USA > Alabama > Memorial record of Alabama. A concise account of the state's political, military, professional and industrial progress, together with the personal memoirs of many of its people. Volume I > Part 20
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rangle. It contains the geological and natural history museum, already mentioned, a lecture room for geology and several other rooms. The third story is devoted principally to the use of the trustees. On this floor are the large meeting room of the board and lodging rooms for the trus- tees. Toumey hall contains a two story part, 40x70 feet, and a one story part 30x70 feet. In the two story part are, upon the lower floor, a work room and balance room and office for the geological survey; a room for assaying; a room for the assistant in chemistry and for advanced students; , and a storeroom for apparatus to be supplied to students. Upon the sec- ond floor are the lecture room, the preparatory room and private labora- tory of the professor; a store room and a dark room for photographic work, and a room for balances and library. The one story part is in- tended as a general laboratory for the students, and has one large room, 27x68 feet inside, and a smaller room for balances. The general laboratory is provided with ten work tables, intended to accommodate four students each, and in front of the windows has places for twelve more. Between the windows are twelve draught closets, connected with flues for carrying off disagreeable or poisonous gases. The work tables are of modern de- sign, and are made after the plan of the tables in the new laboratory of Professor Hoffman, in Berlin. At each end of the student's laboratory are the boilers for heating, supplying distilled water, etc. A large flue and opening in the ceiling provides for the general ventilation of this room. This and other rooms are supplied with burning gas and with water, and are furnished with the tables, shelves, apparatus, and general. fittings necessary to carry out fully the intention of the trustees, which has been to erect at the university a chemical laboratory which in size shall be ample for all present needs, and in all its arrangements and equip- ments shall be fully abreast with the times and equal to the best labora- tories of the country.
Barnard hall, a physical laboratory, of the same dimensions as the chemical laboratory, is completed, and is now being furnished with the most modern and best apparatus. The rear wing, or annex, of the phys- ical laboratory is used for the gymnasium, which has been furnished with. the most approved contrivances for physical exercise and development. A competent director has been provided and the exercise is made compul- sory upon all cadets. Incandescent lights are furnished throughout the building. Water works supply water to each floor of the principal build- ings from a cold spring. A steam laundry for the use of the students is now in successful operation.
The administration of Col. Lewis, which terminated by his untimely death, after a service of only five years, was uniformly prosperous. The number of students increased from one hundred and fifty-eight in 1880-81 to two hundred and twenty-five in 1884-85. He fell as the warrior would die, with harness on and in the full discharge of his duties. He was taken ill in his office at the beginning of the term while engaged in ma-
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triculating students and assigning them to their classes. His disease de- veloped into pleurisy of a dangerous type and, on the 11th of October, 1885, he departed this life mourned by all who knew him. He had in rare degree, the esteem of his acquaintances, the love and confidence of his associates and the devotion of the students. The committee of trustees in their report to the general assembly, referring to the death of Col. Lewis, do not overrate him when they say that he was "distinguished for the unblemished purity of his private life and for his attainments as a scholar, jurist and statesman," and that "he brought to the great trust confided to him, firmness tempered with mildness, wisdom ripened by experience and knowledge, sanctified to noble and patriotic ends by a sincere christian profession and practice." A handsome marble tablet has been placed in Clark hall by the students by permission of the trustees "in honor of their loved and lamented preceptor and friend".
Dr. William S. Wyman was again prevailed upon to discharge the duties of president ad interim, he having for the third time declined the honor of permanent president for himself. At the meeting of the trustees held in June, 1886, Gen. Henry D. Clayton was elected president and at once entered upon the duties of his office. General Clayton had been distinguished both in war and in peace. Entering the service in the war between the states as colonel of the First regiment of Alabama volunteers he was soon promot- ed for gallant conduct to brigadier and afterward became a major-general He was several times wounded and was known as one of the "fighting generals" of the Confederate army. After the war he resumed the prac- tice of law and a year or two later was commissioned judge of the third judicial circuit, which position he held continuously until May, 1886, when he resigned and became a candidate for nomination to the guberna- torial office. In this canvass he was not successful, although he had a large and enthusiastic support. In December, 1886, the trustees were called to mourn the sudden demise of the Hon. Enoch Morgan, for some years the president pro tem. of that body, the chairman of its finance com- mittee, a member of the building committee and one of the most faithful, zealous and useful members of the board. He was a sound and able law- yer and deservedly one of the most prominent men in the state. His death was a serious loss to the university, to whose interests he was de- voted, and in appreciation of his eminent virtues and services a memorial page of the record was inscribed with resolutions bearing fitting testi- mony to his worth. Mr. Willis G. Clark of the first district was elected president pro tem. to succeed Col. Morgan.
