THE MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLEGE

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE ALUMNI, TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1906

The rebuilding of Dartmouth Hall affords a fit opportunity to speak to the alumni upon the material development of the College, as represented by the growth of the College plant. The picture which hangs upon the wall, though made by an artist entirely upon his own motion, gives substantially the present view of the buildings around the old common, or College green. No buildings have been introduced into the view which are not in use or in the process of erection. The map which accompanies the picture gives the exact location and the approximate size of the various buildings. I hope to show you, in the statement which I am about to submit, that the time has come when the things which we need, of a physical sort, are not impracticably large when compared in value with the things which we have. There must always be a margin of material wants. At present this margin is reduced to such an extent that the question of the future development of the College plant is not, from a financial point of view, difficult of solution, provided the alumni and friends of the College are really interested in its development.

ABBREVIATIONS

A. Administration Building A. H. Allen Hall B. Central Heating Plant B. C. Baseball Cage B. H. Bartlett Hall 81. H. Bissell Hall (Gym) B. M. Butterfield Museum Br. H. Brown House C. C. College Church H. Crosby House Col H. College Hall Cr. H. Chandler Hall Cu. H. Culver Hall D. H. Dartmouth Hall E. H. Elm House F. H. Fayerweather Hall H. H. Hallgarten Hall Hd. H. Hubbard House N. D. New Dormitory N. F. H. North Fayerweather Hall N. H. Noyes House P. Proctor House R. C. Rollins Chapel Rd. H. Reed Hall Rn. H. Richardson Hall S. Shop S. F. H. South Fayerweather Hall S. H. Sanborn House T. Tuck Building T. H. Thornton Hall W. The Hanover Inn W. H. Wentworth Hall Wb. H. Webster Hall Wh. H. Wheeler Hall Wn. H. Wilson Hall (Library) Wr. H. Wilder Hall

For convenience, I will classify the College plant according to its various uses, beginning with those uses which are most directly concerned with instruction:

THE HOUSING OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF INSTRUCTION

The rebuilding of Dartmouth Hall, as a recitation hall, which virtually covers what was once the old College, completes, with one or two exceptions to which I shall refer, the housing of the various departments of instruction in the College.

The process began with the erection of Butterfield, completed in the year 1897, at a cost of $85,690, including equipment, out of the bequest of Doctor Ralph Butterfield of the class of 1839, amounting to $134,096. This hall provided for the new departments of Biology and Sociology, and for the removal of the departments of Geology and Mineralogy from Culver.

In 1898, through the gift of Mr. Frank Willis Daniels of the class of 1868, of $34,452, Moore Hall, which had been used by the Chandler School during its history, was entirely reconstructed and made a suitable home for the department of Mathematics, including Graphics.

In 1900 Wilder Hall was erected and the department of Physics, or Natural Philosophy, as formerly known, was removed from Reed Hall. The cost of the building and equipmen of Wilder Hall was $84,000, the gift of Mr. Charles T. Wilder, of Wilder, Vermont, out of a total fund left by him to the value of $169,451.

In 1904 the Tuck Building was completed and equipped at a cost of $121,996, the gift of Mr. Edward Tuck of the class of 1862, —entirely distinct from his previous gift of $500,000 for purposes of instruction. This building provides at present for the departments of History, Economics, and Political Science, as well as for the immediate uses of the Tuck School.

In 1905, through the gift of Mr. Adolph Lewisohn, of New York, Culver Hall was refitted for the uses of the department of Chemistry.

The last group of departments to be properly cared for was the group of Ancient Languages and the Modern Languages, together with Philosophy, Archaeology, and Modern Art. The instructors in these departments have waited patiently during these years of reconstruction for every other department to be provided with a home and equipment. At last they have their reward in the building which stands unique among the buildings of the College for the traditions which it inherits, and, as one may now add, for the beauty of its architectural lines, and for the completeness of its equipment. The amount appropriated from the Dartmouth Buildings Fund, subscribed by the alumni, for the building and equipment of Dartmouth Hall, is $97,500.

