The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-07-21
Presentation OF a Silver Mine to Middle
bury College.

The Prudential Com mittee of the col
lege met on Friday, the IA instant, ant
Mcssrs. Upper and Mcleod on tn,
part of the donor presented the deed o
the mine to the president with the fol
lowing remarks:
MR.. TsPPER's REMARKS.
Mr. President and F'eHoDs Of the Col
icge.
l am happy to be charged with the
duty Of delivering to you, and through
you to the college, title deed OF
"Rose Creek Silver Mine," situated il
the Sierra mining district, Humbol
county, in the state of Nevada.
This donation is from Col. Thomas
Comins, of Winnemucca, in that state
know but little of the standing ant
antecedents of Col. Comins, and moth
ing personally of HIM until the time
dent, g meet 6m" ana make his &C
quaintance upon the college grounds il
1881. From that time hitherto have
in business way, known more Of the
donor and his experience III mining
prospecting and locating mines in Ne
vada; and can assure you that he Il
one of the oldest and most experienced
miners in that region of the country
He has held many important Offices Of
trust in that state Immediately con.
neoted with it's mining interests which
are second to none in any state of this
Union: He has been T.. corder of The
mining district in which he resides for
great number of years, which gave
him great advantage in the way OF
knowing and judging of the value,
lsssn u nj 1.rAf ..f ss1s., -, -
part of the state.
OF the value OF this gift to the col
lege, am not able to speak, and can
only say that, of course, it is largely
prospective, but the minimum estimate
of the donor is $4,000. He says:
"Tho mino to day is worth 100000.
have expended prospeciing1 It $4,000.
The title Is good; it is located only
twelve miles from Winnemucea. and
on the Central Pacific railroad; there
is plenty of wood and water for min
ing purposes. 1t is no wildcat mine.
l wish the Observatory named after
me-"
Ofthe motive that induced this sift
to the college can say nothing, but l
have the right to assume that Col. Co.
minis, being high minded man, fore.
saw that, if turned to proper account,
the college IN time might realize more
than sufficient for the main object of
the gift and thereby open the way to
numbers OF young men who should
seek the advantages of culture and
learning in this college, make their col
lego course cheap and at the same time
thorough and complete. / have no
doubt that the gift was largely inspired
by the desire Of the donor to thereby
furnish the means that, properly used,
should leave here monument to his
memory "more lasting than brass" lie
is an aged man, and such motive al
though selfish, is noble. "The good
Ink cSspl ff is! 'ggfft lGen5, Mr.. President,
in behalf of the college; see to it that
the most is made of it in an honorable
way; turn it to good account. make it
a lasting blessing to the young men
and, perhaps, women, that may here
after enter here for liberal culture.
Discharge this trust faithfully; and you
will merit and secure the thanks of
Col. Thomas Cominc, the donor,
whom represent.
MR.. MCLEOD's REMARKS.
Mr.. President and Fellocs of Middle
bury College,:
l have been requested by Col. Co
Minis TO say few words on this Occa-
sion. The circumstances of the dona-
ton are we'll known to You, but allow
me to observe, that l consider this
event, simple as 1t is, as marking an
important era in the history of Middle
bury college. Hitherto, the institution
has sought aid from the great cities of
the east; from their millionaire mer.
chants who live in gilded houses and
private mansions, and well have they
responded; bnt now the Providence
that has ever protected this college, has
touched the heart OF the Rocky Noun
tains, and they are yielding up to her
their treasures. The generous hearted
miner living In his mining cabin in the
shadow of their lofty SUBMITS now
stretches forth his hand, with its
princely gift, for the cause of science,
and within the precincts of tho college,
rears monument to his name and
memory for all time.
May not some other miner, no los
noble, and no less generous, donate a
similar gift to equip this lofty struc-
ture with all needful appliances, so
that men, however learned, will come
here to learn more, and gather knowl-
edge, from the remotest heavens. Please |
accept the gift in the spirit in which it
is given and other generations will
bless alike you and the donor.
The president receiving the deed re-
plies as follows:
GENrLEMEN-O On behalf of "The |
President and Fellows of Middlebury
gratefully accept the gift |
which you have been commissioned to
offer MS. AS we must wait for time TO
develop its value, with regard to which
I can from no judgment, will only
ass.-s yeu that Inc college recognizes
the nobility and generosity of spirit
with which Col. Comins has bestowed
1t. The corporation OF the college has
by formal vote expressed this to Mr.,
Comins and at the same time il COM
mitted to us, The Prudential Commit
tee, the duty of receiving and caring
for tho gift.
1t is nearly year since Mr.. Mcleod
introduced to me the donor in the COL
lege library. After some remarks.
rather humorous than serious, about
the relation of silver mine to libra
ny, presented while we were stand
ing in front of Painter Hall our want of
a scientific hall and observatory such |
as ! had delineated in my Inaugural.
L afterward learned from Mr.. Mcleod
that the idea thus casually thrown out
had been favorably received; and re-
quested Mr.. Mcleod to assist Mr.. Co
minis In developing 1t: and the result
is now before us.
Mr.. Comins mentions only the OBJ
servatory but beyond that he gives
large powers to the corporation and I
am confident that he intended to Sc
cure just what proposed to him. IT.
this mine shall build the Comins Scien-
tific Hall and Observatory 1t will be a
glorious monument TO his memory and