however, Congress granted $3,000 per annum for five years for the salaries and incidental expenses of the institution, and provided for the free admission of deaf and dumb or blind children of men in the military or naval service of the United States. In 1859 a substantial brick building, erected by Mr. Kendall at a cost of $8,000, was added to the resources of the institution, and in 1860 the funds were increased by $4,000 by a transfer of the invested moneys of the Washington Manual Labor School and Male Orphan Asylum, an organization that had never undertaken to realize the objects of its foundation, and that now sought an efficient means of carrying out the trust imposed upon it. The income of this fund has been used to promote industrial education, and in 1862 a cabinet shop was established. In 1862 Congress practically assumed the support of the institution. The appropriation for the payment of salaries and incidental expenses was increased to $4,400, and $9,000 was appropriated to build, furnish, and fit up two additions to the buildings. The pupils at this time numbered 41, of whom 35 were deaf-mutes, and 6 were blind. During the succeeding year a gas plant and steam-heating apparatus were supplied at a cost to the Treasury of $3,720. In 1864 the institution took a long step forward, both in the scope of its instruction and also in its equipment. By the act of April 8 the board of directors were empowered "to grant and confirm such degrees in the liberal arts and sciences to such pupils of the institution, or others, who, by their proficiency in learning, or other meritorious distinction, they shall think entitled to them, as are usually granted and conferred in colleges, and to grant to such graduates diplomas or certificates sealed and signed in such manner as said board of directors may determine, to authenticate and perpetuate the memory of such graduation." If the distinguish ex-officio patron of the institution, President Abraham Lincoln, read the act before he signed it, he must have been amazed at the style of the English Congress used to make a college out of a school; but confused phraseology could not impede the manifest destiny of the Columbia Institution as conceived by its indefatigable superintendent. Three months after having opened the way to higher education Congress appropriated $26,000 "for the purchase of a tract of improved land, containing about 13 acres, bordering on Boundary street, of the city of Washington, and adjoining the lot now belonging to the institution, to enable it to instruct the male pupils in horticulture and agriculture, and to furnish sites for mechanic shops and other necessary buildings." To this was added $3,200 to supply Potomac water; and the allowance for salaries and expenses was increased to $7,500. In anticipation of these appropriations of July 2, the department for the higher education of the deaf was publicly inaugurated on June 28, and subsequently became known as the National Deaf-Mute College. 1Act of June 13, 1860. |