R. T. Bray, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, 1893; William A. Banks, A. M., assistant professor of languages and English, 1894; George T. Bartlett, U. S. Army, professor of military science,

1894.

SALARIES OF PROFESSC RS.

The salaries of professors were at first $2,250 each and that of the presidents $2,500 up to the election of President Ross, when the salary was made $3,500. By subsequent action the pay of a professor was reduced to $1,800 and eventually to $1,500. In 1883 it was made $1,800, and subsequently, $2,000; and in 1888, when the agricultural experiment station was established, the salary of three of the professors was again raised to $2,250 each and that of the director of the station was fixed at $3,000.

This last increase was rather inopportune, since it had the appearance of a "division of the spoils," among at least a part of the faculty not connected with the station, from the Congressional appropriation, and brought down upon the heads of the board of directors and college authorities bitter denunciations from the press.

VALUE OF PROPERTY.

The latest inventory of the college and station property shows a valuation of $403,353, including $48,320 for 416 acres of land, and for the main college building $100,000; mess hall, $25,000; Gathright Hall, $38,500; Pfeuffer Hall, $11,500; Austin Hall, $11,000; Ross Hall, $20,000; Assembly Hall, $27,500; and, additional, for equipments, $53,167, including $17,184 for the agricultural department.

ROARD OF DIRECTORS.

By legislative act, April 17, 1871, the management of the college was subject to the laws governing what is known as "An act to establish the University of Texas." Subsequently, March 9, 1875, the board of directors was made to consist of the governor of the State, lieutenant-governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and six directors, one to be chosen from each Congressional district. Under this act the first board of directors was as follows: Governor Richard Coke, president; Lieutenant-Governor R. B. Hubbard; T. R. Bonner, speaker of the house; and Hon. E. B. Pickett, of Liberty, First district; Hon. Charles De Morse, Clarksville, Second district; Hon. I. H. Graves, Collin County, Third district; Hon. B. H. Davis, Bryan, Fourth district; Hon. C. S. West, Austin, Fifth district; Hon. F. S. Stockdale, Sixth district; William Falconer, Bryan, secretary of board.

Of this board, C. S. West resigned and Hon. A. J. Peeler, of Austin,

was appointed November 13, 1876; B. F. Graves resigned and T. M. Scott was appointed November 29, 1876. The next election took place by the legislature March 10, 1879, at which time Hon. E. B. Pickett was reelected from First district; H. W. Lyday, from Second; J. K. Dixon, Third; J. W. Durant, Fourth; A. J. Peeler, Fifth, and George Pfeuffer, Sixth district.

H. W. Lyday resigned November 24, 1880. Speaker Guy M. Bryan succeeded T. R. Bonner. J. K. Dixon resigned November 24, 1880, and T. M. Scott was appointed his successor. B. H. Davis resigned and J. D. Thomas was appointed. J. D. Thomas resigned and W. R. Cavitt was appointed by Governor Ireland.

The act of March 9, 1875, was amended March 30, 1881, making the board to consist of five members, appointed by the governor of the State from different sections of the State. Under the new law the governor appointed Messrs. E. B. Pickett, J. G. Garrison, C. C. Wiggin, T. M. Scott, and George Pfeuffer, who was chosen president of the board. Subsequently, J. D. Thomas, W. R. Cavitt, George M. Dilley, and C. C. Garrett, A. J. Rose, J. D. Fields, John Adriance, J. B. Long, C. W. Bowman, David A. Paulus, L. L. Foster, and John E. Hollingsworth were appointed. Major Rose was president.

The board as now constituted are: F. A. Reichardt, president; William R. Cavitt, secretary; George C. Pendleton, F. P. Holland, Charles Rogan, and Jeff Johnson, ex officio, as State commissioner of agriculture.

DEATH OF PRESIDENT ROSS.

Since these data were furnished the president of the college at Bryan, ex-Governor L. S. Ross, died January 3, 1898, and it was not until in June, after several ineffectual attempts, that the board of directors finally selected Hon. L. L. Foster as his successor. Adjt. Gen. W. H. Mabry at each meeting received the votes of three of the six members of the board up to about the time he was commissioned by Governor Culberson and served as colonel of the First Texas Regiment of Infantry in the late war with Spain, in which service he died in Cuba. As his corps commander, Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, characterized him, he was "a splendid citizen and soldier." His friends in the college were so determined in his behalf that he would probably have been elected president of the college had he not entered the volunteer army. President Foster had been in the service of the State for many years, nearly up to the time of his appointment as president of the college. He had besides several years' experience as a newspaper editor and proprietor. In political service he had been a member of the legislature for several sessions, speaker of the house, and subsequently a member of the State railroad commission, in all which posi

tions he had acquitted himself very satisfactorily as an able and indefatigable worker.

