Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-02-22
The State University.


the State University seems to have
met with decided and unexpected
opposition in the Assembly. Just as
the advocates Of appropriation had
made out a strong case in it's favor,
the opponents Of the bill interposed
a resolution of inquiry, and led the
Assembly astray in pursuit Of some
sgnts Jotaus or false issue, which might
serve "a an entering wedge for explo-
ding tho whole project. 1t remains
to be seen whether their plan will
succeed, or whether the institution
shall receive the sid il deserves from
tho State. The resolution offered by
Mr.. Toualey roads thus:
Re5olue3, That special committee
Of three be appointed to visit the
main University building, examine
the samo and report TO this body as
TO tho practicibility Of remodcling
said building by tho removal Of the
rotundG from the base to the dome,
which destroys the fitness and CON
vonionce OF the building and that
Hon. John Fellenz OF Milwaukee,
contractor and builder, be chairman
Of said committee.
This led to somo discussion in tho
Assembly and still more by the press.
The honorable body has undertaken
i~horious task il proposing to re-
build tho public buildings " hich may
receive criticism from any source.
II assumes 70 inform tho Board of
Regents that they do not Justly COM
prehond the necessities Of the college,
and proposes 10 mako an alteration
in building hitherto considered we'll
suited TO its purpose and which the
faculty and Regents had never pro-
posed TO alter. In their late renort
tho Regents made an earnest appeal
TO the State for means TO enlarge the
university TO accommodate the increas-
ing number Of students. They ask
for broad and Mr.. Tousley proposes
10 give them q stone. The House
At once became a committee Of arch
fleets, doclaiming of the enormous
waste of room Of tho central building.
and proposing to throw away the
dome, the browning beauty Of the
University Hall, for the purpose .of
saving about 5000 feet of fooring
and turning it TO account for school
rooms. The erection OF q new build
ing such as is urgently needed for a
Female College building, would per-
haps add some 10000 square feet of
room TO the present capacity of the
buildings, and allow for large and
healthy expansion but, in place of
this, it is proposed to tear out the
dome and central part of the main
building, so that the circular space
il fills, perhaps thirty feet in diane
ter, may DO put TO active use. Moth
ing is said of tho bo.chy appearance
IL would presen: when the former
architects work is thus marred.
The present legislature is so happy
in the completion Of the capitol dome
that il considers dome and rotun-
da an audacious extravaganza in
State University. But If tho prac.
tiSe CT rebuilding is introduced, per-
hsps some future Assembly may
introduce q resolution Of inquiry"
TO see If there wss not . reckless
waste Of the public funds in that vast
capitol rotnnda and dome. And who
knows but that 1t may yet be taken
down, the OLD iron, and the stone
-otunda wall removed, to provide
additional lobbios, refreshment rooms
Or post-officcs?
We had thought it quite unnesoc-
ssry "a argue in our columns the JUS
tieo Of the proposed appropriations.
But the whimsical turn lately given
20 the debate renders almost any re
suit possible. The University may
be denied any State aid il may have
40 appropriation Of few thousand
dollars to pay the honorable commit
too OF architects to examine the con