The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-02

TWVG6TTNeTTS HTHUTTIO
telegraph, have rendered him the wealthiest
man in central New York. With q large
share OF the fortune he thus acquired he is
now erecting at Ithaca a palatial residence,
which is to cost the prinoely sum Of $400, 900.
de has, at an expense Of $4,000, founded
public library in Ithaca, which is already
stocked with books and in operation. In
addition to this he has expended $4,000 in
locating lands for the State. But the most
munifcent undertaking in which he has en-
gagged is the endowment Of the institution of
learning which has received his name.
For this enlightened purpose, two or three
years ago he gave the sum of $500, 600 as a
general permanent fund, together with $25, 900
as a special fund, $4,000 for a cabinet and
books and site containing $50 acres of land,
worth $25, 900 more. The total amount which
the University has received from him is there
fore 1858, 600. One building has already been
erected for the use of the institution at cost of
100000; but the entire expense of this has
been betrayed out of the accumulated interest,
without encroaching upon the principal of the
endowment. Before Mr.. Cornell could obtain
charter for his projected University, he was
compelled to submit to the extortion of several
members of the State Legislature who hap
pened to hold the balance Of power. Through
their influence, the charter was coupled with
condition that Mr.. Cornell should give $25, 900
to Genesee College. This amount he paid over;
bill refunding him the amount out of the
public purse.
AS the first step towards the organization of
the University, the Trustees elected to the
Office of President the Hon. Andrew D. White,
LII. d., member of the State Senate from
Onondaga county. Senator White is a gradu-
ate of Yale College, an accomplished scholar
and writer, especially on historical subjects,
and for several years held the Professorship
of History and English Literature in the Uni
versity OF Michigan. On the 2lst of October,
1856, committee on organization, presided
over by Senator White, presented to the
Board of Trustees of the University an elabo-
rate report, embodying the outline of the pro-
jected institution. The scope of the Univer-
sty is clearly set forth in the following extract
from this report
"The theory on which the committee have
based their plan IL that throughout the national
and State legislation preparatory to the esta-
blishment OF the institution, and also through
out the Ideas of the founder of the Cornell Uni
versiJy, as explained to US by himself, are two
leading convictions as to the educational needs
oil the country, and two corresponding ideas as
TO meeting these needs. Each of these convic-
tions, and It's corresponding idea, is separate
and distinct, yet each necessary to the other.
The first of these convictions is that there exists
necessity, never yet fully met, for thorough
education in various spec al departments, and,
among them, the science and practice of agri-
culture, industrial mechanics and kindred de.
partments OF thought and action. The cores
ponding praHtical idea is that institutions be
founded where such instruction can be CON
Quoted with every appliance necessary in dis
covering truth and in dlffusing truth; that such
instruction be not subordinated to any other;
that the agricultural aud industrial professions
be regarded as the peers Of every other; that
access 10 these departments be opened as widely
as possible and progress in them be pushed as
1.-The second OF these convictions is that the
| system OF collegiate instruction now dominant
number and perhaps the majority OF those
| who desire an advanced general education; that
J although there are great numbers of noble men
doing noble work in the existing system 1T has
| devoted its strength and machinery mainly TO
comparatively few euter heartily; that where
more latitude in study has been provided for
all courses outside the single traditional course
| have been considered to imply lower caste in
those taking them that the higher general edu-
| cation has therefore lost its hold upon the ma
jority of the trusted leaders of society; that it
! mas therefore become underesti mated and dis
| trusted by majority of the people at large;
and that therefore it is neglected by majority
OF our young men of energy and ability. The
corresponding practical idea is that colleges Of
| be insisted upon for all alike; that various
combinations of studies be provided to meet
senting a general course to meet that general
'oant which existing colleges fail to satisfy"
With the object of forwarding the views
here set forth, the Special Sciences and Arts
will be divided between the nine following
Departmental. Agriculture; 2. The Me-
chanical Arts; 8. Civil Engineering; a. Com
! meICo anu 1Tdu6j D. MlnlnBj o. medicine ana
| Surgery; Z. Law; 8. Jurisprudence, Political
Science, and History; 8, Education. In addi-
ton to these there will be three general courses
of Science, Literature, and the Arts, together
with Scientific and an Optional Course. The
first of these general courses will resemble the
classical course of other institutions; in the
second general course, the German language
will be substituted for the Greek and in the
third both Greek and Latin will be ignored, in
behalf of French and German.
In order to place the University in opera
ton, it is proposed to appoint at an early day
twenty-six Professors, to give instructions. in
the departments of agriculture, mechanics,
civil engineering, mining, and science, htera-
ture, and the arts. Sixteen of these are to be
resident Professors, whose labors will neces-
sarily be confined to the University; while
the remaining ten will be on duty only at
stated periods in the year. Such is the pro-
jected outline of an institution which pro-
misses at no distant day to assume leading
rank in the educational institutions OF the
country.