428 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



accordingly omitted. (2) In some places the deans of the several 

 colleges in the university receive extra compensation owing to the 

 executive work required of them. They have, however, been included 

 in the averages because their work is entirely within the university and 

 educational in character. This paper aims solely at a discussion of 

 the pecuniary side of the positions in these state universities, aside 

 from that of president, and therefore it seemed fitting to rate the deans 

 with the professors, rather than to make a separate list. 



The noticeable features in the average salary curve are the high 

 points at the years 1896-7 and 1897-8, the sudden drop at 1898-9 and 

 the steady upward trend from that time to the present. An inspection 

 of the tabulated data from which the curves were compiled shows that 

 during the year 1895-6 there were in the eight universities 187 pro- 

 fessors at an average salary of $2,139. In 1896-7 the number increased 

 to 196, but increases in salary raised the average to $2,193. During the 

 next year, 1897-8, the number rose to 202, while the average salary 

 reached $2,202. In the next year, 1898-9, however, something seemed 

 to happen. There appears to be evidence that in some institutions, 

 at any rate, salaries were actually cut. The number of professors 

 reached 224. The average salary fell in four universities, remained 

 constant at a very low mark in one and rose in three. This was the 

 low water mark, for from that lean year to the present there has been 

 a steady increase, the curve being almost a straight line. Great differ- 

 ences are, however, to be noted during this period in the several uni- 

 versities. In four of them, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri, 

 the rate of increase in the average salary is more rapid than that of 

 the general average for the eight. In two of them, Indiana and 

 Minnesota, there is an increase, but at a less rapid rate than the 

 average for all. One of them, Nebraska, increased rapidly during the 

 first three years and then suddenly declined. One of them, Ohio, 

 shows a decline since 1899-1900. Advance reports of the Ohio salary 

 list for 1905-6 show an upward trend, the averages for that year 

 being as follows: professors, $2,200; associate professors, $1,580; and 

 assistant professors, $1,347. In 1898-9 the average salary was $2,106. 

 At present, 1904-5, it is $2,315. 



This period of seven years, beginning with 1898-9 and ending with 

 the present academic year, is peculiarly suited to a study of the salary 

 question. During this period, times in general have been good and 

 the universities themselves have prospered, as an inspection of Plate 

 I. will show. The time embraced is sufficiently long to warrant gen- 

 eral conclusions, and it is therefore reasonable to suppose that what- 

 ever changes may have taken place may be looked upon as more 

 nearly normal than in the preceding period. 



It is gratifying to note that the average salary has increased in 

 a substantial manner, it being now practically ten per cent, more 



