Of this amount $3,182.10 was paid during the year 1876–77 and used for current expenses, with the understanding that it was to be repaid to the founders' endowment fund at a future date. In this way it was possible to reopen the college in September, 1876, with Rev. E. P. Tenney, A. M., as president, assisted by Winthrop D. Sheldon, A. M., and F. W. Tuckerman. During the frequent absences of the president the work of administration was ably carried on by Professor Sheldon, assisted by Prof. Frank H. Loud, who has been connected with the college from the year 1877 until the present time. During the first year there were 25 students in attendance, of whom 7 were in the preparatory course, 13 in the normal course, and 5 were special students. There were no college students. In the following year there were 66 students in all, of whom 3 were of college rank. In the year 1878-79 there were 5 college students out of a total attendance of 70. During the three years from 1876 to 1879 the work of securing money for the running expenses of the college and for endowment was vigorously carried on by President Tenney, and by the officers of the American College and Educational Society. Nearly 150 different contributors, including churches and Sunday schools, gave in all $23,452.87. In addition, no less than $51,950 was subscribed in various ways, chiefly in aid of the founders' endowment fund. These amounts were paid or promised largely by friends in the East, but the friends of the college in Colorado Springs and elsewhere in Colorado were not less active and generous. The Colorado Springs Company in 1877 deeded to the college the 90 acres of land it had promised in 1873. This land was valued at $55,000. Subscriptions to the amount of $12,329.65 were obtained, mostly in small sums, of which $10,202.52 was paid before July, 1879, mostly in cash, but also in land, coal, lumber, labor, and agricultural produce. A silver mine was one donation. Another was a dollar's worth of butter. Some of these subscriptions had been secured by Professors Haskell and Dougherty several years before and were paid now that the conditions were fulfilled. The Ladies' Centennial College Aid Society, under its efficient president, Mrs. Douglass Ely, contributed not a little to the success of this work. Before July, 1879, the sum of $8,444.31 was spent on the college building, which had been begun on July 4, 1877. On January 25, 1877, a formal agreement was signed between E. P. Tenney, president of Colorado College, J. N. Tarbox, secretary of the American College and Educational Society, and the subscribers to the founders' endowment fund. This agreement in fourteen articles specified the purposes to which the fund might be put, and made certain conditions with regard to religious teaching in the college and the religious and moral character of the members of the faculty. Article 13 provided that in case of failure to comply with the agreement the funds were to revert to the educational society. The founders' endow ment fund, or as much of the subscriptions as was paid, must have been used for the building and for current expenses, for it never became a permanent fund, and the college is not now bound by the above. contract. In connection with the work at Colorado College, the College and Educational Society undertook, in the year 1878, the establishment of academies at Santa Fe and Salt Lake City, thus carrying out the early plans for educational and missionary work among Mexicans and Mormons. Colorado College was to be the center of a wide educational movement in the new West. It was hoped that in time these academies would send students to the collegiate department of Colorado College. Similar academies were later established at Albuquerque and Las Vegas. The courses of study at these academies were to correspond to those in the preparatory and normal departments of Colorado College. The academies at Santa Fe and Las Vegas went down as the public-school system was developed, but those at Salt Lake City and Albuquerque are still under the auspices of the Congregational Education Society, as the parent society is now called. After the year 1879 Colorado College continued to make slow progress for several years. In the year 1880 the central portion of the new college building, for many years known as Palmer Hall, was completed, at a cost of $43,000, and the work of the college began to be carried on there. This building, later enlarged by the generosity of General Palmer, remained the only college building until the erection of Hagerman Hall in 1889. In the year 1881-82 there were 122 students, of whom 9 were of college rank. In the year 1882 the degree of B. A. was conferred upon Parker S. Halleck and Frederick W. Tuckerman. In addition to these degrees, 9 certificates had been given for proficiency in assaying and 1 for proficiency in analytical chemistry since 1876. The system of admitting graduates of accredited high schools to freshman standing was introduced at this time, and the East Denver High School was the first to be placed on the list. At the same time the library was increased from 2,500 volumes to over 6,000 volumes, largely through donations of books, including a considerable collection from the estate of A. E. V. Strettell. Among the departments of the college at this time may be mentioned the Cutler Training School, "designed to fit pupils for special forms of Christian work in the new West." Because of the great mineral resources of Colorado special attention was also given to chemistry, mining, and assaying, under the direction of Prof. William Strieby, E. M. Shortly after this time the college ceased to prosper, despite the enthusiastic efforts of President Tenney. The money intended for endowment was used for current expenses. The college became involved more or less in the real-estate speculations of some of its friends, and presently acquired a debt. In the year 1885 President Tenney's administration came to an end, and a successor was not appointed for three |