Nothing now remains, of immediate necessity, for the proper housing of the departments of instruction, except laboratories for the Biological and related departments. The Biological department has no longer sufficient quarters in the Butterfield Museum, and the Medical Building affords no proper conveniences for the departments of Physiology and Bacteriology. There should be a building or group of buildings for these departments. The work of the College in Biology is very closely related to "the earlier work of the Medical School. The cost of new laboratories to meet the needs of these departments should be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

So far as I am aware, no department of instruction is carrying on its work in the same building in which it was carrying it on-ten years ago, except the departments of Chemistry and Astronomy. And these departments are carrying on their work under substantially new conditions through the reconstruction of Culver Hall -and through the partial use of Wilder Hall for the department of Astronomy. The present buildings which are exclusively for purposes of instruction, are, with the exception named, suitable for a college of, at least, twelve hundred students. In our calculation of the future needs of the College, it is a vast deal to put this material equipment to the credit side of the account.

BUILDINGS AT ONE REMOVE FROM THEDEPARTMENTS OF INSTRUCTION

Passing to the material equipment which represents buildings at one remove from the departments of instruction, and tributary to them all, we have the Chapel, the Library, the Gymnasium, and in immediate prospect Webster Hall.

Rollins Chapel, the gift of the Honorable Edward Ashton Rollins of the class of 1851, was "built in 1885 at a cost of $30,000. Within the past five years the capacity of Rollins Chapel has been increased twice, first by the insertion of a gallery accommodating one hundred and fifty students, and later by the use of the apse accommodating one hundred and fifty students. Rollins Chapel is sufficient for the morning service. For the Vesper service on Sunday it will be necessary to use Webster Hall. Rollins Chapel is supplemented in the religious work of the College by Bartlett Hall, erected in 1890 at an expense of $18,000, from funds raised chiefly by President Bartlett, in honor of whom the building was afterwards named by the Trustees.

The Gymnasium (Bissell Hall) was built in 1867, from the gift of $25,000 of George H. Bissell, Esq., of New York, of the class of 1845. Bissell Hall has, for several years, been insufficient for the uses of a gymnasium. A new gymnasium is urgently called for, to be located near the Athletic Field. By the use of the new building material, reinforced concrete, which would be entirely appropriate for a gymnasium, a new gymnasium of ample proportions, can be built at a cost not exceeding $50,000. Such a building in any other material would cost considerably over $100,000. A new gymnasium is the most pressing need of the College.

The Library (Wilson Hall) was built in 1885 at a cost of $60,000, the gift of Mr. George F. Wilson, of Providence, R. I., through the suggestion of his legal adviser, the Honorable Halsey J. Boardman of the class of 1858. This building, apparently ample at the time of its erection, is now over-crowded. If a new gymnasium is erected, Bissell Hall, adjacent to Wilson Hall, can be taken, for the present, as an overflow building for the uses, of the Library. This arrangement, however, will not preclude the necessity for a new library building within a few years.

Webster Hall,now in process of erection, will be the assembly hall for the College and will be in constant demand for ordinary occasions which bring the College together, as well as for special academic occasions. Webster Hall is being erected upon the site of the Rood House, on the lot given by the Honorable Levi P. Morton, costing $8,000. The balance of the subscription of the Dartmouth Buildings Fund will be applied to the erection of Webster Hall, but its immediate erection has been made possible by the special gift, for the purpose, of $50,000 by the Honorable Stephen Moody Crosby of the class of 1849. The total cost of the building, including land, will be about $120,000.

PROPERTIES TRIBUTARY TO THE WHOLE COLLEGE

Passing now to the material equipment of the College which is more general still, we have, first, the system of waterworks (begun in 1893) held in common with the Precinct. The original cost of the Hanover Water Works was $65,000, of which amount the College furnished $25,000, the Precinct $20,000, and $20,000 was bonded. More recently, the original water works was supplemented by the purchase of the whole watershed from which the water supply is drawn. The system of water works is a most valuable piece of property, making a good return upon the investment and indispensable to the sanitation of the College and village.

