Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-10-11
A Munjdcent Gilt.
From the State Journal.

Those interested in the University
of Wisconsin and 10 the progress of
Scientific work in the State, will re-
member that in the fourth section of
the Act OF March 6, 1876, entitled
can act TO permanently provide for
deficiencies in the University fund in
come" there was provision to this
effect:
"From and out of the receipts from
said tax the sum of three thousand
dollars ($3, 000) annually, shall be set
apart for astronomical work and for
instruction in Astronomy, to be ex>
pended under the direction of the
Regents of the University of Wis
consin, so soon as complete and
well>equipped observatory shall be
given the University in it's own
grounds without cost to the State
provided, that such observatory shall
be completed within three years
from the passage of this act"
am now at liberty to announce
that it is the immediate intention of
ex-Gov. G. G. Washburn to meet
the provisions of that section, and,
during the coming year, to erect and
fully equip superior astronomical
observatory for the University of
Wisconsin.
This announcement may well give
great pleasure to the friends of pub
lie education and of science. Gov.
Washburn was the gentleman at
whose instignation the above section
was inserted in the act, and from
none of it's citizens would the State
receive such gift with more pleas
ure.
We mark the event, also, as intro>
duciDg new era in the history of
the University. We believe that
henceforward private liberality will
freely add itself to public efforts in
the endowment of this institution.
There are things exceedingly des-
ira5le in themselves in order to
complete the usefulness of such an
institution which prudent leg islators
must hesitate to grant from general
taxation.
A we'll furnished Astronomical OBJ
servatory is somewhat of such a ma
ture. 1t pertains to the higher fields
of science, and might seem a burden
to the ordinary taxpayer. An Art
Gallery is still more obviously of the
same character. 1t is,therefore, with
the greatest pleasure that we find
distinguished citizens willing to fur
nish these most desirable, yet expen-
sive accessories of public instruction.
In no way can the citizens of the
State more fittingly support and i'm.
prove its best institution.
We are thankful for the promised
gift, thankful for the source of land
thankful for the future increase, of
which we make no doubt IL is only
the first fruits.
No State institutions, however
well devised in themselves, can be
of much value which are not sustain
ed and enlarged by the enthusiasm
of our citizens. The best spirit in
the best portion of our social life
speaks forth in the gift which is mere
announced.
Those interested in pure science
everywhere will also take pleasure in
the announcement, because it is the
intention of the Legislature and the
Regents of the University, as indict>
ed by the section of the act above
given, that the Observa' DRY shall
not be merely an ornamental APP
pendage to instruction. but shall be
vigorously used in the general inter-
est of science.
1t is to be furnished with fifteen
inch equatorial, "equal or superior to
that of the Observatory of Harvard
University, Cambridge"
The other instruments will be cor
respondingly complete and prepare
the way for extended astronomic
work. JOHN BAsCoM,
President of the State University.