On October 13th, 1889, after a brief but severe illness, General Clayton was called hence, "stricken down untimely," and again the university was in mourning for an esteemed and worthy president. A special train was chartered and a guard of honor accompanied his mortal remains to his old home in Clayton, where his ashes now peacefully repose. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of the people of Alabama, and although his admin-
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istration of the affairs of the university was brief, he left an impress of intelligent and faithful service which will not soon be effaced. A special meeting of the trustees was held in November, 1889, and arrangements were made to carry on the work of the university under the direction of Professor Wyman until the next commencement. At their meeting in July, 1890, the trustees elected Gen. Richard C. Jones, of Wilcox county, president. At this session, Hon. Thomas D. Corey, a trustee from the third district, who, although indisposed when he left his home, felt unwilling to be absent from an important meeting of the board, came to the university, was taken seriously ill on arrival, and died just after the business of the session was concluded. This was the first instance of the death of a trustee at the university. An escort was appointed to accom- pany the remains to his former home and assist in the funeral ceremonies at the grave. Mr. Corey had represented his county in the general as- sembly of the state and often participated in the councils of the political party with which he affiliated. He was a practical agriculturist and a firm believer in the nobility of the farmer's calling.
The attendence of students during the administration of Gen. Clayton was as follows: During the scholastic' year 1886-87, 212; year of 1887-88, 236; year 1888-89, 208; the graduates of the university at this period were, bachelors of art, 103; bachelors of engineering, 17; bachelors of mining engineering, 4; masters of civil engineering. 3; bachelors of law, 64; total, 191. The department of mining engineering was established in 1889, a new chair having been created for the purpose, and has since been in successful operation. The rapid development of the mineral region of Alabama makes this department an important adjunct, and it is expected to become of material advantage both to the university and to the state. It is now one of the best appointed schools of the college The attendance during the scholastic year of 1890-91, the first of Presi- dent Jones' administration, was, including graduate students, 220; during the second year 1891-92, the number of students was 167. The falling off n attendance the last year was doubtless largely due to two causes: first, the advancement in the requirements for entrance examination, which went into effect in October, 1891, and secondly, the monetary stringency consequent upon the very low prices of both cotton and iron during the year. The trustees in charge of the university January 1st, 1892, were, first district, Willis G. Clark, Mobile; 2d district, William S. Thorington, Montgomery; 3d district, Alto V. Lee, Clayton; 4th district, N. H. R. Dawson, Selma, 5th district, William T. Northington, Prattville; 6th dis- trict, James E. Webb and H. H. Brown, Birmingham; 7th district, James Crook, Jacksonville; 8th district, R. Barnwell Rhett, Huntsville.
