Four Wooden Buildings to a Quarter-Million: Whitman College Counts Its Decade of Growth

President S. B. L. Penrose has prepared a report to the trustees of Whitman college which will shortly be printed in pamphlet form, showing the recent developments of the college and its financial status. This is the beginning of President Penrose's tenth year at the head of Whitman and inspection of the report vividly impresses one with the remarkable growth which the institution has made under his administration.

He became president in 1894. At that time the property of the college consisted of only 6½ acres of ground on the south side of Boyer avenue and four wooden buildings; now the college owns twenty-seven acres in all and besides the original four buildings three large and substantial buildings of brick and stone — the Whitman Memorial building, Billings hall and Reynolds hall — have been added, at a total cost of $101,000. At that time a debt of $12,500 overshadowed the institution and the endowment funds amounted to only $4,500, while now they amount to $236,652.92. From 4,000 volumes the library has grown to 11,000. The faculty of only six members has been increased until now there are 22. A greater contrast in enrollment is seen than in anything else. On October 1, 1893, the enrollment was 34 and the total enrollment for the year, 93. Last year there were registered over 320 students in all departments, and already the enrollment this year is greater than that figure. The conservatory alone last year had 165.

The courses of study have been developed so that the requirements for entrance are equivalent to those at Harvard and Yale.

The report dwells on the special needs of the college now, which "are primarily an increase of endowment, and second, an increase of accommodation." The rapid growth of the institution had compelled very heavy outlays for equipment and maintenance and the income from all sources is insufficient to meet this outlay. The trustees have been exceedingly careful in their expenditures although reluctant to check the growth of the college by too rigid economy. The result has been the accumulation of a considerable debt, but this has been more than offset by the increase in the value of the real estate belonging to the college. "But," says President Penrose, "if the college is to continue growing and if it is to be worthy of its providential opportunity, then it is imperative that the endowment funds must be greatly increased at once. The college ought to have not less than $500,000 of invested funds to meet the rapidly increasing demands of the next few years."

Another need called attention to in the report is that of an academy building. So great has been the growth of this department that it is impossible to accommodate it any longer in the Memorial building, now crowded to its utmost capacity. The necessity of erecting a suitable building immediately, to be ready for occupancy next September, is strongly urged. It is suggested that this building ought to cost about $25,000.

The present gymnasium is "now entirely inadequate for the important uses of physical culture and athletic training." The hope is expressed that some generous friend of the college will supply this pressing need by giving an adequate gymnasium in the near future. Such a building ought to cost not less than $25,000.

The report closes as follows: "The spirit of the institution, as shown by faculty and students, is commendable. The intellectual and social life is vigorous. The religious life during the past year showed marked improvement, the increased activity of the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. being noticeable. It should never be forgotten that the aim of Whitman college is to train men and women who shall be thoroughly Christian in their citizenship. When the college ceases to lay chief stress on the cultivation of the spiritual life, it will be no longer realizing its mission. I want it to stand in all men's minds for a life which shall be strong in its purpose, broad in its culture and high in its ideals, or in other words, for Christian character always."

The report is followed by a financial statement prepared by Allen H. Reynolds, treasurer of Whitman college, showing the exact financial status of the institution at the present time.