8
THE STUDENTS JOURNAL.
THE NEW BUILDINGS.
Before another year goes by, the equipment of the University will be increased by the addition of three new buildings. The Chancellor's residence is practically complete, the library building is rapidly going upward, while the physics and engineering building has just begun to go downward. Over a year ago, Mr. Spooner of Massachusetts bequeathed to the University something over the sum of $91,000. With this the Board of Regents decided to construct a permanent residence for the Chancellor,and a library building. The contract for the construction of the Chancellor's residence was let to W. R. Carter of Lawrence. The total cost is approximately $12,000. Chancellor Snow will be given possession of this building during his lifetime, and afterwards it will be occupied by whoever is chancellor, but only as long as he is in office. The residence, as it now stands completed, is two stories high with a cellar under the whole. It is constructed in frame after the manner of wooden houses, veneered with pressed brick, and trimmed with red sandstone. Complete, it is a handsome dwelling, with a high garret, two large bay windows, and a front porch. It will be finished on the inside in elegant manner, with all modern conveniences. The woodwork, mantels, and several finished fire-places are but a few of its beauties. Lighted throughout by gas and electricity, heated by hot air, furnished with electric bells and speaking tubes, it would be hard to name anything more to be desired.
Perhaps the most useful and ornamental structure belonging to the University, will be the library building. Situated on the hill northeast of the main building and just west of the Chancellor's residence, the view from its windows will be as fine as could be desired. The building will be two stories high, with a high basement. On the second floor will be a public hall; on the first, reading and newspaper rooms, with seminary and toilet rooms in the basement. In addition to the main building, there is built at the east end a book-stack, in five eight-foot stories, accessible from the reading room, and cut off from the main part by fire walls. The whole is built from quarry-faced ashler stone, with red sandstone trimmings. The book-stack building and the bookcases are of perfectly fire-proof construction, the bookstack being an open frame work of iron. This is similar to those in use at Harvard and the University of Michigan. The capacity of the book-stack will be over 100,000 books. The building is lighted by electricity throughout, and by gas everywhere except in the bookroom. As the building stands at present, the walls are up as far as the second story of the main part. The cost of this building, finished up as it will be, approximates $80,000. The deeds to the library and Chancellor's residence are held by the Board of Regents as representatives of the state.
The plans for the physics and engineering building have been completed only to such an extent that the excavation could be begun. This work was commenced about two weeks ago, and the hole in the ground has been growing, although it has not yet reached the rock.
This building, with what we have already, will give us perhaps the best facilities in the west for engineering; and there is no doubt that the attendance in this already flourishing department will now be greatly increased. The building is located some seventy-five yards southeast of the main building, on the point of the hill, and will afford every accommodation to the various branches of the departments of physics and engineering. At its last session, the legislature appropriated $50,000 for this building, and at the present rate of construction, this is sufficient to make it one of the handsomest in the state. It will be owned by the State just as the principal University buildings are owned.
Thus the University has made a good step in its advancement. Already occupying one of the highest places among State Universities, having in our faculty men of the highest standing, the standard of instruction has necessarily been raised still higher by these increased accommodations. Other buildings are to follow; an addition to the chemistry building is already needed, and will undoubtedly soon be obtained. In the future, more or less near, Mount Oread will be covered with beautiful buildings. Fame will carry the beauty and glory of K. S. U. far over the land. Already in our dreams we see astronomical laboratories, dormitories, a gymnasium, an art museum, and many others. And all indications point toward the realization of our dreams.
THE LIBRARY.
The library has been fulfilling its part in the University work this year. Evidences of its usefulness are apparent by the intelligent habits which the students are acquiring in the use of books. It is, indeed, an art to know how and where to find the material one needs. The more care a student gives to this art the better he can handle the subjects under discussion or under treatment in class work or in theme work. The discriminating use of books is an education in itself and comes only by experience with books.
The library contains about twenty thousand volumes and is steadily increasing. Six hundred new books have been added this term and orders are now out for about two thousand more. Thus far the new books have been mostly in the department of philosophy, sociology, civil engineering, law and pharmacy, but all of the departments will soon receive new additions.
Two gifts have been received; a box of books from Prof. Francis J. Child of Harvard University, through Prof. W. H. Carruth, and another box of books from Miss Kate Stephens, formerly Professor of Greek in the University of Kansas, but now a resident of Cambridge, Mass.
Two new variable stars have been discovered by Herr Fr. Deichmueller in the constellation of Cygnus. The average magnitude of one of them is somewhat above, and of the other somewhat below, the eighth, and the total amount of change in each case seems a little more than a magnitude.