22 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Our volunteer fire ilepartmcnt consists of twelve young men, six for each 

 line of hose. They drill one hour a day for three days per week. This 

 work is taken in place of military drill and is under the direction and care 

 of ^Ir. Thomas Gunson. 



In our power house a large pump is kept in readiness for fire emergencies 

 and our water system is so arranged as to be readily connected with the 

 river. On this occasion a water pressure of 150 pounds was immediately 

 at the service of the fire department. But in the secret hours of the night 

 the fire had made such headway that with all this equipment at hand, it 

 was impossible to check it. Every precaution was taken to guard against 

 accidents to students and it is a pleasure to record that no one was injured. 



A few weeks before this fire, all the students had been given explicit in- 

 structions as to the location of the fire escapes. This precaution was well 

 taken as many of them had to feel their way in the dark and smoke through 

 the hallways. 



Immediately after the fire, a student relief fund was raised. It was in- 

 tended at first to distribute this money among students wlio had lost their 

 clothing and books in the fire. It seemed, however, to be the desire of the 

 students that the money be loaned to them with the expectation that it 

 be returned after they were through college. About $1,100 was contrib- 

 uted to this fund, of which amount $297.25 was contrilnited by Lansing 

 friends and $490.00 from Book Buying Association, and will be used as 

 a basis for a student loan fund which will be tised in aiding worthy stu- 

 dents. It is to be hoped that alumni and others who desire to help a worthy 

 cause, will contribute liberally to this fund. 



STATE AID. 



In addition to our regular appropriation of one hundred thousand annu- 

 ally from the state, the last legislature made the following appropriation: 



$9,000 for Xorthern Peninsula Experiment Station. 



$20,000 for experim.ental work in live stock. 



$15,000 for new barn and moving and repairing old ones. 



$55,000 for new dormitory. 



$115,000 (estimated). This amount is apjiropriated by the removal for 

 two years of the limit on the one-tenth mill fund and will be used for the 

 erection and equipping of an additional building. 



GRADUATING CLASS. 



Seventy-five young men and women were graduated on June 21, twenty- 

 three from the Agricultural Course; twenty-four from the Women's Course; 

 twenty-six from the Mechanical Course; one from the Course^ in Forestry, 

 and one received the Master's Degree in course. In appreciation of the 

 high standing each in his respective field of labor and also of the great ser- 

 vice rendered to this institution, the honorary degree of D. Sc. was con- 

 ferred upon Dr. William James Beal who for thirty-four years has held the 

 chair of botany in this institution, and Professor A. J. Cook of Pasadena 

 College, California, who for twenty-seven years Avas professor of zoology 

 and entomology in this college. 



The Baccalaureate sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. B. Jennings, D. 1)., 

 pastor of the first Presbyterian Church of Detroit. The commencement 

 address was given by the Honorable Charles E. Townsend, Member of Con- 