In 1898 a College Heating Plant was inaugurated at a cost of $60,000. At the present time twenty-six buildings are heated from this central station, and four more will be added during the present year, when the buildings in the process of erection are completed. The heating plant having proved very successful financially, an electric plant was added in 1905, provision for which had been made in the original building. This addition was made at a further cost of $26,000. The electric light is distributed entirely through conduits, and supplies all the College buildings, but no buildings in the town.

It has been found necessary for the College to do so much of its own work that account should be made of the carpenter-shop and of the store-houses. The actual investment in these properties is small, but a constant force of men is employed under the direction of the Superintendent of Buildings. It is also found economical, as well as practical otherwise, to do considerable work in construction, in addition to the necessary repairs.

In order to secure perfect sanitation the College has built and maintained two systems of sewers. These systems are also available for houses in the village which lie along the route of either one.

THE HOUSING OF STUDENTS

There remains the very important, but distinct, part of the material equipment of the College, involved in the housing of students. In its social life the College is built upon the dormitory system. This is in accordance with the traditions of the College as well as in accordance with the local necessity. The village is utterly unable to meet the growth of the College, but if it were, it would still be necessary to maintain the dormitory system if we are to maintain the democracy of the College. I attribute the unbroken and undiminished spirit of the Dartmouth democracy, to the method of providing for the social life of the students, more than to all other causes except the traditions of the College. There are twelve dormitories now in use, varying in capacity, and in other respects in value, but all in proper sanitary condition. To these are to be added two in the process of construction, North and South Fayerweather, which when completed will make what is known as Fayerweather Row.*

To the system of dormitories is also to be added College Hall, used in part as a dormitory, but set apart chiefly for the uses of the College club and the Commons, and on occasions in all parts for the use of the alumni.

And still further tributary to the social life of the College, the College Inn, as necessary for the friends of the students as College Hall is for the alumni.

From the nature of the case, the dormitory system within any given time is complete according to the demands of the College, that is, the College can be no larger than the dormitory system allows. The village as a source of supply for the social needs of the College is a constant, and has long since been passed in the growth of the College. For or the future, the College can never exceed in numbers the provisions made for its growth by the erection of dormitories. The erection of a dormitory which will accommodate one hundred students, once in two years, has thus far enabled the College to keep pace with its normal growth. Its growth could have been increased by larger provision, but I doubt if any such increase would have been advisable. Thus far, it has been necessary to build dormitories as an investment. It is to be hoped that any of the alumni, who are disposed to give to the College, singly, or in classes, in sufficient sums to represent the value of a dormitory, will consider this as one of the most helpful ways in which the College can be aided. The net income of a dormitory of a hundred men is nearly sufficient to support two professors,†

In considering still further the social life of the College, I call your attention to the needs of the Faculty. In a village the size of Hanover, it is impossible for the Faculty to procure suitable accommodations, either in the way of houses, or in the way of rooms. Partial provision has been made for this lack through the erection, by the Trustees, of comparatively inexpensive houses, or through the remodelling of certain old houses, which are held by the College with a view to ultimate removal to make room for public buildings. A considerable number of the Faculty have built, or are building houses.

The erection of an apartment house, or of a terrace of small houses, or single houses, by any of the alumni, singly, or in a group, would be of very great convenience at the present time. It is becoming very embarrassing to ask a man with a family, or even a single man, to join the Faculty. It is ho longer possible to suggest any suitable place for a permanent, or temporary, home for incoming members of the Faculty.

GAPS IN THE COLLEGE PLANT

To recall the gaps in the College Plant, making plain what is needed for its immediate extension:

First, and most urgently, we need a new gymnasium. I have stated the cost of it at $50,000, if built in concrete. For the location, and for the uses of the building, this material is, on the whole, preferable to brick. A building of ample proportion, say 200 feet by 80 feet, can be erected at this cost.

Second, an administration building, at a cost of $50,000. We are at present using, as you have noticed, the house formerly occupied by President Lord, utilizing every remotest corner of the house and its attachment for administrative purposes. I trust that something of the spirit of the administration of Nathan Lord rests upon the present administration. I greatly desire to see the name of Nathan Lord perpetuated in the administration of the College, and, with this in view, it has been and still is my earnest hope that some man or men among the classes which graduated under President Lord may erect an administration building, in honor of his work, bearing his name.