A recent act of the general assembly re-districting the state will nec- essarily make some change in the personnel of the board, as some of the districts, as now constituted, have two members, while others have no representation at all, and an additional, the ninth, district, has been
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gained by the state. The officers of government and instruction, at the same time, were Richard C. Jones, LL. D., president and professor of international and constitutional law; William S. Wyman. LL. D., pro- fessor of the Latin language and literature; Benjamin F. Meek, LL. D., professor of the English language and literature; William A. Parker, LL. D., professor of modern languages; Eugene A. Smith, Ph. D., pro- fessor of mineralogy and geology, and state geologist; Joshua H. Foster, D. D., professor of natural philosophy and astronomy ; Thomas C. McCorvey, M. A., professor of history and philosophy; John C. Calhoun, M. A., pro- fessor of the Greek and Latin languages and instructor in Spanish; Robert A. Hardaway, M. A., C. E., professor of civil engineering; Thomas W. Palmer, M. A., professor of mathematics; William B. Phillips, Ph. D., professor of chemistry and metallurgy; John J. Harris, M. A., quarter- master and commissary; Amelia A. Gorgas, librarian; Andrew C. Har- grove, professor of equity jurisprudence; Adrian S. Van de Graaft, B. A., LL. B., professor of statute and common law; Tredwell W. Moore (first lieutenant Twenty-second infantry U. S. A.), commandant of cadets. In addition to the faculty are the following assistants and instructors: John M. Francis, M. T. Hays, Edward E. Newton, John H. Pettway, Jr., George H. Dunlap, Jr., Kenneth D. Mckellar, B. A., Julius E. Willoughby.
The course of study at the university embraces two general depart- ments, (1) An acadamic department, (2) A department of professional education. The former embraces ten schools and five under-graduate courses of study, classical, scientific, literary, civil engineeing and mining engineering, leading to degrees respectively of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of letters, bachelor of civil engineering and bachelor of mining engineering, each course requiring four years for completion. Either of them may be selected by the parent or guardian, or, under cer- tain restrictions, by the student himself. A further election is permitted students who, for sufficient cause, cannot or do not desire to take a regular course. Such applicants may take any three of the academic courses, provided the professors in charge are satisfied of their ability to study to advantage the subjects taught therein, and, on completing the course of study in any school, they are entitled to a certificate of proficiency in that school and to be enrolled as alumni of the university. A post- graduate course is also provided for such graduate students as may de- sire to extend their researches in any department of study beyond the range of the regular courses of instruction. The department of profes- sional education embraces three schools: (1) The school of international and constitutional law; (2) The school of common and statute law; (3) The school of equity jurisprudence. Tuition in this department is fifty dollars per year and the course usually covers two years of study. Under the rules of the supreme court of Alabama, the graduates of this depart- ment are admitted, on motion, to practice in all the courts of the state Graduates of the university law school are now scattered all over the
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state, and, as a rule, are moving to the front in their profession and are exerting a large and heathful influence in public affairs. It should be stated here, that tuition in the academic department of the university was some years since made free to students living in Alabama. Students from other states pay forty dollars per year for instruction.
A summary of the improvements made within the last few years, in addition to the new and handsome buildings already described, will indi- cate what careful provision the university has made for the physical com- fort and health of the students. Among these may be mentioned the construction of a complete system of water works, by means of which water is conveyed from a large spring to tanks in the attics of the four large buildings and thence by pipes and hose attachments to every floor, . and, if needed, to every room, and fire plugs connected to the city water works so arranged as to protect the exterior of these buildings; an im- proved system of closets and bath rooms and, a thorough system of drainage from all the buildings: an Edison incandescent electric light plant with four hundred lights; a well built fire proof vault for keeping securely valuable documents and papers; several new and commodious dwellings for professors; a thorough system of ventilation for the mess hall, furnished by handsome revolving fans driven by an electric motor, and the further protection from insects by wire screens for the doors and windows; the grading and other improvements of the campus, including a substantial and ornamental iron fence in front; the establishment of a dairy which furnishes a good supply of pure and excellent milk and cream for the cadets; the rearrangement and furnishing of the geological museum, making it one of the best fitted and most attractive museums in the south; the ample provision for physical culture-a well-fitted gymna- sium under an experienced director; and, not least, numerous and valuable additions to both the law and general library. With the superior facilities now in hand, its advanced lines of instruction, its able and experienced faculty, its munificent reserve fund of over twenty thousand acres of mineral lands, with its ample roll of devoted alumni and with its earnest, vigilant. prudent and experiencd curators, watching over and guiding its varied interests, a bright and noble future seems to be assured to the university of Alabama.
THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
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This institution was organized at Auburn, Ala., in February, 1872, and from a comparatively small beginning has grown to be a prosperous and useful educational culture. The building in which its work commenced was given to the state by the Methodist church, on condition that the college should be located at Auburn, and the denominational school, here before kept in the building, was discontinued and practically merged in the new enterprise. Its endowment was based on the share of Alabama in a donation of lands to the state for the purpose of establishing agri-
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cultural and mechanical colleges, and the income was, for a considerable period, inadequate to the new and important field it occupied and to the necessities of its growth. It was blessed, however, with a learned and popular president, a working faculty, and had on its board of trustees some of the ablest and best known men in the state. Among these may be mentioned, Charles C. Langdon, of Mobile; Henry D. Clayton, of Clayton; William H. Barnes, of Opelika, M. L. Stansell, of Pickens, and Jonathan Harralson, of Selma.
Like the state university, its governing authority consisted of one trustee for each congressional district, except that in which the college was locat- ed, which was entitled to two trustees. For several years, little attention was paid to the special objects designed by the act of congress, but this arose from the necessities of the case rather than from the inclination of the managers. In 1883, however, an effort was made, in conjunction with the trustees of the university, to obtain aid from the state, which result- ed in securing an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars "to repair and construct necessary buildings and provide equipments," etc. With this fund secured, the trustees were inspired with new zeal and wisely deter- mined to place the college in line with the requirements of the act of congress-i. e., make it a school of science or polytechnic institute, where the study of the mechanic arts and the sciences which relate to agriculture should be the primary subjects of instruction. Under the able and zealous leadership of Messrs. Langdon and Clayton, of the board of trustees, this change was accomplished and the results have been even more satisfactory than its zealous friends predicted or even hoped for. Four years later the additional sum of twelve thousand five hundred dol- lars was appropriated to the college "to aid and encourage technical edu- cation in providing additional equipments for mechanic art," etc.
In June, 1887, the main college building with its entire equipment was destroyed by fire, but it was, fortunately, insured for thirty thousand dollars, which, with the help obtained from other sources, enabled the trustees to commence, immediately, the work of rebuilding. Since then the main building has been replaced and a handsome chemical laboratory, prepared especially for teaching practical chemistry, has been erected. One of the halls of the college was named "Langdon hall," in honor of Col. C. C. Langdon, who was a trustee from the organization of the col- lege up to the time of his death.
On the organization of the state department of agriculture, provision was made for a considerable increase of the income of the college, and, through the operation of the "Hatch" act, passed by congress in 1887, a regular agricultural experimental station was established in connection with that institution. The department of mechanic arts has been well equipped, and the advantages afforded for manual training are now ex- cellent. Since the new departure referred to above, the popularity and usefulness of the college have largely increased, and the prospects are all
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favorable for continuous growth and prosperty. Practical instruction in applied science is given in the following departments: (1) in agriculture and horticulture; (2) in the mechanic arts; (3) in practical chemistry; (4) in physic and mineralogy; (5) in botany; (6) in surveying and engineer- ing; (7) in military tactics. The cadets were under the military super- vision and instruction of an officer of the United States army detailed for that purpose.
