History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 88

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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At the Mellette Station improved adaptation work was in progress. Twenty- four varieties of macaroni wheat were seeded at the station the previous year, and were sown again in 1902 in quantities sufficient for eight-tenths of an acre. Twenty-nine varieties were sown in one-tenth acre plats. Twenty-five varieties of barley were sown in one-tenth acre plats; four varieties of emmer produced good seed; one variety of oats was sown on one-tenth acre plat. At Mellette Station the work was under the practical supervision of Sylvester Balz. About five hundred bushels of macaroni wheat of four different varieties were received from the bureau of plant industry for sale and distribution in South Dakota. Four hundred eighty and one-half bushels was sold at $1.50 per bushel to ninety co-operators located in twenty-nine counties. The balance was used for seed at the station. Two hundred sixty-eight bushels of oats-Tobilsk, Swedish Select and Sixty-Day-were sold at 25 cents a bushel to thirty-five co-operators located in twenty-one counties. Blue stem wheat to the amount of twenty-eight bushels was sold to five co-operators in five counties. Brome grass was supplied by Mellette Station to the farmers of the state for nine years. Seed was sent to every county in the state east of the Missouri River and many west of the river. E. C. Chilcott was director of Millette Station at this date.

The horticultural department of the agricultural college in 1902 was doing important development work. This department realized that it could do no bet- ter work for the farmers of the states than to produce new varieties of fruits adapted to the climate. With this end in view, hundreds of seedlings were pro- duced each year until by 1902 there were on the farm over one hundred thousand seedlings, nearly all of native fruits, growing on the station grounds. The object of the experiment of growing so many seedlings was to secure varieties adapted to this climate. Much experimentation with the native sand cherry was carried out. About five hundred of the second generation bore fruit in July and August, 1902. Several bore fruit fully three-fourths of an inch in diameter and of good quality. These plants were two years old from seed. Forty varieties were selected and put on wild plum stocks and specimens were sent out to propagators in different parts of the state. Vol. II1-40

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The last Legislature had made an appropriation for a plant-breeding house. This was already utilized in the various experiments above mentioned. lu ule greenhouse were conducted many cross-breeding experiments with the sand cherry and other fruits. Nearly one thousand plants of the hybrid strawberry were started for testing purposes. The greenhouse was used also for grafting experi- nents with the apple. This year about two hundred strawberry plants were se- lected from the experiment tracts as worthy of propagation. They needed fur- ther tests before final adoption. Similar tests were made with raspberries, shrubs, grapes, cherries, crabapples, apples, etc.

The chemical department of the college was at this time doing important work in analyzing and testing the value of grains and crops of all kinds in order to prove which was the most valuable. From the experiment milling-plant flour and feed were produced from the grain raised and were then tested for their comparative values. Upwards of two hundred samples of grains had been analyzed and their constituent elements had been determined. Digestion experi- ments were planned at this time.

The biennial period ending June, 1902, was one of the most eventful and important in the history of the state university. A short time before this period the old board of trustees was abolished and the institution was placed in the sole charge of the Board of Regents. After a year or more of investigation they finally, in January, 1899, elected Dr. Garrett Droppers to the presidency of the university. Within one year thereafter there was a marked change for the better in every department and function of the institution. The courses of study were vastly improved-expanded, strengthened and made more definite and thorough. Likewise the semester system took the place of the old term system that had been in vogue since the university was first opened. The great improvements were justly attributed in the main to the exceptional ability and broad scholarship of Doctor Droppers, though he received much assistance from the deans and from the faculty members generally. At last the institution was a correctly classified and regulated university. Soon the institution embraced the following colleges, schools and departments: (1) College of Arts and Sciences, including (a) the School of Commerce, (b) Department of Education, (c) Department of Art; (2) College of Law; (3) College of Engineering; (4) College of Medicine; (5) College of Music.

Owing to the fact, probably, that the institution was growing rapidly there was no appreciable diminution in the number of students attending the university after it had adopted the new course of study and the semester system. For the year 1898-99 the total registration was 345; the next, 384; the next, 398 and for 1901-02 the number was 406. This proved a steady growth year by year in spite of the elimination of one-term students during the winter seasons. In addition the regular college students were increasing in number more rapidly than ever before. In fact, they had grown out of proportion to the increase in the number of students in the preparatory department. The university authorities. had been criticised in the past for the large number of preparatory students admitted, and for the great attention that had been paid to them by he faculty of the university. However, the criticism was not well grounded, because the conditions prevailing in the high schools were such that the university would not have had so many

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students had it not adopted the preparatory department as a feeder or supporter of the university proper.