Third, a building for a biological laboratory, with sufficient capacity to be extended into some of the earlier subjects taught in the Medical School— Physiology and Bacteriology. The cost of such a building not be less than $100,000. Pending the erection of this building, it will be necessary to make temporary arrangement for the biological department, as well as to enlarge the Medical Building, for the present accommodaton of the laboratory work of the Medical School.

I separate from these additions to the College plant, the erection of a library building, because the erection of such a building ought to mark a widening and an advance of the College curriculum. In dealing with a matter so vital and so central in the College development as the library, we cannot allow ourselves to think, even, in small terms. If the library is to be made sufficient for any greatly enlarged uses of the College and for any long 'time we should plan for a building costing not less than $250,000 and for a fund of $250,000 more for the administration and enlargement of the library. Whenever the- time arrives when this becomes practicable the present library building can be used for Art and closely related subjects.

The further erection of dormitories depends upon the policy of the Trustees in regard to the numerical growth of the College. We have reached the limit of the capacity of the College to house its students. The rate of increase, in the future, must be limited to the number or size of the dormitories which the corporation is able, or may think it desirable, to provide. And to any provision to be made for the housing of students, account must be taken of a certain amount of provision, such as I have already described,for the housing of the Faculty. I recall the suggestion already made, to give it emphasis, that any one who desires to help the College in a very direct and essential way can do so by erecting an apartment house or a terrace of small single houses to a limited number, for the use of the Faculty, regarding the outlay as a medium investment.

Beyond these definite additions there is not much to ask for in the way of material equipment for a college of twelve hundred students, unless it is desirable to make provision for a, certain amount of expansion on the social side. The College club can be enlarged from lime to time to good advantage, and the College Inn is already too small to accommodate the patrons of the College. So far, however, as the general working facilities of the College are concerned, they are expressed in the specific objects to which I have referred and, as you will see, those which we need are not large in comparison with those which we already have. The total value of the College plant, including what is now in process of construction, is $1,500,000. The additions proposed, apart from the library, do not exceed $300,000. Additional dormitories must still be regarded as investments, unless they are provided by gift.

There are certain the way of refining the plant, which are being made from time to time, and in the making of some of them I invite the definite co-operation of the alumni. When the grading about Dartmouth Hall is completed nothing could be so fit as a figure of Eleazar Wheelock seated in front of the hall and commanding the College yard. Who among the alumni will present this statue?

When Webster Hall is completed, I hope to see, in the apse, an historical painting, illustrating Mr. Webster's argument for the College, before the Supreme Court of the United States. Who among the alumni will be pre- pared to give the amount for such a painting ?

The College and the Precinct are working together in utmost harmony for the improvement and beautifying of the village. If any alumnus who has, or has not had the opportunity, of late years, of crossing the Connecticut, should carry out the idea, suggested by M. O. Adams, Esq., of replacing the old wooden bridge, which bears the name of John Ledyard, with a new open bridge in concrete, at a cost of $25,000, it would fill the hearts of all residents and visitors with constant joy.

You have had occasion to note day by day through Commencement week how much the peal of bells, the gift of the late William E. Barrett, has added to the occasion. This gift is an example of what I mean by the incidental ways of adding to the attractiveness of the College plant.

THE FINANCIAL STATUS

I am dwelling entirely, at this meeting of the alumni, upon the external development of the College. Another year, I shall speak definitely of its inter. nal development. But to introduce any additional problems at this time would confuse the impression of this statement, and occupy too much time out of the business for which this annual meeting is set.

In most respects the interior development of the College has kept pace with its material growth. I have bad occasion to say, at one or two alumni meetings, that the real strength of the College lies, today, in the Faculty. It is a strong teaching force, equipped both for teaching and for scholarship. With the provision which has been made, and which as outlined, ought to be made, for the material welfare of the College, more time and more money can be given to its strictly educational advancement.

