New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-04
TIE CORyELL UyTVERsTTY.

/ State Of New-York who has b come known, and
| whose name has become almost household word, By
reason Of having devoted large portion Of his great
wealth to the cause Of Free Popular Education. The
same untring energy and the same unselfsh ambi-
! tion which gave Ezra Cornell biz fortune are now
being devoted to the establishment and development
! of what may become within the lifetime of our
younger the greatest University in the world.
For the purpose of giving our readers full under
standing OF the inception and progress of this mag
nfcent enterprise, we propose to begin with the first
great STEP the Congressional Land Grant, and follow
/ il down 10 the present time. ..
In July 1862, Congress made an appropriation OF
public lands the several States for the encourage
iInent Of Agricultural and Mechanical Education.
Thirty thousand ion each of her thirty-three
members of Congress gave New York 800 900 acres of
land which required to be sold and the proceeds
to be invested as permanent fund.- the income OF
which shall be devoted to the maintenance OF an lnst
| tuition in which the teaching OF the AGRICULTURAL
and MECHANIC ARTS shall be prominent feature.
| The Legislature of 1863 designated the PEOPLES
! COLLEGE at Havana, as the Institution TO which the
avals of the Land Grant Income should be devoted.
upon certain conditions and requirements designed to
insure results commensurate with the spendor of the
| gift. Those conditions not performed, as had
been anticipated and satisfactory guaranty OF their
ulfllment in the future could be obtained The Re
gents of the University made an investigation. and
| reported to the Legislature to this effect.
| In the Autumn of 1864, Ezra Cornell proposed TO
| the Trustees of the New-IOrk State Agricultural
| College located at Ovid Seneca County then closed
| in consequence of financial embarrassment, that ii
they would dispose OF their Ovid property to the best
| advantage, procure an appropriation OF the Land
Grant Fund and locate their Institution at Ithaca
he would endow it with q fund of $780, 600. For the
consideration of this proposition meeting was called
at Albany during the Legislative session oil leo9 con-
sisting of the Trustees of the State Agricultural
College, aud leading friends OF Agricultural and
Mechanical Education from different sections oil the
i A. &k,c Nv
increased his offer from 100000 to $4,000 and 1t
was decided that instead of trying to galvanze the
old Agricultural College, new Institution should De
established and that it should bear the name OF the
generous founder. Accordingly committee was APP
pointed to prepare bill for the action of the Legsa.
ture which became law after severe struggle, and
to which the following amendment was added by the
Legislature:
unless within six months from the passage OF tins act saa
Cornell Of Ithaca shall TO the Trustees OF Gene
College located at Lima, IN this State As sH OF IeH
see Ds iOT tSs P1Tp1se q IN ''a
Magnanmous Legislature : EZRA CORNELL might
give TO the State half million dollars to found Uni
yersity TO the support Of which the income OF the
Land Grand Fund might be devoted, Prorided fur
Tier" that he would pay S25 600 for the privilege OF
doing it, and he must do it ribn siI month' too.
There are persons who pretend to say that this was
the most dlsgraceful act which the Newly OTk Legs
laure ever committeeman when that Is sald we can
not conceive what more is needed. Some Of his best
trends advised FIR. cornell 10 reject lhcSc
nous conditions aud use bis means Tor other purposes.
But no; EZRA CORNELL meyer goes backward. lie
had conceived the idea Of founding an Institution
which should in little time take its place at the head
of the educational interests OF the Empire State and
he hopes TO live it become the great University
Of America He paid Genesee College S25,O0O
within six months" and then he was permitted 20
put half million into the hands OF the Trustees Of
the Cornell University The Trustees believing they
were 10 commence "job" which should last through
AZ nd 9th W
determined unanimously 10 keep Mr.. Cornells bali
million whole, and use its annual income SJO,OOO
for the purposes Of building, believing that ~ years
income would give them more end better buildings
than could DO procured by the use OF the principal
The Trustees have apparently discovered the very
happy ides-which certainly ought to be patened-oi
spending their money and having il LEFT
The Trustees have contracted Tor the erection OF
the first dormitory building 10 be completed by the
1st day Of July next, which is now being erected
tho farm OF 200 adjoining the village Of It'll
AGA, which Senator Corpe has presented 70 the Inst
fulton in addition 10 his endowment. The building
is to be OF stone four stories beside the basement 80
by 65 feet in sze and TO cost $Je 42J. The whole
plans embrace dozen or more noble buildings. ~
which this is the first, and II IS expected that ne"
building will be added every year until the wants OF
the Institution are satisfied
The ate ia Of surprising beauty. plateau over
800 feet above the level Of Cayuga Lake bordered on
one side by the Cascadila and on the other ny fai
Creek gives noble place for the buildings ana orna-
mental grounds Back Of these If the great Conege
Farm aud on either side rayines rocks, ana ias
Of water, combining not less beautifully than those al
Trenton.
In front stretching far to the right as eye can reach
are the beautiful waters of Lake Cayuga-dTectly IN
ftont ia the tidy and thriving village OF Ithaca It's spires
and tower rising amid masses Of folage--and to the
left sweeps bold range Of bills, diversified by groves
and cultivated fields and dotted with arm.houses,
closing in the whole scene as With the walls OF an
amphtheater IL is seat worthy the ideal which II
IL believed Mr. Cornes munifeence viii make real.
The low price which the land scrip commands In
the market In consequence Of the immense quantity
offered by the several States, together with The oper-
alton of the Homestead Law, has induced Mr.. Cor
nell 10 undertake the location OF these public lands Tor
the benefit of the University. he has already located
In Wisconsin and Minnesota 300 900 acres and expects
TO continue the location of the balance as last as II
can be done intellectually He Is obliged to purchase the
scrip Of the State and in addition give collateral sc.
cury that the svais and profit Of the enterprise shall
be paid over to the Institution This operation promises
the most brilliant results some of the land located
within the present year, being already sought for at
O. per acre. and the agents in charge advise against
selling as yet Senator Cornell confidently predicts
that in less than twenty years the Cornell University
will be possessed OF an endowment OF at least ~ OO0'
900, and he hopes that 1t may reach s5,oO0O0O.
And all to be devoted TO the education of the
sons OF the farmers aud mechanics OF the state OF
Eew-Yorki When we reflect what has been the
growth Of Yale College from its almost insignificant
beginning to its present greatness we are lost IN the
contemplation of what may result from so grand and
promising an undertaking as the CoRNELL UEIvBR-
siTY Hew-York has many eminent sons whom she
delights TO honor; but there Ia not one among them
more worthy Of the affection aud admiration OF her
people than EZRA CORNELL. -. -.e
.r .