years thereafter. Instruction was carried on by the faculty during that time, and by the efforts of its friends the college was gradually being relieved of the burden of debt. In the year 1885-86 the faculty numbered 9 in all. There were 55 students, 6 of whom were in college classes. In the year 1888 there were but 28 students, of whom only 3 were of college rank. The 20-acre campus had been sold for debt, though it was afterwards redeemed. The tax debt amounted to about $3,700. There was no endowment and no money for college purposes. The annual expenses were about $8,500, and were defrayed largely by money raised in the East by the financial agent, Prof. George N. Marden. Such was the condition of the college when President William F. Slocum entered upon his duties on October 1, 1888. Yet the situation was not without hopeful features. The people of Colorado Springs were interested in the college; there were generous friends in the East; there was a capable financial agent, and the new president was a man of energy and financial ability. A vigorous policy was at once inaugurated. The tax debt of $3,700 was paid off, and the pre ident's house was purchased in 1888. From friends east and west pledges were secured to meet the current expenses for a period of three years. Within two years a cash endowment of $100,000 was obtained from friends in Colorado. In April, 1889, the Woman's Educational Society was formed by the ladies of Colorado Springs, with Mrs. William F. Slocum as president, and its membership was soon over 100. The purpose of this society was to give pecuniary assistance to young women attending the college, and also to raise funds for a girls' hall or residence. The society was most enthusiastic and successful in its work, and in the year 1891 the girls' residence, Montgomery Hall, was completed, free of debt. In 1889 Hagerman Hall was erected at a cost of $18,000 as a dormitory and clubhouse for young men. In the following year the library was increased to about 7,000 volumes, and the Rice and Curran scholarships were established by gifts of $700 and $1,000. In addition to these improvements in financial matters corresponding improvements were made in the college and preparatory courses. The preparatory school was reorganized and given the name of Cutler Academy, after Henry Cutler, one of the early friends of the college. The preparatory course was lengthened to four years. In the college proper the courses were revised and extended and an effort was made to maintain as high a standard as in Eastern colleges, like Yale and Amherst. A number of elective courses were also introduced. The faculty was in 1890 increased to 13 members, and in addition to the work of the regular staff public lectures were from time to time given by prominent educators. On January 22, 1890, was founded the Colorado College Scientific Society for "the discussion of recent scientific results, the promotio among its members of scientific inquiry and investigation, and the publication of the more important papers read at the meetings.' Since the formation of this society nine volumes of Colorado College Studies have been published' and a tenth is about to be issued. In the year 1891 a gymnasium was erected, largely through the efforts of the students. In September, 1892, a telescope of 4-inch aperture was presented to the college by Henry R. Wolcott, of Denver. In the following year was begun the erection of the Wolcott Observatory, which was completed in June, 1894, at a cost of about $3,000. In the year 1892 N. P. Coburn, of Newton, Mass., gave $50,000 for a college library. At first it was intended to use only $35,000 for a building and to invest the remainder as endowment for the purchase of books. It was afterwards decided to spend the whole amount on the building, which was completed early in 1894 at a total cost of $53,900. At that time there were in the library about 9,000 volumes and 1,000 pamphlets. The building is of red sandstone, of great architectural beauty, and well adapted to its purpose. The hall in the basement has since been used for the daily chapel services and for public lectures. It is intended ultimately to use it as a stack room. In the year 1893 Rev. Charles Ray Palmer, D. D., of Bridgeport, Conn., established a library purchasing fund of $2,500, to be called "The Alfred Barnes Palmer Library Fund." In March, 1894, university extension work was inaugurated. Courses in geology were given by Professor Surls, and in the duties and privileges of citizenship by Professor Hall, while popular lectures on scientific subjects were delivered by President Slocum and by Professors Cajori, Cragin, and Strieby. Since that time a good deal of this work has been done in Colorado Springs and elsewhere, and at present the scope of the work is being considerably enlarged. In 1894 the conservatory of music was established, and the department of fine arts. From 1893 to 1897 Colorado College was chiefly interested in raising the endowment known as the Pearsons' fund. It originated in an offer made by Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago, in the autumn of 1892, and first announced in Colorado Springs in January, 1893. Dr. Pearsons offered to give $50,000 to the college provided that an additional sum of $150,000 should be raised within two years. It was originally intended to use one-half of the total sum in building a science hall, but it was afterwards decided to use the entire amount for endowment. Before June, 1893, some $30,000 was subscribed, but just then occurred the panic of that year, which prevented much progress toward raising the proposed endowment. During the three years following the panic the college was not a little embarrassed for lack of funds. The total expenditure was about $26,000. The income from |