The hall used for the wood working is ninety by forty feet, has a twenty-five horse-power Corliss engine, indicator, planes, circular, band and scroll saws, a buzz planer and twenty work benches, also a full set of lathes and all necessary carpentry tools. For working in iron, a brick building with two rooms, each thirty by fifty-five feet, has been especially constructed. One of these rooms is equipped with twelve forges and all tools need, the other with a cupola furnace, molding benches, and special tools for work in a foundry. A dynamo furnishes light to several of the college halls. The course in manual training covers three years, as fol- lows: first year, wood working, carpentry and turning; second year, pat- tern working, foundry and forge work, molding, casting and smithing; third year, machine shop, chipping and filing and machine work in metals. During the second year course, lectures are given in metallurgy and the working of metals used in the industrial arts. Appropriate lectures are
also given throughout the third year course. The number of students in the mechanical department in three collegiate years, commencing Septem- ber, 1885, were: First year, ninety-three; second year, eighty-nine; third year, one hundred and two. The number attending this department in- creased, in 1891, to one hundred and fifty. The whole number of students matriculated in 1891 was two hundred and eighty-four, of whom forty-six were sub-freshmen and twenty-one were seniors. There are now three degree courses for undergraduates, at this college, each leading to the degree of bachelor of science and requiring four years for its completion : (1) course in chemistry and agriculture; (2) course in mechanics and en- gineering; (3) general course. There are also two partial courses, one in agriculture, the other in chemistry, each requiring two years. In addi- dition to the appliances hereinbefore mentioned, the college has at pres- ent a botanical laboratory, with twenty microscopes; a biological labo- ratory, with microscopes and delicate appliances for research and investi- - gation, and a well equipped laboratory of electrical engineering-a school recently established. A gymnasium has also been recently fitted up in the large hall in the fourth story of the college building. Improved ap- pliances are also at hand for illustrating practical agriculture and horti- culture in the farm, garden, orchard and vineyard belonging to the institution. At the agricultural experimental station, the officers and their assistants are regularly employed taking meteorological observations and investigating, scientifically, subjects connected with agriculture. The re-
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sults are given, from time to time, in bulletins issued by the department and distributed among the farmers of the state.
The board of trustees is constituted as follows: President, ex-officio, Gov. Thos. G. Jones; member, ex-officio-Superintendent J. G. Harris. - Regular members-J. G. Gilchrist, of Montgomery; M. L. Stansel, Car- rolton; C. C. Harris, Decatur; Jonathan Harralson, Selma; R. F. Ligon, Tuskegee; John W. Bishop, Talladega; R. L. Kolb, Eufaula; C. H. Lind- say, Mobile: H. Clay Armstrong, Auburn. The faculty is constituted as follows: William LeRoy Brown, M. A., LL. D., president and professor of physics and astronomy; Otis D. Smith, A,M, professor of mathematics; P. H. Mell, M. E., Ph. D., professor of natural history and geology ; James H. Lane, C. E., A. M., LL. D., professor of civil engineering and drawing; Charles C. Thach, A. M., professor of English and political economy ; N. S. Lupton, A. M.,M. D., LL. D., professor of general and agricultural chemistry and state chemist; George F. Atkinson, Ph. B., professor of biology; George Petrie, M. A., Ph. D., professor of history and Latin; Lieut. J. H. Wills, Twenty-second infantry, United States army (West Point), commandant and professor of military science; A. J. Bondurant, A. M., professor of agriculture and agriculturist of experiment station; Charles H. Barnwell, A.M., adjunct professor of modern langauges and English; A. F. McKissick, A. M., adjunct professor of electrical and mechanical engineering; J. J. Wilmore, M. E., acting director of labora- tory and instructor of mechanic arts; C. A. Cary, D. V. S., lecturer on veterinary science; L. W. Wilkinson, M. Sc., assistant in chemical lab- oratory; B. A. Blakey, M. Sc., and B. H. Crenshaw, M. Sc., assistant in- structors in mechanic arts. Beside the foregoing there are a number of young gentlemen employed as assistants in the several departments. The agricultural experimental station is supervised by Messrs. Gilchrist, Ligon and Armstrong, trustees, and Messrs. William LeRoy Brown, presi- dent; A. J. Bondurant, agriculturist; N. S. Lupton, chemist; P. H. Mell, botanist and meteorologist; Geo. F. Atkinson, biologist, and C. A. Cary, veterinarian, all members of the college faculty.
THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF ALABAMA.
This now well established institution is located in Mobile and owes its existence to a number of able and accomplished physicians, practicing their profession in this beautiful city of the gulf, more than thirty years ago, among whom ranked pre-eminent that distinguished scientist, surgeon and physician, Josiah C. Nott. Associated with him and who, like him, have passed from earth, were the genial and erudite Anderson, and the quiet but earnest Ross, and among others, still living, to bless the young aspirant for medical knowledge with his presence and instruc- tion, is the learned, courteous and polished Ketchum. Others, less widely known, rendered timely and efficient aid. A charter was obtained from the general assembly of the state, and with it an appropriation of fifty
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