What I have to say further bears directly upon the financial situation of the College. The growth of the College during its past decade has cost the College $150,000, due in part to material improvements. In other words, the annual deficiencies of the College would have reached this amount, had they not been met by the use of funds at the general disposal of the Trustees, which were appropriated to meet these necessities of growth. Early in the process, a reconstruction account was opened and this account called for the expenditure of undesignated funds to the amount to which I have referred. Meanwhile, including the Wentworth property at Lowell ($501,000) which came into use in 1905, the productive funds of the College have been increased by the amount of $1,500,000. And the amount received from tuition has been increased from $15,000 to $90,000. The income from endowments and the income from tuition are about equal. To these two sources of income is to be added the annual appropriation of the State, now reaching $20,000, toward the amount which it costs the College to educate New Hampshire students above any return in tuition or scholarship money. The deficiency of the last year (the Treasurer's report for the present year is not made up) is $7,503.00. This deficiency may be reduced by rigid and in many cases unremunerative economy, but the fact which I wish to impress upon the alumni is that there is a normal deficiency of at least this amount owing to a definite and constant cause. The scholarship funds of the College yield an income of $13,500, including the money derived from the proceeds of the College Grant. The amount allowed the last year is about $20,000. The amount allowed is less than it ought to be. Twenty-five thousand dollars, at least, should be given, every year, in scholarships. The value of individual scholarships is less at Dartmouth than at any other college of its grade. There is no way in which the deficit in this department of the College can be avoided. It ought to be increased. And it ought to be met, not out of the earnings or savings in other departments of the College administration, but through some definite system which will make immediate provision for this want and also tend to supply it permanently. I commend to you, therefore, the scheme which will be proposed later in this meeting by Mr. Hilton. It is known as the Yale System. It has already been adopted literally at Pennsylvania and in some extended way at Princeton. Briefly stated, it is a system through which the alumni are enabled to give, either individually, or by classes, from year to year, toward an alumni fund to be held distinctly in the hands of the alumni and from which appropriations are made either to the current expenses of the College, or to some definite permanent fund. I recommend this proposition, when it comes before you, for your favorable action, for two reasons:

First, it seems to me to be the natural way in which the alumni can aid the College, through some constant and reliable method, and

Second, because it illustrates the principle, as I believe, of the future support of our colleges.

The only money upon which our educational institutions can depend in the future, is interested money, and the persons who are chiefly interested, are the graduates and more immediate friends of individual colleges; and if this interest is not shown during life, it is not apt to appear in any bequest at death. Since my formal, connection with the College, I can recall eight or ten of our graduates, men of large fortune, who have died without any remembrance of the College. No graduate of fortune, who has died within the last ten or twelve years, has made any considerable bequest to the College. lam not speaking in criticism of any one of our graduates who has seen fit to dispose of his money at death in other ways. Even in such a matter as this, I think it is of far more concern to the public how any man makes his money, than how he disposes of it. And judging by this test, so far as know, every one of these graduates .was possessed of an honorable fortune. But the fact-remains, as a suggestion to our living alumni, that if the graduates of the College are to help the College, they must have interest as well as money. A good deal of interest will make a little money go a long way. The aggregate gift of many interested alumni will be large. This hall is a testimony to that fact. Webster Hall, when it is completed, will be another testimony. The beginning has been made. The spirit of giving has begun to take possession of the alumni as a whole. lam very confident that if such a scheme as that proposed by Mr. Hilton can be adopted and put in operation, it will not only wipe out our annual deficit, through scholarships not yet provided for, but that it will continue and enlarge that spirit of practical loyalty which was kindled at the burning of Dartmouth Hall.

*Reproduced in half tone for the BI-MONTHLY.

*Culver Hall was built in 1871, through the gift of. the Honorable David Culver and wife of Lyme, of $25,000, supplemented by an appropriation of $15,000 by the state of New Hampshire.

*The new dormitory planned since. Commencement, and now in the process of erection, makes five.

Add also the new dormitory, referred to before.

†The total amount invested in dormitories is $376,800. Reed, Thornton, and Wentworth do not represent investment.

*The Treasurer's report for the present year, made up July 15, shows a surplus of $2,687.87, but this has been gained by too stringent economy in other departments to overcome the lack in scholarship money.

LOCATION OF THE DARTMOUTH COLLEGE BUILDINGS