THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE 



203 



rivaling Harvard and Columbia in its 

 endowments and standards — which will 

 continue to share with the state insti- 

 tution the educational kadership of 

 the state. Minnesota has no competi- 

 tion; and its situation in a large city 

 and adjacent to the capital of the state 

 gives it certain advantages, especially 

 for its professional schools. It has 

 been more fortunate than other state 

 universities in retaining possession of 

 its land grants and in finding them to 

 be the site of vast mineral resources. 

 Most of all it is happy in the posses- 

 sion of a population of high character 

 and intelligence. 



Historians are likely to describe the 

 epochs of a country's history under 

 the reigning sovereigns, wh?ther these 

 personages have played a significant 

 or an insignificant part in its affairs. 

 Universities are in like manner known 

 by the admin' strations of their suc- 

 cessive presidents. 



Dr. W. W. Folwell was in charge 

 during the infancy of the University 

 of Minnesota, from 1869 to 1884. Dr. 

 Cyrus Northrop has in truly patri- 



archal fashion guided its vigorous 

 youth. Almost his last official act was 

 to welcome thj scientific societies to 

 -\ i..neapol.s. Dr. G. E. Vincent, pro 

 lessor of sociology in the Universi y 

 of Chicago, active in its educational 

 management and in the Chautauqua 

 movement inaugurated by his father, 

 now assumes the presidency. It is 

 difficult to exaggerate the possibilities 

 of the development of the university 

 during his administration. 



All the buildings now on the campus 

 have been erected within the past 

 twenty-five years. In spite of or on 

 account of their varying and somewhat 

 naive styles of architecture they make 

 a pleasing impre^s'on. Folwell Hall, 

 the headquarters for the scientific so- 

 cieties, is a buikiing admirably con- 

 structed fcr class work. Chemistry, 

 physics and the natural sciences have 

 satisfactory buildings, though it is 

 planned to replace or alter them. 

 Extensive groups of buildings are to 

 be erected for the engineering and 

 medical departments. The university 

 has not as yet made use of its posi- 



The Library. 



