USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 73
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The erection of the college building was com- pleted and it was formally dedicated on Thursday, the 19th of December, 1872. In June, 1871, the "College Society," at a meeting in New Haven,
Connecticut, on motion of Rev. Dr. Bacon, "Carle- tou College was duly endorsed and recognized as a member of the brotherhood of colleges." And from this time the college began a career of use- fulness which it is gratifying to know still con- tinues, sunny skies replacing the gloom which had hung over its prospects. Professor Payne was se- cured about this time, and with his enthusiasm in Mathematics and Astronomy, infused new life into every department of Carleton. In due time the Observatory was added, with its practical as- tronomical and meteorological observations, aided by the costly apparatus which will be more fully described further on. In 1872, the title of Doctor of Divinity, which had been so clearly earned, was conferred ubon the President, Rev. Dr. J. W. Strong, as he was thereafter called. He hsd se- cured pledges during 1872 and '73 to the amount of eight thousand dollars. In 1874 and '75, over fifteen thousand dollars was raised by him in New England. During the year 1875, seven thousand were pledged by the friends of the college in Northfield on condition that thirteen thousand more could be raised on or before the 1st of January, 1876. This was for the purpose of endowing the Chair of Physical Science. The task was undertaken by the indefatigable President, and after a weary and difficult canvass, on the last of December, he returned with the whole sum made up, when he was confronted with a telegram revoking one he- quest of one thousand dollars, thus jeopardizing the whole amount, but prompt and decisive work se- cured the deficiency, and on the 1st of January the whole sum was pledged, and a surplus of four hundred dollars.
The institution has been particularly fortunate in its teachers, who have been earnest, self-sacri- ficing, and devoted in the most intelligent way to the best interests of the school.
The relationship to the General Congregational Conference involves no jurisdiction over the Col- lege, as there is no corporate connection, but it is one of friendship and community of interest, and that body through a committee yearly inquires after its welfare to learn what good offices it can render. On the board of trustees are representa- tives of other denominations, and it relies upon the letter of no Catechism, and inculcates the for- mulas of no creed, but it is nevertheless the semin- ary for the inculcation of the teachings of Chris-
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
tianity as exemplified by Congregationalism as it exists to-day in the teachings from its thousand pulpits all over this broad land. From the very nature of the case, Carleton College is a home missionary and a potent instrumentality in form- ing public sentiment.
On the 23d of December, 1879, Willis Hall, containing the library, cabinet, and recitation rooms, was destroyed by fire. The utmost vigilance was used to save the valuable things contained in the different departments, such as the valuable library and furniture connected therewith. The books were hurriedly carried to the Observatory. A large share of the Mu- seum was saved, and considerable of the valu- able apparatus in the Laboratory, more or less damaged. One of the most important instruments carried from the burning building was the grand piano, which, with some risk, was safely landed on the outside.
Fortunately for the college institution and for Professor Payne individually, the many and costly astronomical instruments were safely located in the Observatory, and all unharmed. The insur- ance aud the building ($12,000) was divided as follows:
Underwriters. $3,000
North American, Philadelphia. 3,000
Home, New York. 3,000
St. Paul Fire and Marine.
3,000
Total $12,000
And on the contents:
Phoenix, Hartford. $2,650
Phenix, New Hork
2,650
Total
5,300
Making a grand total of .. $17,300
Professor Sperry lost almost his entire library, containing encyclopædias, dictionaries, medical and scientific books; a quantity of valuable min- eral and geological specimens, tents, bedding, and camp equipage, three trunks containing a quan- tity of summer and extra clothing, a fine double piano-leg study table with drawer containing clippings, memorandas, lectures, etc., the whole having a cash value of nearly $1,000-upon which, fortunately, he had an insurance of $500.
The energy and devotion of the officers of the College were again placed in special requisition and convenient temporary quarters were secured,
the students remained loyal, and college work was pursued without interruption.
Meantime a deep and widely extended sympa- thy for the College was awakened. The citizens of Northfield, and others in the State, again gen- erously tendered their aid, and old and new friends at the East rose up to help the institution. With the gifts thus offered, together with the money received from insurance, Willis Hall was rebuilt on an improved plan; a greatly-needed building for scientific purposes was erected, and the foundation of a not less-needed Ladies' Hall was laid.