The introduction of a preparatory department was a necessary step in the early development of the universities in all the states. It was the transition period from the day of opening until the number of students with full courses would be sufficient to warrant large enough appropriations and a strong enough faculty to make the institution one of great worth and credit. Not yet was the university ready to extinguish the preparatory department. However, muchı greater attention than ever before could now be given to strictly collegiate instruc- tion. Thus everything indicated that the university had begun a new and pro- pitious era in its history. At the end of the school year 1901-02 the number of regular college students was about 150 per cent larger than five years before, while the number of preparatory and irregular students remained almost station- ary or had diminished slightly. During this period also the number of high schools in the state had wonderfully increased, but not yet did this fact result in any noticeable advantage to the university, because they did not yet possess a satisfactory course of study. However, by 1902 a considerable portion of the students entering the university came from accredited high schools, where they were prepared fully for entrance to the freshman class of the university. It was believed at this time that the large number of high school graduates being sent out annually would within a few years cause the university to abandon its pre- paratory department wholly and give its exclusive attention to the development and expansion of university work proper.

The Legislature of 1901 authorized the establishment of a college of law at the State University. During the succeeding summer the school was made ready and at the end of August, Hon. Thomas Sterling, of Redfield, was chosen dean. Soon afterwards he assumed his duties at the university. The conclusion to open the law school was reached so late that the number of students the first year was restricted, there being only eight. The next year the number advanced to twenty-five or more. It was now necessary to appoint an assistant instructor, and in addition several eminent lawyers of the state were engaged to give the students lectures on specific law subjects when the classes should be ready for such instruction. At the end of the first year, therefore, the outlook of the law department was promising.

In June, 1901, the regents of education under authority granted them by the Legislature, established a department of civil and mechanical engineering at the university. The first class was organized for work in September, 1901. There were at first twelve students under Dr. Alexander Pell. The department lacked equipment, but there was much enthusiasm and steady work resulted. The demand for civil engineers was rapidly growing throughout the state. Prof. R. M. Meyers was employed to assist Doctor Pell. The department was given a new building.

Within two or three years ending with June, 1902, the College of Music had shown a satisfactory growth. It occupied the entire third floor of the main build- ing. The chorus and band were well organized, and already an efficient orchestra was planned for the near future. The department had the use of ten pianos.

During the two years the material additions to the university had been large and highly important. At last the Legislature had come to realize that it should

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either shut up the institution wholly or supply it with adequate facilities for advancement. Science Hall was accordingly built, and was 150 feet long, 65 feet wide, and three stories high. It was built of Omaha pressed brick. On the first floor were placed the physical and chemical laboratories. On the second floor were the geological and biological laboratories with their classrooms. On the third floor were the museum and the engineering department. The construction of this building. was an important event in the history of the university. It sup- plied a want that had been continuously and oppressively felt since the institution had been founded back in the 'Sos. The construction and occupation of this building left vacant for other uses much room in other structures. It may truth- fully be said that the construction of this building alone almost doubled the capac- ity of the university.

It must be admitted that Doctor Droppers was doing a great work for the university. He called attention to the recent growth of the institution and to the fact that it could now be sustained naturally without placing any additional bur- den on the taxpayers of the state. The valuation of property had been greatly in- creased, assessments were higher and therefore taxes aggregated a larger amount. At the session of the Legislature of 1899 several members made an attempt to pass a law providing that the finances of the state institutions should be largely independent of the State Legislature and the exigencies of political changes. The unwise limitation of the funds and thus the practical death of the plan, caused the governor to veto the bill. However, all agreed that the bill as originally intended was excellent and that it should have become a law without amendment. This bill or one similar to it would remove the educational institutions from politi- cal fields and thus render them educational in fact as well as in name. The president showed at this time that where other states had passed similar bills there was no complaint whatever from increased taxation or other burden. North Dakota had such a law which provided about $50,000 a year. In Iowa there was a permanent appropriation of similar nature which netted $160,000 per year for maintenance alone. Wisconsin and Minnesota had similar tax levy systems for the support of state institutions.

Military instruction was conducted under unfavorable circumstances, owing to the lack of a suitable military instructor, all prominent military officials having been required to serve in the war with Spain. However, recently a graduate of West Point, Capt. M. M. Maxon, had been sent here to take charge of this depart- ment. Already the military department was almost as strong as it had been at the time the Spanish war broke out. Instruction in military tactics and field prac- tice was given three times a week. Connected with this work were given gym- nasium exercises. It was noted that a year's training in this department vastly improved the stature and posture of the students who took the course.

