Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/333

 the several States and Territories for the support of colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts, was accepted by the extra session of the General Assembly in September upon the conditions and under the restrictions contained acres which were selected within the limits of the State. Appropriations were made for the erection of a central building, which in the fall of 1868 was so far completed that a preliminary term was held, continuing through the winter. On the 17th of March, 1869, the first regular term began with a president and seven professors and instructors and one hundred and seventy-three students, thirty-seven of whom were girls. Fifty-five counties were represented by students.

For two years after the organization the departments the former was divided into courses in Agriculture, Horticulture and Pomology; while the Department of Mechanics was divided into Mechanical, Civil and Mining Engineering, and a course in Architecture was added. In 1870 Botany, Physics and English Literature were added; in 1872 Veterinary Science, and in 1874 Zoology and Entomology; in 1876 Domestic Economy. The work in agriculture has been greatly differentiated in late years until there may be found professors and instructors in Dairying, Animal Husbandry, Agronomy, Soil Physics and Farm Mechanics. The course in Mining Engineering was soon discontinued, but reestablished in 1891. The course in Electrical Engineering was introduced in 1890. Of the one hundred and seventy-three in attendance at the opening, twenty-six graduated in the first class, while the number of graduates in 1902 was seventy-two and the attendance reached 1,220, in 1901. The total number of graduates has been 1,162.

From the original four story building designed to accommodate every department including dormitories, located in a plat destitute of trees, has gradually developed