The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-09-29
THE STATE UNIyERTITY.
A Reply to Some Structures on its
Course of Study and Manage
ment.


There appears in the State Jouyaal
of the 9th inst. an extract from the
Clarksburg Telegram concerning the
University. AS that article is founded
in error, and liable to mislead those
unacquainted with the facts, it seems
altogether in place for some one to cor
rect the mistake into which the 1'ele-
gram has fallen. If the editor will
take the trouble to look at the last
catalogue Of the University, he will
find he is mistaken in saying, eve
have an institution without q pro-
lessor of agriculture in it, On the
fourth page Of the catalogue, among
the various chairs in the University
he will find this chair: "Wm. M.
Fontaine, NJ. A., Professor of Agricul-
ture, Chemistry and Natural History.
The Telegram is likewise greatly in
error when it says 1.-The poor mans
child" is greeted with jeers, dc. The
truth is, nearly all who have ever at
tended the University, and who are
now present, are just such persons as
the Telegram says are not present. viz:
the children Of poor men. But it is
useless to discuss I'D coptandum non
sense. Not single man of the hun
dreds who have been at the University
can be found to corroborate the 7ele-
gram's assertion on this subject
And now about the management of
the funds of the University. Not five
days ago | was in Morgantown, and
having then seen the 1'elegram's arti-
Gle on this subject, | gave the matter
some attention, and this is the result
of my inquiries. No money is, nor
can it be, drawn from the State Treas
ury, except on the draft of the EXecu-
tive Committee, who must certify that
the money to be drawn is needed for
immediate use. When it is drawn, it
is at once paid out, and there seldom
remains any surplus exceeding 5000 or
800. If any remains 1t is placed in
the Merchants National Bank at Nor
gantown, subject at any moment to
the draft of the Executive Committee.
The Bank allows three per cent on
this deposit, and the little interest
thus accruing has Arrays been placed
TO the credit Of the Tnire1'sity, and
not one cent of it has been used in
any other way, although it belongs
of right to the Treasrer himself The
Treasurer has given bond in the
penalty of $4,000, and he need not
place to the credit of the University
one cent of the. sum actually drawn
out of the State Treasury. But SC
careful has he been in this matter that
he has increased the fund, and for sew
eral years this increas actually paid
the salary Of the Treasurer, so that nc
did not cost the State a dollar. Sey-
eral years ago he lent everal hundred
dollars of the little surplus sometimes
left unexpended,. at interest at the rate
of per cent. per annum, and this in
terest was, every cent, placed to the
credit of the University These facts
all appear from the published reports
of the Treasurer, and may by any
one be verified. The finances of the
University have been well managed
and the treasurer courts the closest
scrutiny of his accounts and challenges
investigation. His books may at any
time be seen and are open to inspection
Having fully answered the allega
tons of the Telegram in so far as they
are definite, | conclude this communi
cation by suggesting to the Telegram
the propriety of seeking more accurate
information on which to found it:
structures on the State University.
ALUMSUS.