Thus, through judicious management on the part of its officers, and the generosity of Christian friends, its growth has been unprecedented. Be- sides assistants, its faculty now consists of thir- teen professors and teachers who devote their whole time to the work of instruction. During the past year, over three hundred students were enrolled in the different departments.
Four courses of study have been arranged. Three of them, the Classical, the Literary, and the Scientific, are collegiate courses-each covering four years, after full preparatory work has been completed; and one is an English course, de - signed for those who cannot secure a more thor- ough education. While students may pursue elective studies, selecting from a wide range, de- grees are conferred only upon those who complete satisfactorily one of the prescribed collegiate courses. Full provision is made for instruction in Art, in Elocution, and in both Vocal and In_ strumental Music. A special course in Pure Mathematics and Practical Astronomy is now offered.
As an item which may be interesting reading years hence, when the changed values and cir- cumstances may make the figures representing the cost of an education here appear grotesque, the following card is printed :
"BOARDING DEPARTMENT .- The boarding de- partment and the domestic affairs of the College family at Ladies' Hall are committed to the direc- tion of the Matron, under the general supervision of the executive committee. It is designed, so far as possible, to secure for every youg lady entering the family, the influences and privileges of a Chris- tian home. All the lady teachers reside there, and board at the same table with the students. Gen- tlemen students who prefer to do so, may also take
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
their meals at Ladies' Hall. It is not designed to make the Boarding Hall a source of profit to the College, but to furnish to teachers and students good and acceptable board at the lowest practic- able rate.
EXPENSES-Board in College building, per week (tea and coffee extra) $2 50 Tuition-Fall term. 9 00 Tuition-Winter and spring terms, each. 7 50 Room rent, per term. 3 00 Incidentals, per term. 1 00 EXTRAS-Tuition -- Piano or cabinet organ, per lesson of one-half hour. 50
Tuition-Cultivation of the voice, per lesson of one-half hour 50
. Use of piano or organ, per term, one hour each day . 2 00
Drawing, painting and Penmanship-As an- nounced by the teacher.
Term bills are due at the beginning of each term, and board bills every four weeks in advance. No term bills are made out for less than half a term.
No deductions are made, except in case of sick- ness which continues for a month or more, unless by special agreement when the student enters.
Students ordinarily can supply themselves with wood at an expense of from $4 to $5 per cord; and those wishing board in private families (including room, fuel, and lights) can secure it at from $3.50 to $4.00 per week. Furnished rooms, withont board, are obtained at $1.00 per week.
Applications for board and rooms should be made as early as possible. Inquiries relating to studies, classes, text-books, and examinations may be addressed to any of the instructors, but all general correspondenee should be directed to
JAS. W. STRONG. President, Northfield, Minn."
CARLETON COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.
The Observatory of Carleton College is near the east side of the campus. The main building is twenty feet square, and, from the ground to the top of the dome, thirty-three feet high. There are two wings, each twelve by fifteen feet and fifteen feet high, with flat roof. It fronts to the south, with a total length of fifty feet. The west wing contains the transit instrument and the chrono- graph. On the first floor of the main building is the small room for the portable instruments and their
accessories, the pier for the astronomical clocks, telegraph office, computing room, and circular stairway leading to the equatorial room in the dome.
The central equatorial pier starts nine and one- half feet below the surface of the ground, has a footing of large flat stone in a vein of coarse gravel, is built circular with a diameter of eight feet, and is of solid masonry in cement to a height of three feet above the grond. The well contain- ing the pier is curbed with a dry stone wall from the bottom to the surface of the ground, so that the pier may stand independent of the ground from its base. Above the first floor it is built of brick in a circular form to the upper surface of the second floor, and capped with a stone three and one-half feet in diameter and eight inches thick. The entire height of the pier is twenty-six feet. The pier for the transit instrument is made in a similar manner, except that it is rectangular in shape.
The east wing is for the astronomical library and observer's study.
The second story of the building is devoted to the equatorial room which is circular and sixteen feet in diameter. It is a little more than sixteen feet from the floor to the highest point of the dome. The dome is a hemisphere, and rests on twelve sheaved rollers, and it is revolved by ma- chinery at the pleasure of the observer. The ribs are of pine covered without with tin painted nearly white, within with canvas kalsomined blue.
