The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-02-15
West Virginia University.

University during that year. OF these
one hundred and forty we're in the pre-
paratory department, eleven in the
College classes, and three in the scien-
tifc department. The studies pursued
in the preparatory department ars about
the same that are taught in the lower
classes of q good Academy. or the
College classes, the Freshmen and Soph-
omores have studies of the same range
with those assigned to the higher classes
of such an Academy, while the Junior
and Senior studies are such as are Gus
tomary in the same classes in Western
Colleges generally.
In the curriculum assigned to the
scientific department may be found
many branches taught in good Acade'
mics, and mono that are not contained
10 the regular course of Western Col
leges. In addition to these, the Uni
versity has Military Department"
and Department of Agriculture" the
success of which we learn is no greater
than that which usually attends the
introduction of these features into q
literary institution.
Last year there were seven regular
professors and teachers, besides two lee
turers. The services of the latter we infer
are not in constant demand. Since then
there has been added to these an addi-
tional regular professorship of Chemis.
try and Natural History, for which,
there have been obtained "the
services of a gentleman of reputa-
tion and experience as a Chemist and
general Scientist" This gentleman, by
the way, appears, like several others
of the faculty, to belong outside the
State.
The finances of the University are
not in the best possible condition. 1t
realizes $4,000 annually from interest on
the endowment fund, $500 annually
from the Peabody fund, and $1,000 an
nually from tuition and roon rent,
making a total annual revenue OF
$500. There is an estimate of some.
thing over $l1,0 900 for salaries and Goa
tingent expenses, and an estimated de
felt of $500 which the Legislature is
asked to supply. Besides this, the
State is asked to give $4,000
annually for ten years toward in
creasipg the endowment, and S2O,'
900 this year toward the new Uni
versity building which is in course OF
erection. This is about all tho assist
ance the institution demands, if we ex
cept the recommendation that the State
purchase at par, $4,000 in Virginia
bonds, owned by the University. As
this would only entail loss upon the
State OF $500, it is hardly worth con
sidering along with $4,000 annuities
and single appropriations of $4,000.
The resolution of the Regents OH the
subject of appropriations reads as fol
lows:
ResoIred, That in view of the great
and increasing Importance and value OF
West Virginia University as an educa'
tional institution of this Common
wealth, and in view Of the unexpected
and extraordinary demands which are
heing made upon it by those seeking an
education, and which imperatively re-
Quire additions to Its corps of instrnc'
tors, and its facilities generally, we, the
Board of Regents of said University,
do most respectfully and urgently re-
quest The Leg gislature of West Virginia to
pei feet the endowment fund of the same
by a continuation of the annual appro
priation thereto of the sum of ten thou.
sand dollars, for the term of ten years,
and by the appropriation, in addition
thereto, of an amount sufficient to com
plete the University Hall now being
erected aud to provide for deficiencies
in the current expenses of the Univcrsi,
ty, occurring inevitably in the efforts
to meet properly the responsibilities de.
volving upon those i'll charge of its in
tercSis.
The endowment fund in question
would thus be raised to 100000. The
cost of the University Hall when COM
pleted, the Report does not state. 1t
only informs us that the present Legis-
lature is expected to appropriate SEQ.
900 toward its completion.
The question now arises, sheuld the
demands for aid made by this institu-
tion be complied With Various con-
siderations compel the conclusion
that they should not. 10 the first place,
by the showing of the Regents, the Uni.
versity is not doing good in proportion
TO the outlay it is incurring. Compare
if you please the success of the Uniyer-
sity with that of Monengalia Academy,
an old time MOrgantown institution
endowed by the State of Virginia.
The eudowmeEt fund of the Academy,
if we mistake not, was $4,000. With
the interest of that fund, and the pro-
ceeds of tuition, the Trustees of the
Academy successfully carried on their
Institution for many years, and just
before the war began completed alarge
and convenient building which would
and did easily accommodate one hun
Sred and fifty students. This building
with the grounds appertaining, and the
Principals dwelling, were donated to
the University when the latter was
started, and have since been sold for
$4,000. The University had at its
commencement 100000, the proceeds OF
its Land Scrip endowment. Besides
this, it had a donation of S50,O00, partly
cash, partly real estate, the en-
dowment and property of Monongalia
Academy being transferred to it. In
addition to this, the University has had
State aid, slS,5OO of which is referred