Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1880 [PAGE 19]

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17

THE ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY,

W I T H SOME ACCOUNT O F ITS W O R K ,

BUILDINGS AND GEOUNDS. The domain occupied by the University and its several departments embraces about 623 acres, including stock farm, experimental farm, orchards, gardens, nurseries, forest plantations, arboretum, ornamental grounds, and military parade ground. The University buildings, fifteen in number, include a grand main building for public use, one large and two small Dormitory buildings, a spacious Mechanical building and Drill hall, a large Chemical laboratory, a Veterinary hall, a small Astronomical observatory, three dwellings, two large barns, and an ample green-house. The Mechanical building and Drill hall is of brick, 126 feet in length and 88 feet in width. It contains a boiler, forge and tank room; a machine shop, furnished for practical use, with a steam engine, lathes, and other machinery; a pattern and finishing shop; shops for carpentry and cabinet wTork, furnished with wood-working machinery; paint room and rooms for models, storage, etc. In the second story is the large Drill hall, 124 by 80 feet, sufficient for the evolutions of a company of infantry, or a section of a battery of field artillery. It is also well supplied with gymnastic apparatus. One of the towers contains an armorer's shop and military model room, an artillery room and a band room. The other contains a printing office and editor's room. The large Dormitory building is 125 feet in length and five stories in height. This was so badly damaged by storms in the spring of 1880 that it is not fit for use. It afforded 80 private rooms for students. Two smaller Dormitory buildings contain eight rooms each. The new Chemical building, erected in 1878 at a cost, including furniture, of $40,000, contains five laboratories, and is one of the best and largest in the United States. PEOPEETY AND FUNDS. Besides its lands, buildings, furniture, library, etc., valued at $470,000, the University owns 25,000 acres of well-selected lands in Minnesota and Nebraska. It has also endowment funds invested in State and county bonds amounting to $319,000, besides other property and avails, valued at $33,000. The State has appropriated $25,000 to the Agricultural Department for barns, tools, stock, etc.; $25,000 to —2