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appointed, and Samuel F. Miller was elected professor of mathemat- 

 ics, physics, and civil engineering. He died ranch lamented, Oct. 

 28, 1870. In 1869, $50,000 was appropriated by the state for the 

 further erection of buildings. Henry E. Alvord, U. S. Army, now 

 professor of agriculture, was detailed for duty as professor of mili- 

 tary science and tactics ; the college hall, farm house and barns were 

 built; Hon. William Knowlton, of Upton, afterwards in 1870 elected 

 trustee, and who was otherwise a frequent donor to the college, and 

 who died last year, gaye $2000 for the purchase of the herbarium 

 collected by W. W. Denslow ; and in the same year the first Index, a 

 college paper, was issued. In 1870 the state further appropriated 

 $25,000 for the payment of debts. In 1870 also the first serious 

 attack upon the integrity of the college, as a state college, was made 

 by the passage of a resolve "-That the Secretary of the Board of 

 Education, and the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture be directed 

 to devise a plan, if practicable, by which the college may, without 

 expense to the Commonwealth, be recognized as an independent 

 institution in analogy with other colleges in the Commonwealth, and 

 that they inquire whether the term of study in said college should not 

 be reduced, and report to the next General Court." Rev. Henry W. 

 Parker was chosen professor of mental, moral and social science, and 

 college preacher. In 1871 a legislative resolve allowed $50,000 for pay- 

 ment of debts and current expenses ; added $141.535.35 to the perpet- 

 ual fund of the college ; and ordered 10,000 extra copies of the college 

 report to be printed. The first class numbering 27 was graduated this 

 year on the 19th of July, and two days after, the Agricultural College 

 crew, " the Aggies " won in the intercollegiate regatta in 16 min. 46 1-2 

 sec. Selim H. Peabody was elected professor of mathematics, phys- 

 ics, and civil engineering. Henry J. Clark was elected professor of 

 comparative anatomy and veterinary science, and died July 1, 1873. 

 Miss Mary Robinson presented $1000 for the endowment of a schol- 

 arship. In 1872 Prof. Stockbridge was elected full professor of 

 agriculture. Abner H. Merrill. U. S. A., was detailed professor of 

 military science and tactics in place of Prof. Alvord. In 1873 Noah 

 Cressy was elected professor of veterinary science. Isaac D. Farns- 

 worth donated rhetorical prizes. Hon. William Claflin gave an agri- 

 cultural prize fund, known as the Grinnell agricultural prizes. The 

 Hills botanical prizes, and Prof. Peabody's entomological prize, were 

 given. In 1874 the legislature granted $10,000. Prof. Peabody 

 resigned. Samuel T. Maynard was elected gardener and assistant 



