The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-08
A Great University.

A Great University.
The exhibit of the financial condition OF
the institution lately made by the trustees of
Coluni'.ia College was accompanied by dis
cussion Of scheme outlined for developing
that college into great central university.
The announcement was made that the trus-
tees had the will and the purpose to carry
out the plan in its widest scope, but that yet
they lacked pecuniary endowment sufficient
to meet the demands such q university would
make on them.
Columbia College has enjoyed one great
and peculiar advantage as compared with
other colleges of the Union. 1t Is practically
unrestricted in tho use OF its endowment,
and that endowment consists OF property In
New Yor. which Is all the time increasing
IN productive value. Provided tho President
Of the college Is communicate OF tho Epis-
copal Church, it having received large land
grant i'll its carly days from the Trinity Cor
poration and tho money is spent for educa-
tional purposes, tho trustees have absolute
command Of their resources.
The authorities of other colleges may be
embarrassed, when they set out to perfecta
harmonious scheme OF extension and dcvcl-
OpHlcul, DtCttusc VI Cou'illlouo ihloocN upoh
gifts for specific purposes. Tho aggregate
fund of the callege may he large. hut 4 can
not be expended for tho general good OF the
Institution as circumstances arise. 1t must
DO divided up among chairs and depart
ments, not according to their comparative
Importance and actual demands but under
Limitations set by perhaps more or less
whimsical tcstators, or those who never
foresaw the future needs OF the college.
Likely enough, too, the income OF o partc-
ular endowment may not be enough to sup
port the chair intended to be established, and
then the general fund, already ovcrtaxcd,
must be drawn on to meet the deficiency.
The Columbia College trustees are free
from such restrictions and cmbarrassments.
They have an income on which they can
rely, and which they know exactly from year
to year. and all Of it they can expcnd in their
own way. We say all, though we believe
there Is very Insignificant part compare
lively, which must be devoted to specific
purposes. Moreover, they will, In the nat
ural course OF things, be getting much more
from their landed property quarter Of o
century hence than they now receive. Within
ten or fifteen years even, as we understand,
large number OF their land leases In Fifth
avenue and Sixth avenue and neighboring
streets will fall In, to DO renewed at much
higher rates after rcappraiscment This
property is covered with fine dwellings, and
the old leases were at a low figure.
But to carry out their university scheme
the trustees need still more money, and,
though they make no direct appeal for 1t,
the financial exhibit they present along with
Hhnir v,la f,,rp oh n nj dad an in
to rich men that here Is good place for
their benefactions. And beyond doubt 1t is
good place, provided the propositions OF
the trustees are carried out In large. COM
prehcnsive, liberal, and philosophic spirit
The project for grand university in New
York Is noble one, and II it is ever to be re-
alized iunquestionably Columbia College
has the tittcst foundation for it, not only In
its present large and unrestricted pecunary
capital, but also in tho scholastic associations
which belong to its venerable age. In this
neighborhood its living alumni IRE chiefly
collected and they WELD an enormous influ,
ence here both social and commercial. Once
assure their active interest In the institu.
ton and excite their zeal for its progress,
and there will be no lack of money to sustain
the trustees in developing q wise. liberal
and comprehensive university scheme, ant
In making II Of genuine benefit to thos,
from far and near who are DESTROYS OF pur
suing tho special studies and investigations
which belong to n university. Those are tho
studies which prepare men for professional
life, for the higher paths Of learned inquiry
and for practical scientific and artistic work
But the university founders must be men o
large scope and frcc and hospitable minds.