At this time the grounds at the university had been greatly improved. The trees had become large and the campus and buildings were far more attractive. The little City of Vermillion was an advantageous place for the university. The surroundings were attractive, the soil productive, the residences better and more modern, and the inhabitants better informed and appreciative.

In 1902 the School of Mines was in prosperous condition. Robert L. Slagle was then president. During the previous two years very little change was made in the mining, engineering and preparatory courses. By 1902 the school had

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these three regular courses well under way and had made considerable progress in the systematic arrangement of students in regular classes. Additions to the faculty were A. D. Humbart, instructor in commercial studies, and Mark Ehle, Jr., instructor in surveying and mechanical drawing. A department of engineer- ing was absolutely essential to a school of mines, and was duly established in 1901 under Professor Ehle. There were classes in laboratory work in every branch of the three courses of study adopted by the regents. The most marked event during this biennial period was the decision to confer the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering upon regular graduates of the institution. They were the first students thus graduated with a degree since the opening of the institution in 1887. All graduates at this time held responsible positions at good salaries. The annual appropriation of $500 for the library enabled the school to secure much needed books and scientific journals filled with up-to-date and technical information. The school up to this time had experienced great difficulty in securing boarding and lodging for the students. A boarding club was established in 1901 with Miss Anna Browne as matron. This was in the central part of the town and the students secured lodging in private dwellings and busi- ness blocks. The great growth of Rapid City during the two years rendered it impossible for students to secure cheap rooms. Accordingly President Slagle rented the Oak Park Hotel and converted it into a dormitory and boarding house. The students paid the rental for the building and in addition furnished everything for their rooms. In 1902 a new building was erected to meet this emergency, but the quarters were still too small, the money appropriated being less than necessary for the erection of a scientific building. The $2,000 appropriated for furniture was wholly inadequate. During the previous year, Charles H. Fulton, professor of metallurgy, issued a bulletin on the Cyanide Process in the Black Hills, and Dr. C. C. O'Harra, of the department of mineralogy and geology, issued another on the Mineral Wealth of the Black Hills. Both publications were reviewed very favorably by various mining journals throughout the country. President Slagle at this time believed that a mining experiment station should be established in connection with the school owing to the numerous requests for analysis and advice concerning the treatment of ores that arrived almost every day. At this time they were making assays, analyses and practical tests of ores. He called attention to the fact that stability in the teaching force was requisite for the successful operation of a school of this character. The knowledge was technical and expert, and professors who taught what was necessarily required here commanded high salaries. The Legislature failed to take into consideration this fact and the additional one that living in the Black Hills was more expensive than in the eastern part of the state. In mining regions living expenses were always higher than in agricultural sections. President Slagle compared the sal- aries received at the School of Mines with the salaries paid by similar schools in other parts of the country. It was shown that South Dakota paid much less than was paid elsewhere.

The State Normal at Madison in September, 1902, was in prosperous condi- tion. In 1901 the sum of $11,470 was appropriated by the Legislature to com- plete, equip and furnish a new dormitory; to repay the City of Madison for money expended by the city in procuring and cutting stone used in the building ; and to pay the balance due the contractor. This sum enabled the authorities to

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

complete the building as originally designed. The new dormitory was quickly filled with students. There was a steady increase of students from year to year, and the labor of the teachers was correspondingly on the increase. Two teachers in the school had received no increase in salary for six years. Their salaries remained at $1,300 each. The president recommended that the sum of $400 be appropriated from the local fund of the institution and that $100 be added to the salary of each of these teachers in January and a similar amount in June. The graduating class in January, 1902, numbered nineteen or twenty. This was three times as large as any class graduated at this season during any year for the past five years. Already one of this class had secured a position at Big Stone, S. D., and all looked forward to immediate employment after graduation. Nearly all students here who would graduate were considered competent teachers. W. W. Girton was acting president at this time. During the year Pres. W. H. H. Beadle was absent on leave owing to ill health. He soon returned, however, greatly improved and resumed his duties. Fault was found at this time by Mr. Girton that graduates of normal schools were discriminated against by the state law which provided that a graduate of a college which did not teach pedagogy was entitled to a certificate while graduates of the normal school which made the training of teachers its chief end and sole business were required to pass an examination. The institution needed an electric plant at this time. The music department had grown rapidly. The regents of education had authorized the faculty to grant diplomas to those who should complete the musical course. The manual train- ing department was the only enlargement during the past year. Although it was in a poorly lighted room in the basement, the students took great interest in the work, and the exhibit at the end of the year proved the value of the department. Students experienced much difficulty in securing suitable boarding places ; so much so in fact that this element retarded the growth of the school and continued to do so until the dormitory was built. In 1902 a house was rented where a few of the students could be accommodated, but nearly all were compelled to find private boarding places. A dormitory was sadly needed. The natural increase in the number of classes and in the equipment of library and the scientific depart- ments required larger expenditures in the future. This institution, like all others, had barely sufficient means to make a creditable showing.

