The detailed view of the colleges reporting to the Office for the present year is presented in notes and extracts drawn from current catalogues, reports, and other official sources, and in the statistics reported to the Office for the present year. In the arrangement of the text the same order has been observed as in the arrangement of the tables, matter relating to the institutions included in Tables 45 and 46, preceding in each case notices of other colleges in the several States. ALABAMA. University of Alabama.—The following information is derived from the catalogue for 1887-88 and from other sources: The endowment of the University of Alabama dates back to 1802, when the State of Georgia ceded to the General Government the territory which now comprises the State of Alabama. In the act of cession all the provisions of the Ordinance of 1787 regarding education were made applicable to this territory. Congress recognized the condition of this grant, and in the act for the admission of Alabama into the Union, ap proved March 2, 1819, reserved for the use of such seminary seventy-two sections of the public lands in the State to be "appropriated solely for the use of said seminary." The lands were designated in the land offices on the maps of the Government survey as the "university lands," and were the richest in the State. The acceptance of this trust by the State for the benefit of the university was made one of the conditions of Alabama's admission into the Union. The Constitution of 1819 made provision for the fulfillment of the obligations under the trust, as has every subsequent Constitution, including that under which the people now live. The lands referred to were finally sold by the State and the proceeds, between seven and eight hundred thousand dollars, paid into the State treasury. The State in 1859 arbitrarily fixed the amount at three hundred thousand dollars, and assumed the payment of the interest annually. The recent building operations have greatly increased the facilities of the university, and especially those of the scientific department. An act was passed by Congress and approved April 23, 1884, devoting 46,080 acres of public lands in Alabama to the State for the benefit of the university. The grant was accepted by the State, and all of the lands have been located in the mineral district. They are very valuable, and are estimated to be worth over half a million of dollars. This generous donation of the Federal Government has enabled the university to make extensive improvements. The president, Dr. H. D. Clayton, furnishes the following particulars as to progress made since June 30, 1887. As regards, First. Buildings. The following have been furnished and fitted as described: Garland Hall, an L-shaped building three stories high completing the quadrangle. The first floor is fitted up and used as a geological museum. The chemical laboratory, a two-story building, 40 by 60 feet, with a one-story wing 30 by 70 feet. About five thousand dollars have been expended in fitting up and supplying the interior with furniture and apparatus. The physical laboratory, a counterpart of the chemical laboratory, having, like that, a one-story wing 30 by 70 feet. This contains a well-equipped gymnasium. Five houses for professors' residences. These are two-story buildings, having eight rooms each and provided with suitable outhouses. A laundry, 40 by 70 feet, with basement for boiler and machinery. A gymnasium building, 30 by 70 feet, now being fitted up with suitable apparatus. A brick fire-proof vault for a safe-keeping of records and papers. A bath-house covering a clear pool twenty feet in diameter in cement walls, and a bath-room for hot and cold baths. Second. Water-works and other improvements. A complete system of water-works, by which pure spring water is supplied to every floor of all the buildings surrounding the quadrangle. A complete system of sewerage extending to the Warrior River, affording drainage from mess hall, closets, and all the buildings. A substantial and ornamental iron fence eleven hundred feet long, extending along the front of the campus. A dairy has been added to the boarding department, the necessary quantity and best quality of milk thereby better secured. Third. Scholastic resources. A chair of history and a professor elected to the same. Three thousand volumes have been added to the university library, which has been handsomely fitted up with alcove and a gallery running the whole length of the hall. A law library of twelve hundred well-selected law books and law literature. Spring Hill College occupies a fine site five miles from Mobile, and one hundred and fifty feet above the sea level. The plan of instruction embraces three principal courses: The preparatory of one year's duration, the classical of six years, the commercial of four years. The degree of A. B. is conferred upon students who complete the classical course and pass the required examinations. An additional year of philosophy at the college attended with success, or two years' practice in a learned profession, entitles to the degree of A. M. ARKANSAS. Little Rock University, chartered in 1883 under the auspices of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, affords an interesting illustration of the agencies by which learning is fostered in sparsely settled, developing communities. It is an institution for white students, comprising primary, secondary, normal, art, collegiate, and professional departments. The tuition fees are very low, aid is extended to indigent students, and every encouragement is given those who endeavor by their own labor to defray the expenses of their education. Women are admitted to the college, and it is proposed to establish at an early date a home for girls, under the auspices of the Women's Home Missionary Society, in which ample provision will be made for a school of domestic economy. Naturally, in the present stage of the institution, the collegiate work is small, comprising in 1887-88 only 7 per cent. of the students. The plans for the preparatory course indicate the purpose of making this a strong and vigorous feeder for the college. The law school has been in active operation for several years under the name of the Little Rock Law Class. The lecturers are distinguished jurists whose services are freely rendered. For the present no charges are made to the students, who represent eight per cent. of the entire enrolment of the university. The university has a valuable property in grounds and buildings. The Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church also has under its auspices Philander Smith College for the colored race. CALIFORNIA. University of California.