The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-11-21
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Oxfsrd, and the University.-ao. >.


We endeavored to show that the pecuniary
welfare Of Oxford and its citizens was closely
connected with, and materially dependent
upon, the success and prosperity of the
University of Mississippi. We showed that
the University brings to Oxford, annually,
not less than 100000, none of which, in
the absence of the University, would ever
have come here. We set down the average
expenditure of each student at $3.50 per an
mum, Which, certainly, is not at all above the
proper mark.
II, therefore, student enters college as
Freshman, and remains until he graduates,
four years thereafter, he viii have expended
$1,000 here during his collegiate course. If
he becomes law student, and remains two
years longer, he will have expended, altogeth-
er, $500, in Oxford. From this view, we
are enabled TO estimate the morey value, so
TO speak, of each individual student, to our
town.
II is not merely. however, through the
money brought here and put in circulation
by its agency, that the University promotes
the pccuniary interest of the town. The pre-
sence here of large body of students, all Of
whom arc tn he fed, lodged and clothed upon
the spot, naturally invites hither large num
Der of other persons, who come 20 make a
livelihood by supplying the wants of the stu
dents. The population of the town is thus
largely increased, and, in consequence, the
town itself becomes larger market thar it
would otherwise have been for all those pro-
e~cts of the soil which enter into the con
sumption of daily life. Every farmer in the
county, who raises any thing for sale, is thus
enabled to obtain higher price for his pro-
ducts. Even though he does not bring his
marketing to town, but sells it in his own
neighborhood, still, he obtains, there, the
benefit ofthat advance in price which is oc-
casioned by the town demand. This, of
course, increases the profit Of the farmer, and
this, in turn, enhances the value of his lands,
and tends to promote the earlier settlement
of all the lands, that are fit for cultivation,
within considerable distance of the town.
In this manner the population of the county
is augmented, and, with this increase of
population, so, in an equal proportion, and
by inevitable consequence, will the trade, and
Importance, and prosperity, OF Oxford be adj
yanced. This double advantage, which town
and county mutually derive from each other,
aud which multiplics ITSELF if we may be al
lowed the expression, by mutual reflection,
may be referred to its origin in the influence
of the University, as readily as a stream,
which spreads fertility and verdure through
a plain, may be traced upward to its source
among the distant hills. We have heard that
some of those who reside, in this county, at
a few miles distance from Oxford, believe
that "thc country people have no interest in
the GRiFegait; !" SSgeh persons, cannot, sure.
ly, have reflected upon the mutual influence
of the town and country upon each other
nor have considered how impossible it is that
either should suffer, or prosper, without at.
fecting the other. If, to day, the University
were blotted out of existence, or removed to
another county, the effect, upon the value Of
property in this county, outside Of the limits
of Oxford, would be disastrous in the ex-
treme. The depreciation of such property
would be measured by hundreds ofthousands
of dollars, while property in the town would
fall to a fourth of its present value.
Again, the University promotes the ma
terial interests of Oxfcrd by bringing here,
as permanent or temporary residents, wealthy
families, who desire either to superintend the
education of their sons, or to share in those
social advantages which Oxford is enabled,
through the influence of the University, to
hold out, as inducements to the intelligent
aud refined, TO come and settle here. To
some extent our population has already re.
ceived accessions of the character Just indi-
Gated and as the reputation of the Univer.
sity extends, and its patronage increases, so
will the town continue to improve, and to
attract, more and more strongly, this desir-
able class of citizens. 1t is well known, in
private circles, here, that there are many
planters of extensive means, in various POI
tions of the State, who intend to establish
their families in Oxford at an early day. Each
of these newcomers, from necessity, almost,
viii have to build a residence. This viii af-
ford employment to our mechanics, and trade
to our merchants. A comparatively small
number of such families dozen or twenty
ofthem-would make, with their dependents
a large addition to the census of our inhabi
tants, and enhance, materially, the prosperity
of the town.
The society of Oxford, at the present day, i:
not Inferior, at least, TO that of any Other
Southern town of equal population. Tho
quantity of it, it is true, is not as great a:
might be desired; but all deficiency in thi.
respect is fully compensated in the matter o
its lality. 1t constitutes, at present, nu
cIeus which is constantly drawing to it othe