Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-04-15
THE METHODIST UNIVERSITY.

The Methodist Advocote (Atlanta) has
an editorial on the subject of benefits aris-
ing to community from the location of
educational institutions, from which we
make extracts, in view of the contention
for the location of the Methodist Central
University. DR.. Cobleigh says:
We are not surprised that Chattanooga,
Athens, Knoxville, and other places, are
anxious to secure the location of our own
contemplated University in their neighbor-
hood. Such an institution, when located,
will bring money to any place: A student
who spends forty weeks at such Univer-
sity will pay for board, clothes, light, fuel,
books, stationery and other necessaries or
luxuries, at least from $3.50 to $500. He
will do this every year. This is close,
economical estimate. Some will increase
the annual sum to 81 1000 or more. We
knew student in college thirty years ago
whose expenses averaged over 81 200 q
year, and he was not dissipated-and ex-
penses were much less then than now. But
suppose we fix theaverage between the rich
and the less wealthy at $500 a year for each
student. At that rate one hundred students
will spend $50, 000-two hundred, 500, 900,
and five hundred, $3.50, 900. Either sum is
quite an increment to the trade of town
or city. ~ ~ ..s- -..~T ora .s III.
But this is only part of the estimate.
There must be professors to teach the stu
dents. They will have families. It will
cost ordinarily from 81 900 to $4,000 on a
very economical plan to support professor
and his family for one year. If only ten
very small number for University, they
would spend not less than SIC, 900 to $50, 900
year, all told. Such an institution would
draw around it many other well-to-do fam
lilies for the purpose of enjoying the lite
rary society and privileges or to educate
their children, and they would spend from
ST. 900 to $1,000 each annually. Now all
these things together, when University
is fairly established, will foot up to quite a
respectable sum to be expended in the
community annually. 1t does not take
much of an institution to pour into the
town or city where located $4,000 to
500, 900 year. The citizens of Knoxville
or Chattanooga can we'll afford to give
$4,000 or 500, 900 to secure the location
among them of the Central University,
for they would soon get that amount of
money back again. Athens and New
Market could afford to be equally liberal
according to their means. ...-. t1tj1
This will give a faint idea of the annual
revenue to a town or city from such Uni
versity, when fairly established. But large
sums would have to be expended at the
outset for fencing and fitting up the
grounds, erecting buildings for the Uni
versity, and houses for the professors also
houses for boarding students. One hun
dred thousand dollars paid out for mate
rails and labor in this work would hardly
make beginning for frst-class Univer
sity. This is only the financial side of the
question, and from this view alone we can
say. Fortunate will be the town or city
that secures the University in its vicinity
The Methodist then gives views of the
moral effects ofsuch an Institution, taking
position which no man would care t.
gainsay in this enlightened age and closes
as follows: ai5m
We are otsurprised atkthe competition
excited over the question of locating tn
University, except in one feature Of it. w
are surprised that there is comparativel.
so little zeal manifested and so little spiri
and purpose in it. 1t seems to us that, afte
all, the people are looking at this wlthou
appreciating hundredth part OF the res
value that will flow from such Univel
sity as it is the purpose of our church I
build up at some suitable point in tn
South.
We commend these thoughts to the cal
nest consideration of our people. We hav
in our power to secure the location {
this Central University In Knoxville If W
will only do 1t. -tt5sa