-In 1887 Dr. Ed. S. Holden resigned the presidency of the University of California, Berkeley, which he had held for two years, to assume his duties as director and chief astronomer of the Lick Observatory. On the 23d of March, just twenty years from the day on which the law establishing the university was passed, Dr. Holden's successor, Horace Davis, was inaugurated. Naturally the event became the occasion for recalling the high purposes which were impressed upon the university at the outset, and for reviewing the work accomplished. In his address on behalf of the faculties, Prof. Martin Kellogg reminded his hearers that the old College of California had maintained a high standard of classical training before it was merged into the university, and when it lost its separate existence "it obtained a guarantee for a classical course equal in grade to the courses of the best Eastern colleges." Side by side with this classical course the university has maintained the science and technical courses of recognized excellence, while, as pointed out by President Davis, students who care for neither classical training nor technical knowledge may avaiĺ themselves of "the literary course, which affords a generous education in English literature and the modern languages, fitted to make broad-minded, cultivated men and women." Of this course President Davis said in his inaugural address: "The proof that it meets the needs of the time and place is the number of students following the course, larger than those pursuing any other branch of study in the undergraduate department." The Lick astronomical department added during the year will be an element of strength to the university and can not fail to increase its renown. The director has assurance of five thousand dollars. The working force numbers beside himself four astronomers and one assistant astronomer. By the action of the Legislature, February 14, 1887, the university is freed from the evils of uncertain income. On that day the bill was passed providing for the levy on each hundred dollars of taxable property in the State a tax of one cent for the support and improvement of the State University. It is estimated that the revenue thus assured will amount to about seventy-five thousand dollars, with the prospect of speedy increase to one hundred thousand dollars annually. Together with the previous endowments of the university it gives an immediate income of above two hundred thousand dollars, surpassed by six institutions only of the entire number included in Tables 45 and 46. The College of California, which was merged into the university, began its work in The Lovinatuur eratly increased by th ing bucses are al procured the pumacze of Civil engineering has been tigh course has been arranged lead. The bairings were enlarged higher learning where younge 5. 195. two provide an institution of Det may receive a complete sclerade, liter it is under the supervises of tze Calfornia Annual Conference of the Metbot Eps Das Chimb to the Christan direction: but it is not sentar an in its tea hings per The facilities and moonLK the past year, about eleven tax Lege bure beea greatly increased during hanng been extended in the work. instata received its charter, the As less than three years have e..) work in the college courses Las co y be The endowment of The Le Ten ve Carrera'g. Pria la 4, was noted in the Commissioner's Report for 158ba on the 14th of May, 1857, the cornerstone of the university building was laid with appropriate remonies. Work upon the sale is he to posted as vely as is possible for such an undertaking, and it is designed to have the tenon is of de frana take place on the 14th of May, 1889, the twenty-first anniversary of the birb i Lehind standard, Jr. COLORADO. The University of Colorado, Boulder, owes its endowment to the combined action of private individuals, Congress, and the State Leg sature. The catalogue for 17-55 gives the following summary of the early action in its in terests: The University of Colorado was incorporated by an act of the Territorial Legislature of 1-60, and the location fizet Boulder. In 1971, three public-spirited citizens donated to the University fty-two acres of land adjoining the city valued at five thou sand dollars. In 1874 the Territoria Legislature appropriated fifteen thousand dollars, and the citizens of Boulder contributed a like sum. 1 eish. In 1-75 Congress set apart and reserved seventy-two sections of the publie lands for the support of the State Uni versity. In 1-76 the Constitution of Colorado provided that upon its adoption the university at Boulder should become an in-titation of the State, thus entitling it to the lands appropriated by Congress, and further made provisions for the management and control of the university. The first General Assembly of the State made provision for its permanent support by a levy of a tax of one-f ith of a mill upon the property of the State: also for a fund to be secured by the sale of lands donated by the United States. The cabinet