Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-21
Largest Circulation in the District
WASHINGTON CITY:
MONDAY........December ri, 1874.



The statement in the papers that the sdii-
tOnai sum OF tiOO, 900, requisite 10 secure the
endowment OF s15O ,OO0, offered by Mr.. CorcOrau
to the Columbian University, has bsen raised,
IL, we regret % say, erroneous. The facts, we
understand, are these: Mr.. CorcOran sometims
since offered a valuable tract OF Land near this
city, estimated 10 be worth At least $3.50 600, to
the permanent endowment OF the University,
provided the additional sum of $1,000 be
raised for the same purpose within the period Of
two years from the 1rst day of January, 1873;
the principal Of beth the Sums To be funded
and TO remain forever intact. The time within
which the additional Sl'O 09O must be raised
expires, therefore. 4nu4ry 81, 1875 or in a lit
tie more than a week from now. President
yelling has lsbored 10 secure this additional
sum, upon which 80 much depends. with per-
sistence and energy that has nearly broken him
down, physically, and has so nearly succeeded
that il would seem TO De the cruslsst OF disap-
pointments shOult the enterprise now fail at the
asst moment. But there is a considerable SUN
yet to be made mp. Instead of raising s7O 90 in
his Sity, as the report has il, less than $1,000
has been subscribed here, We are sorry to say,
and the subscriptions in all parts OF the country
amount 70 less than $1,000. Therefore, if at
least $4,000 in good and true subscriptions can
not b. raised before the ddsy of January next,
III sn'sTpriSs 'c-ll haze fdisf. Are oar citizens
u NrallA anu PUBIC spifAL Wiling 10 see TINS
handsome endowment Of $3.50. 900, to establish
great University in our midst, lost for the want
Of this fractional amount? Probably thu oppor-
tunity gill never again occur in the history OF
men living, when so much can be done for the
permanent welfare Of Washington, and in bshslf
Of national education, as By the contribution OF
this twenty thousand dollars within the next
ten days. 1t may be that thIs is ths turning
point that is to decide whether Washington
shall become great seat of learning, with Jude
pendent resources OF growth and prosperity, or
whether il shall fall back - the listlsss, hope
less, do-nOthing state OF a community living
from hand 20 mouth through the year upon the
petty amount of business afforded By a SIX
months session of Congress.
The newspaper report in question also errs in
stating that the endowment fund Is to be ex-
pended IN the erection of college buildings. As
announced by the executive committee of the
Board Of Trustees in their circular giving the
plan OF the University for the future: The
scheme cOntemPlates the least possible
expenditure OF money for buildings, AMI
the largest possible expenditure for the
enlistment of the sblest teachers in every de-
Isrtment Of the University" By the cOndi-
tiOns OF the endowment, also, ''the principal of
both these sums is TO BE- funded and TO remain
forever, intact" which conditions would, of
course, forbid the application Of the fund to
building purposes; a very wise restriction In
view Of the legscies ana endOTments s1uan-
dered in mere architectural display in soma OF
the college buildings of the country; and nota-
bly, in the case of the Girari College. On the
foundation laid by Mr. COrcorau ii is proposed
to establish a"SehOOl Of Science, :" to be called
b. his hOnOred name, and TO form part Of the
University. With the ditI0nal sum of slCOOl0
1t Is further proposed to erect on that founds-
ton POLYTECHNIC School" The crOwning
grace OF a university System Of studies is to be
sought in the establishment Of a school of the
Fine Arts" embracing architecture, sculpture
and painting. II the educ ationaI system of the
University should receive the extsnson here ill.,
dicated IL would, including the Law and Nsdi.
cal Schools already established, embrace the
following departments The Prspar l.ory School;
the College proper the Scientific School; the
Polytechnic School; the Medical School; tn.
Law School; the School OF the Fins Arts. Shall
this noble plan be realized to the permanent
Ienovn and benefit of Washington by the sub
scriptiOn OF the needed SD 90 before January
q, 1875?