INSTRUMENTS. - The observatory is furnished with the following instruments:
A Clark equatorial telescope, eight and one- fourth inches aperture, ten and one-half feet focal length, with a Bond spring governor driving clock and a full battery of eye-pieces with powers rang- ing from 50 to 800. The micrometer is of the late Burnham pattern furnishing the best bright wire illumination now in use.
A Byrne portable equatorial telescope, four and three-tenths inches aperature; powers ranging from 56 to 440.
A transit instrument made by Fauth & Co., Washington; three inches aperture, and forty- two inches focal length, with reserving apparatus.
Two Howard clocks, mean time, and sidereal, numbered respectively 196 and 195. Both are furnished with electrical break-circuit attachments for time and longitude work.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
A Bond sidereal chronometer supplied also with the break-circuit attachment and numbered 374.
A Clark chronograph and the ordinary meteor- ological apparatus complete the list of the outfit in instruments for practical astronomy.
TIME SERVICE .- The time service of the Observa- tory began October 23d, 1878, immediately after the new clocks were regulated, the Northwestern Telegraph Company (now Western Union ) having previously asked for the time, and having run a telegraph line to the Observatory and furnished it with an office.
The daily electrical time-signals are given by the mean-time clock itself, which has a break- circuit attachment operated by a small wheel on the shaft of the second hand which has thirty- one teeth spaced to represent two seconds of time except three, which give continuous seconds, to mark the close of each minute. This clock is placed in a local circuit with appliances for cutting it into the main telegraph line for daily noon sig- usls.
By arrangement with the railroad companies the mean-time clock is put into line daily at 11 o'clock and 57 minutes, so that three full minute signals may be given, the last stroke of the third minute being understood to mark the time of twelve ex- actly. Until quite recently the distribution of the time to the railroads has been effected in the following manner:
The principal offices of resort of the companies terminating lines in St. Paul and Minneapolis have wire connection with the main office of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway for the pur- pose of time. In this way the Observatory clock has daily given its three-minute signals over the main liues of these companies. The branch lines use the same time, but it is repeated over them by hand. When the main lines are thus connected the clock has given its break-circuit signals over 1285 miles of wire in six different States and Terri- tories, ranging from Kansas City to St. Paul, Winona, and McGregor of Iowa. For a few weelis recently, the signal has been modified by reversing the points of the relay in the local circuit, for the purpose of a make-circuit signal on the main lines. A five-minute signal sttachment has also been ap- plied to the clock that time balls may be dropped, at noon, daily in connection with the railroad time service. (Arrangements are already made to drop a time-ball in each of the cities of St. Paul and
Minneapolis, the apparatus for the same now being in hand.) This five-minute attachment, as it is called, is a plain disk, connected with the train of the clock so as to revolve once in five minutes, and a portion of the circumference representing four- teen seconds is cut away. It is, of course, in the local clock-circuit and serves to keep that circuit closed, and hence the main line open during the fourteen seconds preceding the sixtieth one before noon. This interval of open line gives oppor- tunity to connect time-balls and electrically con- trolled clocks with the Observatory clock for the purpose of giving the noon signal publicly to cities and the railway companies in various ways.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE TIME .- The following railway companies take the Northfield meridian time directly or indirectly, and use it over their lines without local change except at distant points: Miles.
1. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- way on its five divisions west of the Mississippi River,embracing an aggre- gate length of. 2,271 2. Winona & St. Peter Railway (branch of Chicago & Northwestern Railway ) uses both Northfield and Baraboo signals but runs on Northfield time. 453
3. Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, from Sioux City · to Elroy, Wisconsin, on all its branches .. 1,057
4. Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway, from Minneapolis South. 361
5. Northern Pacific to end of track west in Montana 1,033
6. St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Rail- way, to Winnipeg possibly, to St. Vin- cent certainly . 1,025
7. St. Paul & Duluth to the head of Lake .
Superior 153
Total number of miles. 6,353
The last two companies do not take the time directly from the Observatory, but from jewelers in the city of St. Paul, who receive our daily sig- nals. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha company have recently placed three of Dudley's electrically controlled regulators on its main line at St. James, St. Paul, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. These clocks are so constructed that they may be set on true time by the Northfield clock daily by telegraph. This has been done for the last three months.
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CITY OF NORTHIFIELD.
The territory traversed by these railroads em- braces all of Minnesota, parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and possibly the province of Manitoba.
