258 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



general in character, and there was no institution planned and 

 arranged with distinct reference to mining and metallurgy as its 

 main subjects. Mr. Egleston, as he was then known, saw and felt 

 this lack, and planned to supply it. 



There is not space here to detail the circumstances under which 

 he was led to prepare, in 1863, the Plan for a School of Mines in 

 iN'ew York; but the modest little outline then dra^vn up and printed 

 has been exceedingly rich in results. It was taken up with interest 

 by certain leading trustees of Columbia College, as it was then called, 

 especially by the late George T. Strong. The president, the late 

 Dr. Charles King, and a majority of the board, favored the experi- 

 ment, for so it was regarded, and arrangements were finally made 

 to begin it in the autumn of the next year, in limited quarters in 

 the old college building on Forty-ninth Street, and with provision 

 for but a small number of students — not over twenty. Part of the 

 instruction was to be given by members of the existing college fac- 

 ulty; and three new professors were appointed to special chairs for 

 the school, to be compensated wholly by fees therefrom. These were, 

 Professor Egleston, mineralogy and metallurgy; Prof. Francis Vin- 

 ton, mining engineering; and Dr. C. F. Chandler, chemistry. 



Meanwhile, in June, 1864, President King was succeeded by the 

 late Dr. Barnard, whose strong interest in science made him a warm 

 supporter of the school. Already some prominent people were im- 

 pressed with the value of such a movement, and disposed to aid it. 

 A fine collection of minerals was purchased and presented by Mr. 

 Strong, and another was given by Mr. Gouverneur Kemble. 



On the opening day, November 15, 1864, the number of appli- 

 cants was far beyond expectation and provision; the school was 

 found to respond to a need and a demand that had not been sus- 

 pected; it was a success from the first. In a year or two it had 

 become an institution of recognized importance; ample quarters were 

 provided for it in a large building, formerly a manufactory, on the 

 Fourth Avenue side of the college block, and important additions 

 were made to its corps of instructors — particularly the eminent ge- 

 ologist, Dr. J. S. ISI'ewberry, of Cleveland, Ohio, whose noble geo- 

 logical collection was deposited and used in the School of Mines, 

 and whose breadth and power and personal magnetism so profoundly 

 influenced scientific interest and progress in the city of New York 

 for more than twenty years. 



Such was the beginning of the school; its career has been one 

 of unbroken growth and increasing influence. After some ten years 

 it was found needful to take down the phiin old transformed factory 

 and erect a new building on its site, with larger space and improved 

 facilities. Fifteen years later Columbia College was removed to its 



