Repository: UIHistories Project: Illio - 1896 [PAGE 21]

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which I have mentioned the entire instruction in L i n k , political ••!•.,m,my, lopric and history was m e n b\ one man, who, in addition to these and o t h e r duties not light, was chief librarian and secretary of the General Faculty. In tbifl tame } <-lit the entire work of the architectural department war- in charge of I'rof h'irker. who was confined to two small rooms on the fourth Moor < f University Hall; I'rof. > Shattuck taught all t h e matheniaticH offered by the University, and l'rof. 1'ickard taught all t h e literature and rhetoric, now in charge of five instructors. Vet, somehow, t h e character of the teaching was high, and all of these details but suggest t h e fact that excellent work is not wholly d e p e n d e n t upon a large faculty and n u m e r o u s buildings. The increased n u m b e r of students also testifies to t h e progress made by t h e University in t h e last ten vears. The catalogue for 1SS(» contains the names of but t h r e e h u n d r e d and thirty-two students, one h u n d r e d and seven of whom were m e m b e r s of t h e preparatory class. Hut not alone in n u m b e r s has t h e student body made progress. T h e character of the preparation of those who present themselves has gradually improved, so that it is possible to d e m a n d stronger university work. With t h e increased number of instructors and students has come a corresponding increase in t h e n u m b e r of buildings and in e q u i p m e n t . Within t h e last six years there have been erected at t h e University four large and well-appointed buildings. The first of these, t h e Military Hall, was completed in May, ]8<K>, the graduating exercises of t h e class of '90 being a part of its dedicatory programme. Previous to t h e erection of Military Hall, t h e second floor of Machinery Hall had been used for drill purposes as well as for a gymnasium. C o m m e n c e m e n t exercises were also held here. I n 1892 was dedicated Natural History Hall, one of t h e most beautiful buildings on the campus, and one which has given excellent opportunities for t h e development of t h e scientific work of t h e University. President Angell, of Ann Arbor, is quoted as saying that this Hall is t h e most beautiful college building he has ever seen. I n 1804 was added Engineering Hall, o n e of t h e largest and best equipped buildings devoted exclusively to engineering in t h e world. Large as t h e structure is, it emphasizes t h e rapid growth of the institution in that it t h r e a t e n s soon to be inadequate for t h e needs of the departments. Last January, still another large building was completed and is now occupied by the engineering department. This coming year there will be begun an adequate Astronomical Observatory and a beautiful Library Building to cost $150,000. The latter promises to be by far the most attractive building on the campus. And still the University grows. Whether or not the social life of the University has reached an ideal development might be a matter for discussion, but that it has very much improved I think no one can doubt. Within the memory of those who are still students here t h e social functions that were strictly University affairs were the socials given by t h e Christian Associations once a term and the special meetings of the literary societies, when the halls were crowded to the doors. Very little entertaining was done 1 by the instructors, and the student, not a senior, who was invited to an instructor ! house, considered himself as especially favored and was looked upon by his 1

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