The Observatory is in telegraphic connection with Washington, and is placed on the list of the Smithsonian Institution for free communica- tion of astronomical discovery. Its exact geo- graphical position is Latitude, 44 degrees, 27 min- ntes, 40.8 seconds; Longitude, 1 hour, 4 minutes, 23.8 seconds west of Washington.
ADVANCED COURSE IN MATHEMATICS AND AS- TRONOMY .- In erecting the observatory the object was three-fold: 1, To give instruction to under- graduate students; 2, To offer an opportunity for a complete course of study in pure mathematics and practical astronomy ; and 3, To aid in original investigation.
With the present facilities, these three lines of work have been undertaken, and unexpected suc- cess has attended each. The latitude of the Ob- servatory was determined by Professor B. F. Thomas (now of the University of Missouri) in 1879, by the Talcott method, using a Wurdemann two-inch zenith telescope, loaned by Lieut. Ed- ward Maguier, Chief Engineer of the Department of Dakota. In 1880, the present director of the Observatory re-determined it, using the same in- strument and method, and obtained the result given above, which varies but a few hundreths of a second from that obtained one year before by Professor Thomas. In October, 1880, by the courtesy of the last officer named and Lieut. O. B. Wheeler, of the Lake Survey, the Jongitude of the Observatory was determined, the Coast Sur- vey meridian of St. Paul being the base of opera- tion. Independent reductions of these observations showed the longitude of the Observatory to be 14.3 seconds west of St. Paul and hence from Wash- ington, as named above. Original, elementary, or class work of some kind is going on constantly, in the midst of which the director aims to keep in mind and fittingly to express the true relation of the Creator to his own works.
MATHEMATICAL LIBRARY .- The library to aid the special study of mathematics and astronomy consists of about 800 volumes. It contains stand- ard works from the Bryant collection, with addi- tional purchases, and the published observations of Washington and other leading observatories in the world. Mr. T. Dwight Townsend, of Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania, has loaned to the Observa- tory his library of rare and valuable works on mathematics and philosophy. The Observatory is in need of a better library.
GOVERNMENT SIGNAL STATION .- During the summer of 1881, the government designated Carleton College as a voluntary signal ·station, and furnished the necessary instruments for ob- servation and monthly report to Washington. The College supplied further apparatus needed to make the station first-class in every particular. Daily observations are recorded according to the Wash- ington rules, weekly averages by request, are sent to a large number of country newspapers, and monthly reports are regularly sent to Washington.
THE SIDEREAL MESSENGER .- The latest step taken by the Observatory in the interest of its general work, is the beginning of an astronomi- cal periodical, under the name given above. The first number was published in March last, and it will continue in monthly issues, except July and September of each year, The subscription price, per year, is $2. The work is adapted to those in- terested in popular astronomy because of its plainly-worded articles, and it will be helpful to the student or amateur observer. It is the only publication of the kind in the United States.
OFFICERS OF CARLETON COLLEGE.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES .- Rev. Richard Hall, St. Paul; Hiram Seriver, Northfield; Rev. James W. Strong, Northfield; Miron W. Skinner, Northfield; Prof. J. L. Noyes, Faribault; David C. Bell, Min- neapolis; Chas. S. Hulbert, Minneapolis; Rev. Edward M. Williams, Minneapolis; Hon. Harlan W. Page, Austin; Hon. William Windom, Winona; Rev. Henry A. Stimson, Minneapolis; Hon. Wil- liam R, Marshall, St. Paul; Daniel R. Noyes, Jr., St. Paul; Hon. C. E. Vanderburgh, Minneapolis; Rev. Cassius M. Terry, St. Paul: George M. Phillips, Northfield; Rev. L. H. Cobb, Minneapo- lis; Rev. David Burt, St. Paul; Rev. D. L. Leon- ard, Northfield; Rev. L. W. Chaney, Mankato; Willis H. Norton, Northfield; Rev. M. MeG. Dana, D. D., St. Paul; W. S. Pattee, Northfield.
INSTRUCTORS, 1881-82 .- Rev. James W. Strong, D. D., President, and Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy.
Horace Goodhue, Jr., A. M., Professor of Greek, and Principal of the Preparatory Department.
Wm. W. Payne, A, M., Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy and Director of the Observatory.
