New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-03
ITHACA. N. Y, July 20, 1863

| THE ADMISSION or woMEN-PROsPECTs-
| '. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS. ...
From Our Special Correspondent .... ....
ITHACA, N. Y, July 20, 1863.
Looking down into the beautiful amphitheater in
which the village of Ithaca nestles from the top OF
the great hill whence you have your first glimpse of
1t you approach by railway the dust and heat and
hunger of the journey are all forgotten. Tho very
view is refreshnent Here right around the foot OF
Cayuga Lake there is horse shoe- formed range oil
steep hills from 800 to 200 feet high with the foot OF
the water pushing up into the opening The village
beginning about half way up the sides of this range
flows down into the incosed hollow, and there gath
ers itself into a compact mass of little white houses
all thickly shaded with fine trees their roofs and
dozen cupOlas and steepes peerng through the
foliage. scrubby little railroad stretching TO this
place nom OwegO, brings you out upon the very
summit of the of the horseshoe and there the
exquisite scene bursts upon you in all its beauty On
to your night near the crest OF that part OF the range
which lies east of the village the great stone build
lngs OF the Cornell University overlook the valley,
and in front of you, at distance of about two miles
is the long blue lake, stretching out far to the north
The locomotive pauses for q minute, as II 1t were
puzzled how to get down from this hight INTO the
village right below it, Then il pushes tile train
gradually all the while, and describing = with its
former direction stops again. makes another -, anu
runs forward and so by series of zigzags we get
safely into the village, sweeping on our last tack
|
ithaca on the west side.
Ithaca is like stage beauty mad dog-it looks
best at distance 1t is too dusty to be bright and
besides when its settlers had planted the rough streets
with trees they appear to have exhausted their
knowledge of the art OF Communications for they put
no beauty upon their houses and gardens. There Is
rather pleasant little park, however, where brass
band draws all the population to walk on Summer
evenings and 1T singular fact that two-thirds OF
the inhabitants are girls, every of them pretty.
Hotel clerks don't bully un0endng travellers, hack
drivers are not ru6ans and the people generally are
so happy at the prospect of the opening of their
University that satisfaction beams from every face,
and and then breaks out in louder demon
STATIONS witness last night when the whole town
serenadcd President Andrew ID, White; and made
speeches at him The general citation has affected
even the Trustees of the University, who wanted to-
day to order oil portrait of Mr. White for their
institution, but he obtained respite for year and
meanwhile they will content themselves with por-
trait of Mr. Cornell Preparations are making Tor
rise in prices when the students arrive, and rents
have gone Ip fabulous figures greatly to the agony
of many hoiseess professors. The University Is to
open on the last Wednesday of September .
You know all about the origin of tins magnificent
institution, and need not rehcarSe the particulars
of IT, IL is due to the combined bounty OF the gen
cTal Government, and of Nh. Ezra Cornell an estl-
mable resident Of Ithaca who, having made large
fortune chiefly IN telegraph enterprises, had been
anxious for some time TO devote share OF II TO the
public good His iirst plan was merely tho 1Ounda-
lion Of agricultural college at tins place; but when
the State Of NewlOTk under the act OF Congress OF
July 2, 1862, apprOpratng public lands ior cduca-
ionul purposes became entitled To land scrip repre-
acres,
best way of dispOsing of this gift Mr. Cornell pro-
posed To enlarge the plan of his foundation and TO
give it $4,000 on condition that the State should
appropriate the proceeds of these lands 70 the
same object. The scrip had already been given to
the Peoples College at Lima. on Ger
tain conditions; but those conditions not be-
ing COMPLIED with, Mr. COrnell's offer was
accepted. Hence tho Cornell University. which
begins its career under the remarkable circumstances
of having all the money II can spend and possessing
assurance of income sufficient TO keep II alive even
WI
the plan has gradually been developed, Mr corners
benefactiOns have increased lie has gwen 10 inc
University lis homestead aud fam of 20 acres, and
when II was suggested Ia him that by the terms OF
his agreement with the State the value of tins gilt
might be deducted nom MS PROMISED emo" neit y
$J0O.OOO. he made the characteristic answer, dOht
want To deduct anything; bad rather give more
lie has kept on giving more ever since lie gave
$4,000 for the Jewett collection IN geology ana
acknowledges he soon afterwaIr added other sums 10
The amount of $j 900. He spent about SOloO for the
purpose of locating the lands granted by Congress
i'm order that the University may ENJOY the inter
est of dhe money, aud has agreed moreover TO
pay over to the .endo"ineht lnhu Enaun'ot
profit he may make ON thtlt suosequ1h1
sale The $1,000 for locating the lands lie regards,
however ~ loan, which he University istO repay him
whene er il eau. The land scrip you Know, entities
the stat merely 10 so many acres of the unOccupied
public domain in the far western territories 10 De Sc
ieced by the State under certain regulations pres
cribed by the General Land Once; and, ot course,
while nobody knows Just where or what that llhu
may ont to be- the scrip cannot he sold except III
Volyng much hunting about IN the wilderness 10 ind
the best locations. and much expensive surveying
costs good deal of money and MI Cornell by al
yancug the amount required for tins service. has en-
abled the institution to dispose OF Its grants al
much higher price than II could otheTwlse 0DtalB.
The lands yet unsold VIII Yield pio6iDly SlVOoOO,
which will De invested by the state Controller iOr
the benefit of tho University. Ii IA estimated tat the
income of the establishment for the hrst year, not
including what students may pay mda "p '" to
$4,000. aud for the second year II VIII prop,
ably be $4,000 Instead of a simple agricultural
college Mr. Cornell now resolved 20 nave "a unlveI-
,ity where any person can find instruction in any
study" lie wished TO abandon the old routine sys-
TEN. by which young Inen were forced through "a a.
rc gulaT and ncXiblc course without REGARD 10 lnoI
tastn their tness for particular branches, or their
probable needs in after life. lie wanted an lh5lnu-
ton which would give an excellent BeneiaI cuucu
tiou IN the studies pursued ut ordinary colleges ana
at the same time would Accommodate ltBclI 10 tue
students especial choice, and give HIM an opportun-
ity 10 acquire eninenee III whatever PURSUITS tooh
tile most practical hold upon the tastes aspirations
and work of his life. The Hon Andrew ~ Whlte'
who was chairman of committee appointed III ING
state Sfnnre W ura tsre heppTtIv into Mr. CorneTs
views and the admiubie IMPORT when ne presenter
to tbs Legislature, together with his Wen Known
culture and general know ledge pointed MN OUT 10
lin. ttte.t pcr,on 10 be President of the new stitu-
ton The outlines Of the system adopted, heneye,
are Mr.. ComelPs; the details are mainly MT
Whites Several courses of study are arranged,
and thc student makes his choice among them aided
by the advice of the faculty There are departments
of agriculture, the mechanic arts clvi ehelh9elng'
military engineering and tactics mining ana piac,
teal geology and history and social ana p0iltleal
science There several courses IN science neia-
tnre and the arts in general, some mDrachg latlh
and Greek. Others substituting for dead languages
The most important living ones; others combining alt
There il course preGmncntly scientific and there IS
ana, optional course IA which pupil Is allowed 10
make his own combination OF studies lnere ~, INC
agricultural school with its splendid farm, on which
volunteer workngpartes will labor under the d,r a;d
ton OF competent professors nuI 10
4, In
his magnificent herd of imported cattle, worth over
so 900 There is veterinary school which promises TO