The Campus In 1846

Through tbe kindness of Mrs. Chapin, we have been handed a copy of the Michinan Argus and True Democrat of July 16, 1846, which contains the following interesting articles on the University of Michigan: This infant State Institution is growing yearly in the confldence of the public and in the promise of future usefulness. Already the large building erected for the use of the students, is entirely inadequate to the wants of those who apply for admission. Students who should be accomtnodated in tbe building with rooms in which to sxudy and lodge, are obliged to seek for sucli accommodations in private houses in the village. Another building as large as the one now in use would be tilled, we have no doubt, by the time it could be completed. Wesee that the beautiful enclosed groundsoccupied by this institution are now used as a farm. This is notas it should be. These grounds should be put into a state for the future use of the institution, and with a view to make them desirable as a place of study and meditation. Ere this, there should have beeu planted out two rows of shade trees entirely around the enclosure, one on the outside and one on the inside of the present fence, about twenty feet distarit therefrom. In the center, a fruit garden, containing every variety of choice fruit for summer and winter use should be planteó for the use of the professors and students, whose business it should be to cultívate and preserve them. A small appropriation on the part of the regents with proper incentives offered to the students, would soon accomplish all that would be necessary to make these grouuds not only usef ui but ornamental. The bleak winds and stormsof winter now sweep over this place as over a sandy desert, with not a tree or shrub scarcelv to break their force. In summer the hot suns and the bare ground render them anything but a place of study or quiet retreat. ,In a few years, the locust tree which grows with so much rapidity could be made to protect the whole of these beautiful grounds from the scorching suns of summer and afford some little protection from the bleak winds of winter. Why is it that something is not done to make this place as it should beV How much fruit would be pennitted to ripen on the campus now, should it be turnee! into a fruit garden? Then as now the University was pressed for room. In f act it never had more room than it could use. But the article above gives ns a good view of the campus as it then looked. One of the present wings of the main building constituted the University buildings surrounded by a le vel forty acres without trees or shrubs. Such was the campus in 1346.