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HISTORY OF RICE COUNTY.
Miss Margaret J. Evans, A. M., Preceptress, and Professor of English Literature and Modern Languages.
Lyman B. Sperry, M. D., Professor of Geology, Zoology, and Physiology.
Rev. George Huntington, A. M., Professor of Logic and Rhetoric, and Instructor in Elocution.
Miss Alice L. Armsby, A. M., Professor of Latin.
Rev. Arthur H. Pearson, A. M., Professor of Chemistry, Physics, and Mineralogy.
Rev. M. L. Williston, A. B., Professor of Polit- ical Economy and History.
Dwight C. Rice, Professor of Music. (Granted leave of absence for the year ).
Mrs. Mary R. Wilcox, Teacher in the English Course.
Miss Susan A. Searle, A. B., Teacher in the English Course.
Miss Alice M. Heald, Teacher of Instrumental Music.
Miss Cora M. Nichols, Teacher of Vocal Cul- ture.
OFFICERS .- Miss Anna T. Lincoln, Matron. Alfred W. Norton, Treasurer.
W. S. Pattee, Loan Agent.
George M. Phillips, Financial Secretary. Andrew Lee, Deputy Financial Secretary.
CONCLUSION .-- As a fitting close of this sketch of Carleton College, which to-day is so much larger than Harvard or Yale was at several times its age, an account of the closing exercises of the year 1882, from the local press, is printed here, and if changes in all that pertains to civilization are as radical for the next one hundred years as has been wit- nessed in the last century, this will be rich read- ing to the graduates of that day :
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
The attractions of a beautiful June day added to the usual magnetic attractions of Commencement Day, brought together an immense multitude of people this morning, filling every inch of available space in the commodious audience room of the Congregational church. The room itself, attract- ive and pleasant in its appointments, was rendered especially so by elaborate floral decorations. The organ loft at the rear of the rostrum was a bower of beauty. Upon the organ, covered with ever- green, stood a large harp, also of evergreen, with golden harp strings, and on either side was a massive mound of foliage and flowers. At either
side of the platform stood large masses of tropical leaves and blossoms. Above all was draped in letters of gold on a back-gound of blue the class- motto: " Non Finita sed Enita."
Soon after the appointed hour, 10 o'clock, the members of the Board of Trustees and Faculty of the College filed to their seats upon the platform, whereupon Danz' orchestra struck up Wiegand's "Popular Songs," and the exercises went on apace.
Dr. F. A. Noble, of Chicago, in a fervent prayer invoked the Divine blessing upon the interests of education in general, upon the interests of Carle- ton College in particular, and upon the exercises of the day and those who in them close their col- lege days.
At the close of the prayer, Governor Hub- hard, Professor Kiehle, and Rev. E. S. Williams of Minneapolis, were led to seats upon the platform amid applause.
In well-chosen Latin periods Miss Mary E. Griffiin said in turn to the audience, the President, the Trustees, the Faculty, her class-mates and col- lege-mates, vos salutamus.
The first oration of the day was delivered by Byron Abbott, on "Democracy in Europe." Start- ing with the proposition "The history of the world is the history of liberty," Mr. Abbott traced the history of Democracy in Europe, showing the steady growth of principles of freedom.
Selden Bacon in his oration endeavored to an- swer the question, "Will the French Republic En- dure?" Though finding some causes for fear, in the character of the people and the complicated political inheritance from the past, Mr. Bacon con- cluded that the prospect was bright and bright- ening, and that the French republic will endure.
Wuerst's "Under the Balcony," rendered by the string quintette, was followed by the oration of Wm. T. Bill, who spoke of "The True Destination of Philosophy," and said in substance: The true object of philosophy is the acquisition of truth by a study of the facts of the universe without and the universe within, matter and mind, and a tra- cing of their causes. In the past much error has been associated with philosophy, but progressive philosophy is leaving its mistaken principles be- hind and advancing toward the ideal philosophy.
"The Unknown God" was the theme of the classical oration of Charles C. Wheelock. After referring to the scene in Athens where Paul was inspired by the humble altar and its significant
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CITY OF NORTHFIELD.
inscription to deliver his eloquent address, the speaker developed the thought that the idea of a supreme being was universal among men. It has manifested itself in various forms and phrases among different nations, and finally in its true form in the "Man of Nazareth."
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