The following resolutions were adopted by the faculty January 11, 1898, touching the death of President Ross:

Sensible of our great loss, and that of the institution, in the death of President Lawrence Sullivan Ross, and believing that, great as he was in the field of war and in the halls of state, he was no less great as a college administrator, and probably even more useful in that capacity, we adopt the following resolutions:

Resolved, That while the State may justly mourn the soldier and the statesman, we alone fully know how much the moral worth of his character will be missed in every part of this school; how well qualified he was, in every way, to impress upon the youths intrusted to his care the beauty of a life consecrated to noble aims and high ideals;

That, while thanking God that he was spared to do so great a work here, we lament that he should have been taken from this work at a time when his efforts were meeting with such success;

That we wish to record our profound conviction that to the quiet influence of his presence and example have been largely due the successful united efforts of the faculty, the orderly and studious conduct of the student body, and the good reputation of the institution;

That to his untiring efforts and well-directed energy the college is largely indebted for the many material improvements that have taken place during his administration, making these seven years an unexampled period of continuous growth and prosperity; That we have a high sense of regret, which will grow upon us day by day, for the loss of his genial presence and his wise and kindly counsel; and that in token of our sorrow for his loss and respect for his memory, in addition to the resolution already passed to wear the badge of mourning for thirty days, be it further

Resolved, That a page in our minutes be devoted to his memory, and that these resolutions be inscribed upon the minutes, and a copy of them be sent to the bereaved family, with the assurance of our heartfelt sympathies.

From minutes of meeting of board of directors, January 17, 1898: Whereas Gen. L. S. Ross, the most worthy president of this college, departed this life on Monday, the 3d day of January, 1898, in the sixtieth year of his life; and Whereas respect for the dead and regard for the living, as well as the emotions of our own hearts, require from this board of directors, who knew him best, an official expression: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the board of directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas:

First. That we profoundly regret the death of Gen. L. S. Ross, the worthy president of this college.

Second. That his death is an irreparable loss not only to the college but to the people of the entire State.

Third. That the character of General Ross is a model which we gladly commend to the emulation and imitation of the students of this college and the young men of the State.

Fourth. That we gladly, yet mournfully, lay upon his grave the tribute of our profound respect, admiration, and love by expressing our opinion that his character happily combined those elements which constitute the good man, the good citizen, and the wise, honest, and conscientious public servant.

Fifth. That in every position and relation of life he was loved, honored, and trusted, and that his departure has left in our hearts a grief which time can not efface.

Sixth. That the secretary of the board be instructed to forward to Mrs. L. S. Ross and her family a copy of these resolutions, and to tender to her, in the name of the board of directors, our sincere sympathy in her great affliction and our best wishes for her future happiness.

Seventh. That a copy of these resolutions be spread at length on the minutes of this book.

GEORGE C. PENDLETON,
CHAS. ROGAN,

W. R. CAVITT,

Committee.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT FOSTER.

[From report of directors to the governor.]

On the 3d of January, 1898, the president, ex-Governor L. S. Ross, under whose wise, conservative, and judicious administration the college had continually grown in usefulness and popularity since his inauguration on the 2d day of February, 1891, was suddenly called to his reward. After his death the administration of its affairs devolved on Prof. R. H. Whitlock, who was elected president pro tem., and who conducted the institution with eminent satisfaction to the close of the session.

In June last the Hon. L. L. Foster was chosen president of the college, and assumed charge of the office on July 1.

Notwithstanding the changes through which the institution passed during the session and the excitement in the public mind incident to the war with Spain, which manifested itself in the college, good order and discipline were maintained among the students, and the year's work was eminently successful.

The present session opened with a larger attendance than ever before, and many students were turned away for lack of dormitory room to accommodate them. The enrollment to the date of this report has reached 391, which exceeds the number matriculated during any previous year in the history of the college. Some of the number failed on entrance examination, but many were turned away because they could not be accommodated. We have no means of knowing how many contemplated entering the college but were kept away by the president's announcement, made through the daily papers on the opening day, that the college was then full and unable to accommodate any additional students, yet we know of many more who would have come but for this notice. For the fifth time in succession the president has been compelled to publish a similar announcement at the beginning of the session. The urgent necessity for the enlargement of the facilities of the college and its thorough and complete equipment for the work in which it is engaged can hardly be more forcibly presented that by stating these facts. That those who have been turned away from the college are as much entitled to share in the benefits it confers, as those who are here, is an incontrovertible fact. They pay taxes to support the institution, and it is their right, in common with others, to enjoy its educational advantages.

COLLEGE TAX SUGGESTED.

We beg to call your special attention to the suggestion made in the president's report that a certain portion of the taxes levied for general revenue purposes annually be set apart for the support and maintenance of this college. A fixed income is, in our opinion, necessary to the steady growth of the college, and if provided by the means suggested would settle the question of appropriations permanently. We therefore indorse the suggestion and commend it to the favorable consideration of the executive and legislative authorities as a satisfactory solution of the problem of maintaining the institution and providing for its future growth and development.