A Legislative Committee Finds the University of Washington Packed, Broke, and Worth Building

The result of the visit of the joint legislative committee to examine into the condition and needs of the University of Washington is a highly complimentary report, which was presented to each branch of the legislature yesterday. Chairman Schively, of the joint committee, presented the report in the House, and Senator Fusey, chairman of the committee on educational institutions, in the Senate.

The report, signed by all the members of the committee, reads as follows:

"We, your committee appointed to visit the University of Washington and to ascertain the condition and needs of that institution, beg leave to report as follows:

We left the capital on Wednesday, February 27, arriving in Seattle at 7:45 p.m. On the following morning at 8 a.m. we visited the university at the old site in company with the board of regents. Here we found the chapel of the university literally packed and overflowing with students. An hour was pleasantly spent by the committee in listening to music by the students and statements from various speakers as to the hopes and plans for the future of the university.

The laboratories, library and recitation rooms of the old building were then inspected, and there was not a member of this committee who failed to evince surprise at the crowded condition of the rooms and the scant supplies of appliances for anything like adequate work in so important an institution. Seemingly there is not a single square foot of space in the whole building unutilized. The library was found to consist largely of miscellaneous books acquired mostly by donations, and it was placed in a room extemporized by partitioning off a former hallway. Many additional books are needed in each branch of the library.

After this inspection of the old building the committee investigated the astronomical observatory, which was found in good condition and easy to remove and adapt to the needs in this line in the new university.

Three companies of the university cadets, in command of Lieut. John L. Hayden, of the United States army, gave a most interesting drill and dress parade. The carriage and general appearance of the young men fully attested the value of this department of instruction and drill.

After this we inspected the old grounds, consisting of a beautiful plat of ten acres in the center of Seattle, and also the other old buildings on the grounds. In the Young Naturalists' hall, which belongs to a National Historical Society of Seattle, we found a great quantity of valuable materials stored. These consist of botanical, mineralogical, ethnological and other such specimens in large numbers obtained by the university from the World's Fair. These articles are now in storage for lack of exhibition or laboratory room, but will be removed and utilized in the new building as soon as the latter is completed.

After thus thoroughly inspecting the old grounds and buildings we proceeded to the new site and new buildings now in course of construction. The new site is certainly one of the most ideal university sites in the world. The ground is ample for all future needs and is situated between Lakes Union and Washington, with shore frontage on both lakes. The surface of the ground, while affording ample level spaces for building sites and for campus purposes, is also broken in places by natural contours affording excellent opportunities for future development under the care of a landscape gardener. The entire ground is covered with groves of the beautiful trees indigenous to Western Washington.

In the way of buildings on these new grounds, we found the main building about three-quarters finished, and nothing but feelings of pride and pleasure could result from a visit to this building by any citizen of the state. The principal impressions created by the first visit to the building are those of durability, beauty and utility. The foundation of the building is of rock imbedded in cement mortar. The lower part of the building and all the trimmings of the first story are of white sandstone from the Pittsburg (Pierce county) quarries. The upper portion is of cream colored pressed brick of an excellent quality, from Spokane county. The trimmings of the upper stories are to be terra cotta, now being made in King county. In fact, we found that all the materials used are being obtained within the state so far as possible. The roof is to be of the best quality of Pennsylvania slate. An inspection of the interior showed the rooms to have been excellently planned for their several purposes. Your committee became thoroughly satisfied from this careful inspection that the materials and workmanship on the structure are first class in every respect and the state is getting 'value received' for every dollar expended thereon. The main portion of this new building is 344 feet long by 79 feet wide. Extending to the rear from the center is a wing 51 feet wide by 91 feet long, which wing contains the assembly hall. The building is being constructed by Campbell & Ashenfelter, of Spokane. The architect is Charles W. Saunders, and the superintendent for the state is James A. Johnson, of Seattle.

The only other building on the new grounds is the gymnasium and drill hall building, which is a solid frame structure 125 feet long by 112 feet wide. This building is complete and has been accepted by the regents. It has cost a little less than $7,000, and is certainly almost perfect for the purpose intended. The contractors on this building were Flynn & Rockmark, of Seattle.

[The committee] inspected the new grounds thoroughly and appointed a sub-committee, composed of Senator Harper and Representatives Foster and Chetham, to attend sessions of the board of regents and examine into their accounts and ascertain the actual needs of the institution. This sub-committee held two sessions with the board of regents, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. From their investigations and from their own observations we are prepared to report that we believe that the affairs of the university have been administered in a masterly and conscientious manner during the past two years by the present board of regents, and we are also prepared to make the following most earnest recommendations:

First—In order that the general fund of the state may be repaid the appropriation of $100,000 made two years ago, and also that this session of the legislature may find it clear to render efficient aid to the university for the next two years, we recommend that a bill be passed which provides for bonding the property of the university, consisting of the valuable tract of ten acres in Seattle and over 1,000 acres in Washington, from the old grant of 1891, or the sale of which is to help pay the appropriation two years ago and the sum needed for maintenance for the next two years.

Second—With that bill enacted we also earnestly recommend that the allowance in the general appropriation bill for maintenance be increased for the next two years, which will provide the equipment of the various laboratories, the library, which are urgently needed, as well as for a few more instructors, which we deem an absolute necessity, the students having increased from 70 to 100 in percentage during the past two years, while no additions have been made to the teaching force.

Third—Under the same condition of providing for renting the old building, we recommend that House Bill No. 330 be enacted, which provides for the funding plan to erect the necessary power and water plant to furnish the new buildings, to build a cottage for the present and a cottage for the janitor, improving the grounds and making other necessary improvements.

Fourth—We would respectfully call attention to House Bill No. 406, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors within two miles of the new university, and we would recommend that this bill be speedily enacted into a law.

Fifth—In case some adequate action looking to a revised system of governing the state institutions should not be taken, we would recommend that House Bill No. 520, cutting the board of regents down from eight to three members, be enacted to save us as much as possible in the expense of managing this institution, though we believe that the same object would be accomplished and possibly greater safety result from this measure if the board of regents were made to consist of five members, who shall serve without pay after the completion of the university.

Sixth—We find that owing to unavoidable delays and owing to the fact that 10 percent of the contract price has been required from the builders, a portion of the original appropriation of $100,000 will lapse into the treasury on March 31 under the provision of the state constitution. As the contracts have all been entered into and as provision is being made to repay this entire sum to the state, we recommend that Senate Bill No. [blank] be passed. This simply recovers the unexpended balance of the old appropriation.

In making these recommendations we do so after a most careful consideration of all the factors of the case. The board of regents originally contemplated many useful additions to the departments of work, but after learning of the conditions confronting this legislature during the present stringent financial period, they have reluctantly withdrawn these desires and over $40,000 has been cut off the sum requested for maintenance for the next two years. We therefore trust that for the best interests of the University of Washington, the above recommendations and requests will be acted upon and granted."