and laboratory equipments of the university are excellent. Its library was founded by C. C. Backingram, of Bouler. The regents have appropriated one thousand dollars for additions to the library during the present year, which sum has been increased to twelve hundred dollars by the liberality of Mr. Buckingham. CONNECTICUT. Yale University. In his report for the year ending July 1, 1887. President Dwight calls attention to the change that has taken place in the official relations of the president on account of the development of the various schools now forming the university. "In consequence of this development," he says, it has be one very desirable, and even necessary, that the one who fills the office of president should no longer be, as heretofore, an officer and instructor in the colieriste department only, with secondary and almost nominal relations to other departments, but a merater of every faculty, having equal interest in the work and life of every branch of the university. With a sense of the importance of this change in the official relations of the one who presides, the pres ident, immediately on beginning his work, gave his attention to the affairs of all departments, and considered it his duty and privilege to be present at the meetings of the several faculties as well as to co-operate with them as far as possible in promoting the welfare of the schools under their special charge. The advantage of such meetings and co-operation has already been manifest, it is believed, in the greater unity of the institution, and in the confidence on the part of all that the several sections of the university are to grow in harmony towards the more perfect development of the university life. The demand made upon the time and thought of the president by this great enlargement of his official duty deprives him of the opportunity of meeting the students in the lecture or recitation room as frequently as his predecessors were able to do. The impossibility referred to was so appreciated by the corporation at the time of the election of the new president that a vote was passed releasing him from all obligation to give instruction in the academical department." Under the conviction, however, that the president of a university should not be "simply a man of affairs," but should, in some way, "come into intellectual contact with the members of the student community," President Dwight gave instruction in the theological department in 1887, meeting the students four or five times a week, and proposed for the present year, viz, 1888, to meet the academical students in the lecture room at least once a week. In the same report President Dwight says: "The provision for the teaching force in the university is the most central and important thing in the university life. Those who have graduated at Yale College, and all who are interested in its welfare and its future, may fitly be asked to consider its needs in this regard." Among measures affecting the scholastic work of the department of philosophy and arts, the president notes in his report for 1887 the following: In the requirements for admission to the Freshman class in the college the amount of Greek and Latin, which was diminished somewhat a few years since in consequence of a provision with respect to modern languages not previously enforced, is by vote of the corporation to be made the same as in earlier years after the year 1887. The requirements in Latin will include four books of Caesar's Gallic War instead of three, and in Cicero, in addition to the orations against Catiline and for Archias, either the Marcellus and the Fourteenth Philippic, or the Milo, or the Manilian Law, or the Cato Major; and in Greek they will include four books of Xenophon's Anabasis, instead of three, and three books of Homer's Iliad, instead of two. In May, 1886, Prof. William R. Harper was appointed to the professorship of Semitic languages, and began his work in the same the following September, offering courses in Hebrew, Assyrian, Arabic, and Aramaic. These courses awakened great interest, and in connection with them so much duty was imposed upon the professor, that, in view of the demands already made upon his time, and the greater ones which seemed likely to arise in the coming year, a friend of the university generously offered to provide the means for paying the salary of an assistant in these branches of study during the year 1887-88. Dr. Robert F. Harper was selected for this position. The foundation for this professorship of Semitic languages has been, as yet, only partially secured. It is hoped that the endowment may be soon completed in order that this professorship may rest upon a permanent basis. The courses offered in political science were also enlarged in 1887. The three gentlemen who were appointed lecturers in connection with these courses for the year specified, Mr. Edward V. Reynolds, Mr. Henry C. White, and Mr. Edward G. Browne, were invited to continue their work during 1887-88. In the spring of 1987 a special course of lectures on protection was given to the students by Prof. R. E. Thompson, of the University of Pennsylvania, for which provision was made through the generosity of several friends of the university. In the report from which the foregoing particulars are derived, viz, that for the year ending July 1, 1887, President Dwight makes mention of the following new buildings, completed or in progress, for which the university is indebted to generous friends: Dwight Hall, a building erected for the religious interests of the university, and for the Christian work of the young men among themselves, was completed and consecrated in the fall of 1886. The opening of the college year 1886-87 also witnessed the completion of a new dormitory building named in commemoration of Mr. Thomas G. Lawrence, a member of the college class of 1884, who