The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-03-07

VUEI 8Ct0 <AhACCtIA8 sAeO
Present Crisis of Mount
Union College.
Friend Harris:
Owing to the fact, that the citizen
of Mount Union, Alliance and vicini
ty, so largely benefited by the location
of Mount Union College, not having
duly completed their subscriptions
(Which are now so successfully under
way,) for the additional building
with improved grounds, thereby Sc
curing the liquidation,-certain mis-
understandings and damaging reports
have been started, and have been made
very injurious to this College. Al
items of general interest affecting the
public at large, this matter has beer
communicated in varied forms by cor.
respondents to papers, until it has by
copying been widely published
throughout the country.
Therefore, in behalf of the trustees
patrons, faculty aud students, earn.
estly ask you to allow me space IN your
friendly and impartial paper TO state
the actual facts and acts, from which
the public can draw correct conclu-
siOns.
While it is fact that this College is
in need of the designated additional
buildings and grounds, it is equally
true that the citizens locally benefited
should, in accordance with equity and
universal college economy, generous.
ly provide all needed local improve
ments, and that persons at distance
should not be asked to donate funds
for this local purpose.
It is also fact that, at the close OF
our coun,ry's war, when the attend
ance of students had greatly decreas-
ed and the private boarding houses
previously used had chiefly been turn.
ed to other purposes, no persons could
then be induced to invest capital in
the erection or furnishing of such
| buildings. Consequently, the Trus
tees had no course left them but eth.
er to allow the College to go down
! without their even having an offel
then of suitable grounds and build
ings at another. place where the Col
lcge would be built up aud its patrons
and patronizing territory preserved
and its students protected, or to incur
its existing Indebtedness by the pur-
chase OF the ten acres of additional
| grounds and the erection aud furnish
ing of the commodious Boarding Hall.
This latter course was deemed neces
sary in order to secure students in
numbers sufficiently large (under the
special advantages Of an abundance OF
good and cheap rooms and board) to
pay, by means of cheap tuition, tho
current internal expenses of the Col
lege, including the salaries of the pro
fessors. Our citizens, not yet recover.
ed from their depression occasioned
by the war, could not then furnish
even part of the means. This liza
bility, caused by securing these
grounds and the Boarding Hall, is tht
only debt which the Trustees have
ever placed on the College, or intend
to place on it. The Trustees hav.
provisions made, and will promptly
liquidate this entire Indebtedness o
the College, when the citizens o
Mount Union, Alliance and vicinity
enjoying its local advantages, provide
the requisite funds for the presen
needed local improvements. But i
was not until considerable time aftel
the erection of this College Boarding
Hall, that s'the citizens of Mount Un
ion haye built private boarding house
and dwellings that can now pleasant
ly accommodate with good and cheat
rooms and board over a Thousand
students"
1t is likewise fact, frequently ant
publicly stated, that unless the sub
scriptions were begun before the ent
of last term, with a reasonable pros
pect of going on regularly and harmo
niously to a speedy and successful
secure generously, in accordance witt
the plan of the Trustees, ample fund
for the needed additional building
and improved grounds and consequeu
prompt liquidation of all Indebtedness
the College could not and should moi
in its present locality, go on to accom-
plish the definite Objects of its dis
tinciive Plan by doing the creates
educational good to the greatest mum
Der of our country's youth.
Never before as nosc haYe the citi
zens of Mount Union, Alliance and vi
cinity worked together, with the com
plete harmony, earnest determination
aud apprecia,ivc love of the College
in common with the trustees. patron:
faculty and students, to advance per
manently the distinctive Purpose an
instrumental Objects of the College
and especially to provide by donatio
ample funds for the designated addi
tional grounds and buildings.
Thirty-two thousand dollars hav
recently been subscribed by citizens G
Mount Union to purchase material
and erect at Mount Union new Mu
scum Building; and liberal amount
have also been, subscribed by citizen
of Alliance to purchase for this Col
lege the Alliance College Building.
1t is an Obvious fact that the intern
at life of this college was never S
healthf11 or vigorous as now. Th
late Chief Justice Chase, acting as on
of it's trustees, under stood this vigo
when he expressed his conviction ths
, ssMount Union is among the bes
: cheapest, and most progressive {