The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-06-13
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.

The MoRRlsTowN GAZETTE, in an
article which appears elsewhere,
makes an appeal on behalf of the
University Of Tennessee, at Knox
vile, which should be read all over
the State, and receive special atten-
ton at the hands of Representative
and Senators who haye the authori-
ty to appoint students to this time
honored institution. The Uniyer-
sity, in it's original endowment from
the mother State of North carolina,
is almost if not quite as old as the
State of Tennessee. 1t is thoroughly
equipped and delightfully."- situated
at point overlooking the city of
Knoxville and the winding Tennes-
see river, and in full view of grand
ranges of mountains. Healthful-
ness of climate, good moral intiu-
ences, refined society, accessibility
to churches Of all denominations, a
semi military yet paternal discip-
line, we'll stocked horticultural
hall and museum, and we'll supplied
scientific departments, with large
and able faculty, are some of the
advantages of the University. 1t
is a State institution, allied with and
including a Agricultural College
sustained by the Federal govern
ment. Members of the Legislature
seem not to have worked as they
might have done, or even to have
taken pains to let it be known that
they had appointments at their dis
posal. The great majority utterly
neglect to fill their quota Of free
scholarships. There is by State
law an. organic connection between
the University and public schools,
and so with the County Superinten-
dent of those schools. Yet the COM
petitive examinations of public
school pupils for free scholarship in
the University are not held as pro-
vided by law, except in few in
stances. This may be because so
few pupils are prepared to enter the
collegiate course. Shelby County is
entitled to four Senatorial scholar
ships and fifteen Representative
scholarship total, ninteen. Ten
appointments have been made,
leaving nine vacancies. Over and
above this Shelby, Fayettee and
Hardeman counties united have
five more vacancies, which, added
to Shelby's nine, makes a total of
fourteen. But this is not all yet
By an order of the Board of Trus-
tees last winter each County Super
of public schools may ap-
point, tuition free, two students,
add six for Shelby, Fayette and
Hardeman counties to the above A
and there are 20 cadets who may
be appointed from them to the
University. And yet the last re-
port of the State Superintendent of
Public Instruction shows that there
were enrolled pupils in the public
schools of Fayette county studying
arithmetic, 855; studying English /
grammar, 389; geography, 407; U.
S. History, 239. Hardeman county
does not furnish similar statistics
but there were as many or more
teachers, and presumably as many
pupils studying the above named
branches. In Shelby county there
were 7760 pupils studying arith
metic; 1870 in English grammar;
5040 in geography, and 5037 in Z.
S. History. From such numbers it
is reasonable to suppose that some
would be glad to persue collegiate
course and to avail themselves of
the vacant free scholarships in the
University, if they only kenw of the
The expenses are
comparatively small. About S155
will pay for the board of a State
student for forty weeks, for his
college fees, fuel, lights, washing
and cadets uniform and cap.
There may be some other individual |
but they are not neces-
sarily large. The railroad fare
from Memphis to Knoxville will be
about S12.66, and he can be return
ed free if it is acually necessary.
These facts are set forth on behalf
OF the cause of higher education,
and a State institution, which has
few equals and deserves the support
and encouragement Of every citizen
Of Tennessee.