Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Commerce Building [PAGE 5]

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a full four-years' course in business, but because many sought some of the courses to supplement their other studies. The success achieved by the courses led, in 1907, to an increase of appropriation, which enabled expansion to be made in the following groups of work: railway administration, accountancy, and industrial history. The continued interest of the general administration of the university in the work of business training had been insured by the election of Edmund J. James, at one time Director of the Wharton School of Economics and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, to the presidency of the University, in 1904. The growth in enrollment since 1907 has been marked. The registrations in the courses have increased to 2,125 for the year 1912-13, representing about 1,500 individuals, of whom 225 are registered for full four-year courses preparing specifically for business careers. The rapid increase in courses and students early brought into prominence the urgent need of special accommodation for the work in commerce. The business interests of the state soon saw that, to secure full service from the courses, a special building was required. With their help, the legislature was convinced of the necessity, and, though the amount requested by the Board of Trustees was not granted, an appropriation of $125,000 was made, in 1911, for the erection of what will be known in the future as the Commerce Building. The building was sufficiently completed by February, 1913, to be ready for occupancy, and most of the work of the business courses was transferred to it. The anticipated advantages of the new building are being fully realized. The students in business administration are beginning to feel an individuality previously o