The Springfield State Normal made a creditable showing in 1902. A new main building was completed during the year, and was a fine stone structure consisting of three stories and basement, steam heated. The wing to which this building was attached was heated with stoves. The secretary asked that the steam plant be extended to this wing, the cost being about six hundred dollars. The wing or first building, though solid and substantial and built of Sioux Falls granite, had soft pine floors and the extra wear had worn them down so that it was necessary to replace them now with harder wood at a cost of about four hundred dollars. The increasing attendance required larger and better quarters and facilities of every kind. The assembly room, one of the finest in the state, was fitted with opera chairs, and the class rooms were supplied with modern furniture; and in addition the library, gymnasium and scientific departments had received up-to-date and necessary equipment. The artesian well was another recent acquisition. A lake was formed and ornamented. The model school was limited to five grades, and at this time took in all grades below those enrolled in

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the normal department. A manual training department was added and was com- pletely equipped with benches and tools. The music department embraced a full course of study in musical theory and vocal and piano instruction. The normal department proper offered two courses of study of three years each and an advanced course of one year of post graduate work.

The Northern Normal and Industrial School at Aberdeen was opened Sep- tember 9, 1902, with an enrollment of sixty-nine students on the first day. By September 24th the enrollment had reached eighty-three; and in the Model School, which embraced the first four grades, there were enrolled eighty-five. Three courses of study were adopted at the commencement: a Latin course of four years, an English course of three years, and a course of one year for graduates of accredited high schools. Connected with the institution from the start was a preparatory course of one year for students who planned to enter the Latin or English courses, but who were not sufficiently well advanced in the fundamental studies. Interesting features of the school at this time were: The industrial demonstrations; a school garden; the laboratories; the physical culture and ath- letic facilities; the library and reading room; and the faculty, at the head of which was Charles F. Hohler. Great difficulty in securing boarding and rooms at reasonable rates was experienced. The citizens of Aberdeen were willing and anxious to assist but could not overcome conditions where no suitable quarters could be secured. The city was growing rapidly, the houses were all full, and very few places were for rent. It was at once demanded that there should be built a ladies' dormitory and boarding hall at an expense of from thirty-five thou- sand to forty thousand dollars and should be spent $3,000 additional for equip- ment. An artesian well was needed also.

The Spearfish Normal School was likewise well attended and doing a work that was greatly needed. The graduating class of 1901 numbered thirteen ; that of 1902 numbered seventeen. The number of graduates as compared with the enrollment was small, owing to the fact that the course of study was unusually long and thorough. An important event in recent years was the erection of the Woman's Hall, which was used for the first time during 1901-02. It furnished a delightful and refined home for a large number of young women. The total normal enrollment for the year 1901-02 in all departments was 342. They com- pletely filled all the available buildings.

In 1903 there were graduated from the State University 44 pupils ; Agricul- tural College, 31 ; Madison Normal, 26; Northern Normal and Industrial School, 9; Springfield Normal, 7; Spearfish Normal, 10; Rapid City School of Mines, 6; making a total of 133. The whole number of graduates from the state educa- tional institutions up to and including 1903 was as follows: State University, 289 ; Agricultural College, 283; Madison Normal, 361 ; Springfield Normal, 64; Northern Normal and Industrial School, 9; School of Mines, 19; Spearfish Nor- mal, 75, thus making the total number of graduates since the organization of the respective institutions, 1,100. During the year 1902-03 the attendance at the institutions was as follows: State University, 411; Agricultural College, 490; Madison Normal, 346; Springfield Normal, 245; Northern Normal and Industrial School, 176; Rapid City School of Mines, 126; Spearfish Normal, 225; making the total of 2,019. In addition there were thousands who took partial courses and had gone out into the world to put the knowledge thus acquired into practice.

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The faculties of the seven state educational centers numbered about ninety skilled and trained instructors who were paid an aggregate salary of about eighty-five thousand dollars. The classic and scientific courses were represented in six of the seven state colleges and schools; professional teaching in four; mining and metallurgy in one; civil engineering in three ; law in one; music and fine arts in all.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 88

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146