal and eff eut for the Armed
Services. an :. complement which
undoubtedly yould appeal to the
military min led first president.
The Legislature in 1873 voted
to establish the Mississippi Agri.
cultural and Mechanical Collie &c
under the Morrill, Land Grant Act.
under which the Federal Govern
ment donated to each state public
land script equal to $4,000 acres
for each senator and representa-
tive of that state in Congress.
This trust was for the endow.
ment. support and maintenance
of at least one college to include
along with other scientific or
classical studies. military tactics.
agricultural subjects and mechan-
ical arts.
On December -. 1878. the
Board Of Trustee selected SEQ
acres adjoiniig Starkville as the
site for the college.
General Lee vas succeeded in
1899 by Ex-Governor John M.
Stone. After the latter's death in
1900, j. c. Hardy presided over
the growth OF the institution dur
ing IL eventful and sometimes
stormy years.
George H. Hightower followed
Hardy; then came W. H. Smith.
formerly state superintendent OF
education; Dr.. David c. Hull of
Meridian. an alumnus: DR.. B. NJ.
Walker, an alumnus: Hugh Critz.
an alumnus; DR.. George Duke
Humphrey, now president of the
University Of Wyoming: DR.. Fred
T. Mitchell: and now President
Ben Hilbun.
All made their contributions to
the development OF the college,
but the grea est expansion OF the
physical plant occurred under Lee,
Hardy. Humphrey. and Mitchell.
During DR.. Mitchell's admin
stration. 194j-53. the college
library was moved into a new
million dollar air-"onGitit ned
building. Other inlr1rfa"' build
ings added since the war include
Patterson Engineering Labora-
tories, Dairy Industries Building.
Dairy Production Plant. Agricul-
tural Engineering Building. Gym
nasium. Poultry Plant. enlarge
ment OF greenhouses. enlargement
of Veterinary Science Building.
Moore Hall. Briscoe Hall, Car
penter Hall, Walker Hall. Garner
Hall.
The new animal Husbandry
Service Building. with an amphi-
theater with a seating capacity OF
1000, was officially opened and
dedicated April 2S. An extensive
remodeling of Lee Hall. badly
damaged by fire Id l94S, has made
it a much better building than
ever before.
In addition. under President
Mitchell, a new laundry was built
to replace the one destroyed by
fire. The Textile Building was
extensively remodeled to provide
accommodations for the Plant