The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
burning of The State University.

To the Editor of the INDIANAPOLIS Journs1
[ have read with infinite regret OF the burn
ing OF the laboratories and museums OF the
State University at Bloomington. The tele-
graph states that the loss amounts to $780,
900. But this is loss which cannot be meas
ured by money nor restored by insurance. 1t
was the llfe-work of great and industrious
man which persisted in the flames, and not
the paltry dollars which purchased the col
lection. No. l should not say that DIR.
OWENS life-work perished the works of I'M
selfish men of science cannot be wholly de-
stroyed. Their teachings and example are
left even when the visible fruits of their
labors are gone. Professors Jordon and Gill
bert are still young, and it is possible for
them to restore in measure, the results OF
the eight years of richly-productive labor
which went down in night.
The Owens are peculiarly fortunate in hay
ing transmitted the work they so well begun
to men so competent to carry it on. But
there are other thoughts than those OF regret
which this disaster suggests. All that is val
liable to the State for educational purposes
at Bloomington has been DESTROYED. Now
is the time, if ever when Indiana
is to move in the direction OF a
greater system of university education. There
should no longer be a question of mere To-
cality. The Indiana University is far more
important to Indianians than the interests
of Bloomington. Lafayette indianapolis.
The University OF Indiana will never reach
its true place in the State until the member
from Allen will work for it as heartily as the
representative from Monroe. 1t may be we'll
to decentralize our penal and charitable in
situations, and locate them at New Albany,
Michigan City, Logansport and Richmond,
but IL great university Capitalization must
be the rule. Every power and resource
should be carefully husbanded and applied
in the most efficient way. The time when a
great institution endowed by the State could
be place for mere routine and college cram
has happily passed away. The university OF
to-day must not follow the advance of
thought, but lead it. But to do this it must
have men and money and verify OF purpose.
Now that an appalling disaster has opened
the way for this concentration of labor in
higher education, it would be trif1ing with
fate to neglect it. The State has
property worth half a million dollars
atJafayette. The academic department of
the State University land that IS all there is
OF it now since the medical and law schools
have disappeared) should be removed thith-
er and then brought into intimate union
with the technical schools, which are strug
Cling for existence there. No narrow preju-
dice should be allowed to prevent this fusion
of the States efforts to secure a university
training for her youth. Broad and liberal
views should rule in all matters, and espe-
cially in an affair of such importance as this.
II higher education in Indiana is still to be
looked at in the old humdrum light then
farewell to all our hopes in that direction.
The field of educational work must be broad
4ned. Bigotrv, partiSanship and sectionalsm
must be eliminated and our Young men
Il ft,nf
huence which Jordan has made so fruitful at
Bloomington,
Any system of university education which
does not lead to research is Anticipated and
useless. The good and honest men who
mean so we'll and do so ill in professional
take their place, which inspire the
youth with enthusiasm and lead
him on beyond what has been
done before. Perhaps the first change will
have to come in the regents of our UNIVERSE
ties. They must be made to understand in
some way (heaven only knows howl what a
university is. Then with the wise ones of
the State the problem will be solved.
This great disaster at Bloomington should
induce the Governor to call the Legislature
in special session to secure an amalgamation
OF the two universities and an endowment
which would place the new university at once
in the way of success. Half million dollars
wisely spent now will repay the State a hun
bred fold within a quarter of a century.
Can great and growing State like ours af
ford to send her best youth to Michigan, to
Massachusetts, to Germany to secure an ed
ucation? Certainly this necessity should not
exist. 1t is an open secret that Prof Jordon
is soon to be called to Cornell. l have heard
it said that he left one college on account of
its orthodoxy. Shall Indiana lose him now
on account of her parsimony? 1 have known
college authorities to become ill-natured at
gentle hints of their failure to understand in
every respect the shortcomings of their
school, but | feel sure that the rulers of our
State University, who have done well under
many hardships, will not be offended at this
plea for great university of the future.
H. w. WILEY
WASHINGTON, D. c., July IA.