Page:Kansas A Cyclopedia of State History vol 1.djvu/37

 of the Fort Hays military reservation, which from disuse was turned over to the department of interior in 1889 for disposal. In 1895 the Kansas legislature asked Congress to donate the whole reservation of 7,200 acres to the State of Kansas for agricultural education and research, for the training of teachers, and for a public park, but it was not until 1900 that Kansas secured the land. The work of this station is confined to the problems of the western part of the state. This land is suitable for experimental and demonstration work in dry farming, irrigation and crops, forest and orchard tests. This station is supported by state funds, and sales of farm products.

The station at Garden City is located upon unirrigated upland which the Agricultural College leased from the county commissioners of Finney county for 99 years. “It is an experimental and demonstration” farm operated in conjunction with the United States department of agriculture for purpose of determining the methods of culture, crop varieties and crop rotation best suited for the southwestern portion of the state, under dry land farming conditions.

The stations at Ogallah and Dodge City are forestry stations, and are operated under the direct management of state forester and general supervision of the director of the Experiment Station. The engineering experiment station was established by the board of regents, “for the purpose of carrying on continued series of tests of engineering and manufacturing value to the State of Kansas, and to conduct these tests on a scale sufficiently large that the results will be of direct commercial value.” Among the experiments made are those of cement and concrete, Kansas coals, lubricants and bearings, endurance tests of paints, power required for driving machine tools, etc. President Fairchild remained at the head of the Agricultural College from 1879 to 1897. The growth of the institution under his direction was steady and substantial. He was succeeded by Mr. Thomas E. Will. It is said great prominence was given economic, financial and social problems during the presidency of Mr. Will. In 1897 four year courses were established in domestic science, agriculture, mechanical engineering and general science. Mr. Will resigned in 1899, and Prof. E. R. Nichols was chosen to fill his place first as acting president, later as president.

The rapid increase in attendance made new buildings necessary. In 1900 the agricultural hall and dairy barn were erected; in 1902, the physical science hall, in 1906 the granary, and in 1904 the dairy hall, college extension. Until 1905 the extension work of the college was in the form of farmer's institutes held throughout the state, this work being in charge of a committee chosen from the faculty. The small means available made the institutes irregular and the attendance was small. In 1905 the board of regents employed a superintendent to organize the department of farmers' institutes, and in 1906 the department was formally organized. To the appropriation of $4,000 made by the legislature of 1905 the college added $800. The interest of the state in the agricultural extension and the results derived therefrom resulted in an appropriation