died soon after the beginning of his senior year. The gift of fifty thousand dollars for this building was offered to the college by the mother of Mr. Lawrence, and the building itself was very nearly completed before the close of Dr. Porter's administration. To the history of the same administration belongs, also, the provision for the Kent laboratory. Mr. Albert E. Kent, of the college class of 1853, offered seventy-five thousand dollars for the purpose of providing for the college a new chemical laboratory, which sum was placed in the hands of the treasurer, partly before and partly after the beginning of the college year 1886-87. Unavoidable delays, however, prevented the beginning of the work of erecting the building until late in the spring of 1887. It is expected that it will be ready for occupancy early in 1888. In January, 1887, Hon. Simeon B. Chittenden, of Brooklyn, N. Y., offered to give one hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of providing a new building for the University Library, which may furnish additional accommodation for the constantly increasing demands of the library, while the present building shall remain, and may ultimately be a part of an extended building, or pile of buildings, devoted to the University Library of the future. In accordance with the terms of this gift, the largest ever made for the University Library, plans have been completed and the work of building begun. In the summer of 1887 another generous friend offered the sum of at least one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars for a building to be used for lecture and recitation rooms. The benefactor who proposes to provide this building desires to make it one of the finest in its architectural effect on the college square, and to have it occupy the most conspicuous site. The work of building has begun, and will be completed at as early a date as practicable. Trinity College, Hartford, while maintaining the standards that have characterized it in the past, has made due provision for the demands that are peculiar to the present time. In 1884 three new courses were established, two of which lead to a degree in science. Electives were also introduced in the junior and senior years of the several courses. The college is distinctively Christian in its character. The first recitation on Monday morning throughout the college is devoted to religious studies. These comprise the following subjects: The New Testament in Greek; Old and New Testament History and Biblical Literature; Natural Theology; The Foundations of Religious Belief; The Evidences of Christianity; The Historical Coincidences and Evidences of the Holy Scriptures. The new gymnasium was completed in 1887 and the Jarvis Hall of Science the present year. The building and equipments have cost upwards of fifty thousand dollars, which have been contributed in various sums, ranging from five to thirty thousand dollars. Wesleyan University, Middletown, has neither professional nor technical departments, its resources being applied solely to the maintenance of a college of liberal arts. From 1873 to 1886 the course of study remained without change, except in unimportant details. In the latter year the board of trustees gave their approval to a recommendation of the faculty looking to a revision of the curriculum. The principal objects aimed at in the revision as set forth in the University Bulletin are as follows: (1) The introduction of modern languages and natural science at an earlier period of the course-a change rendered possible by a slight reduction in the amount of required Latin, Greek, and mathematics. (2) The bringing of the requirements for admission to the Latin-scientific and scientific courses more nearly to an equality with those for the classical course, by including in the requirements for the former courses a knowledge of French or German. (3) The re-arrangement of the curriculum with a view to bringing (so far as practicable) each study common to all three of the courses into the same year. (4) A slight diminution of the amount of class-work required of the seniors, in order to allow more leisure for special-honor work and other forms of collateral study. As now constituted the curriculum may be taken to illustrate the prevailing conception of the proper scope of college training. For this reason a somewhat extended outline of the several courses, as given in the catalogue for 1887-88, is here presented: The college presents to its undergraduate students the option of three parallel courses of study, each extending through four years, and named respectively the classical course, the Latin-scientific course, and the scientific course. In the classical course the study of Latin and Greek forms a large part of the required work of the first two years. In the Latin-scientific course Greek is omitted, and in the scientific course both Greek and Latin, in order to give more extended opportunity for the study of modern languages, science, and literature. Required and elective studies.-In each of the above courses all of the studies of the first year are required, except that the classical and Latin-scientific students have the option between French and German. In the three remaining years the amount of required work is progressively diminished, the student being allowed to complete his quota by selecting from a wide range of elective studies. In the choice of these electives the student is advised to exercise prudence and deliberation, and especially to regulate his choice so that his electives will together form a harmonious and symmetrical course of study; and in no case is a student allowed to select a study which he is not, in the judgment of his instructors, qualified to pursue with advantage. The following is a tabulated view of the distribution of required and elective studies in the three courses: |