Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-06-01
Knoxville and Education,

The citizens Of Nashville, it is said, are
endeavOring to make it an educational
center-to concentrate there a number OF
literary enterprises and institutions OF
learning, such as the Baptist Theological
Seminary and the new University of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They
are doing this with view to promote the
interests of the city. And any one of or
binary judgment can see that there is a
real and intimate connection between the
means they use and the end they seek.
Is Knoxville awake and alive to its
interests in the same direction? Let
facts answer. Look at the State
Agricultural College, established in East
Tennessee University! 1t brings with it
to Knoxville a fund of several hundred
thousand dollars. 1t has brought here
this year more than a hundred State Stu
dents from all parts of Tennessee, in adj
ditiOn to more than q hundred others 1t
is fair to suppose that it will bring next
year. large increase to this number of
students. The reasonable hope is that at
no distant time, one or more other colleges
will be established in the University; per-
haps a medical and a law school. What
has Knoxville done to helD forward this
enterprise 1t promised to give fifteen
thousand dollars to the University if the
State would establish the Agricultural Col
lege in it. The city authoritis passed an
ordinance to that effect and it still
stands on the city records. But
the promise remains unfulflled 1t
is but Just and equitable that it should re-
deem its pledge. 1t does not reflect any
honor upon the city, to withhold the pay
ment of the appropriation. Its character
for integrity and fair dealing is involved
in the issue.
But it is credibly stated that the city au-
thOrities are about to offer the gift of land
to tie Trustees of Hampden Sidney Acade-
my, upon which to build a school house.
How is that? Perhaps the city authOri-
ties intend by this movement to show
their appreciation of the wisdom and gen
crosby of the State in locating the Agri-
cultural College at Knoxville, and to help
that institution forward. Certainly no
such purpose is at the root of the PROPOSE
ton. For the effect of it would plainly be
to prevent an arrangement which has
been proposed by the Trustees of the Uni
versity to the Trustees of the Academy. 1t
would be to prevent the erection of an
academy building or ground given by the
University, in which not only city bows
may be instructed. but also State students
of the Agricultural College, who are pre-
paratory scholars. The facts are, that the
University has so exhausted its funds in
providing for the new college, that it can
not put the additional necessary buildings
to Accommodate students. Therefore it has
proposed to the Academy to give it the re-
quiste land for a house and to pay all eX-
penses of running the school beyond the
amount settled by tuition fees. There is
no necessity therefore for tho city t.4>1Ho
itself TO buy land and pay tyaolloro fol
school in II. S. Academy. Suppose that
the conduct Of the city Of Knoxville Ill
Withholding the comparatively small sum
which it is pledgedtO give to the UNIVERSE
ty, and i'll preventing the erection of
suitable academy building or College Hill,
should result, with other causes, i'll dis
aiding the Trustees of the University from
making proper accommodations for stu
dents from all parts of the State; and sup
pose that the State Legislature should con-
cludC that sufficient ground existed in
that case for removing the college endOW-
ment and bestOwing it elsewhere to some
town or city which would give one or two
hundred thousand dollars to obtain it
Who would be the loser, and where would
the fault lie in the entanglements that
would follow
A FRIEND TO KNOXVILLE.