The University’s Wish List: New Departments, New Money

At the meeting of the King County legislators in the office of Kills Morrison on Friday evening, Edward R. Meany, secretary of the board of regents of the State University, appeared by invitation to tell them of the past and future of the State University and of its needs. Eleven of the committee members of the legislature were present, and Herbert S. Conner, representative of Skagit County, and Capt. L. H. Coon, representative of Snohomish County, were present by invitation.

Mr. Meany first called attention to the new departments of the university. The first was the observatory established in September, 1894, under the direction of Prof. J. M. Taylor, professor of mathematics and astronomy, and fitted up at a cost of $3,000. The instruments consist of a six-inch equatorial telescope, a self-registering thermometer, two thermometers, maximum and minimum; mercurial barometer, self-registering anemometer and wind vane.

Next in order came the department of pharmacy, which was established on July 10, 1894, with Prof. Charles Hill as acting dean. Circulars were sent out to all inquiring students and pharmacists of the state, and the result was that at the beginning of the school year twenty-five students entered and were registered, which is considered a fine beginning when the brief period between the organization of the department and its opening is considered. The Washington State Board of Pharmacy has extended every possible co-operation, and at its September meeting in Tacoma agreed to hold its spring examinations each year at the University of Washington in co-operation with the faculty of the department of pharmacy. The Washington State Pharmaceutical Association also indorsed the new department.

The third department established was that of mines and mining. On November 28, 1893, the board of regents adopted a resolution establishing this department, with the expectation that the legislature at the session of 1895 would see its way clear to appropriate money enough to put it into active operation. In anticipation of this action friends of the university at the World's Fair made a collection of minerals from all parts of the world, which will be of immense value in equipping the necessary laboratory. It has been demonstrated that this state possesses a vast storehouse of minerals, and the mining industry is destined to become one of the most important. It was therefore deemed eminently proper that there should be offered to the young men of this state a course of instruction in this important industry. The establishment of this department will require but a small outlay of money, but it will be necessary to secure the services of a specially qualified man to be the dean.

On July 28, 1894, the board adopted a resolution formally establishing a department of law, after a conference with the leading lawyers of the state, but to wait for legislative assistance and to use the intervening time for further investigation before putting the department into actual operation. It is believed that the department can be put into operation for the comparatively small salary of one professor of law, who should be head of the department.

The regents desire as soon as practicable to extend the course of instruction so as to include a department of mechanical engineering, including such branches as electrical engineering, steam engineering, hydraulic engineering and general mechanical engineering. The main expense of such a department would be the original equipment.

Mr. Meany dwelt at length on the necessity of a state geological survey. Washington has great mineral and other resources and many times has reliable information on these points been greatly needed by those who have sought to advance the material interests of the state. The United States is doing the work very slowly. The board of regents had taken up this matter and there has been considerable correspondence in relation to it. In connection with the state geological survey is being carried on under the auspices of the state university. Professor Charles D. Walcott, chief of the United States survey, reported that he is now pursuing a plan that is producing the most satisfactory results. That is, a co-operation between individual states and the United States Geological Survey. It is being put into operation in New York, Connecticut and other states. Mr. Walcott states that if the legislature will appropriate $1,500 for the next two years, the United States Survey will set aside a like sum and this will be an excellent beginning for this great work. The board of regents, therefore, ask authority to enter into a contract with the United States Geological Survey to undertake jointly the work of a topographical map and geological survey of the state of Washington, and that an appropriation of $1,500 cover the expenses for the next two years.

Capt. Coon, of Snohomish, formerly of the University of Michigan; George B. Kittinger, formerly of Cornell University; and Herbert S. Conner, of Skagit County, formerly of the Washington State University and a former classmate of Mr. Meany, all said that the university ought to have what the regents asked for. After some informal talk, the legislators adjourned to meet next Monday morning with the members of the Chamber of Commerce in the latter's rooms in the Seattle National Bank building. All members of the chamber are invited to be present.