Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-17

and county officers their respective rooms
in the present Capitol building, It seems to
the writer to be proper time 70 again con-
slider this subject and to eau the attention
of the public to it. As the gentleman
whom you interviewed has NOT raised his
voice again, hope you viii permit me TO
show the feasibility Of this project.
The question which concerns US here
above ali others is, would the University be
more proserous if removed from Morgan
town TO Wheeling The old idea that q
school of this charsctePshould be placed IN
q secluded village is rapidly disappearing IN
consequence of the practical success ofthose
universities which are located in larger
cities. On the continent OF Europe the
largest and most successful universities are
those which are in the largest cities. In
the United States this rule may not
hold good in all cases but it GER
tainly does hold good as far as
the professional schools Of law and medi-
cine are concerned. The law department
of our university which now consists Of
small number OF students and two tutors,
could be improved considerably by the as
sistance of the legal talent of this city, at
small cost. if that department were situated
in Wheeling. No doubt most excellent
faculty could be organized here which would
attract students not only from our own but
also from neighboriug States. The medical
department Of the University will probably
never be a success in Torgantown. II this
State would establish medical faculty OF
half dozen good men at an annual cost Of
from ten to twelve thousand dollars, 1t still
would be probable that few students would
seek this school, because of its lack OF ability
TO give practical instruction. In Wheeling,
hospital facilities could no doubt be pro-
cured in the course of time and good
faculty could b. selected from our resident
physicians. Both professional schools IT
fairly paironized could possibly be made
almost selfpaying, and after the first few
years would not require large sppropri-
atoms from the State. If there are to be
professional schools in connection with the
University, and this should be an aim OF
this institution, they will succeed far better
and cost the State less in Wheeling than
they ever Will in Morgsntown. The cole
giate department would also succeed under
the influence of association with the pro-
fessional schools. These schools would give
new yigor and healthy impetus to the col
legiate department.
If the University were be located In
the metropolis Of the State it is very proba-
bic that the political and religious strife, the
conflicts Of chques and factions, which has
ever marked its history would cease. Our
it,. -. d. LA. ,ro,,ld ha too Eharal m
place obstacles in the road Of the University
towards success because their political, re-
Egions or other views are not predominant
in the school. Every citizen Of the State or
his son, be he Methodist, Presbyterian, Bsp-
list, Catholic or Jew could then enjoy the
privileges of the highest institution OF learn
ing OF The State without feeling that he Is at
a place where he does not belong because
be is not in sympathy with the views OF the
predomiustiDg religious factions and social
reformers Of the town. Furthermore the
University would more probably receive
more ENDORSEMENTS from more Of
our wealthy citizens than It ever will in
Norgantown. At present, through the
muni6cence Of the citizens Of Wheeling we
have fair supply of handsome churches,
two Orphans homes, a hOspitsl, and our pub
lie library is also in working. Indeed, if
one OF our wealthy citizens would wish to
do some good for the public to-day he
would probably have some difficulty to find
an institution in our city, which is very
much in need Of money. If the University
were here, perpetual place would be pro-
yided for liberal citizens to place their over
flowing wealth, to assist towards the highe
education Of the citizens Of our State and
to aid the progress OF science aud enhght
ment.
While it has been attempted to show, as
briefly as possible, that the removal Of the
University to Wheeling would benefit that
institution, it is now proposed to show that
the city of Wheeling would be benefited by
having such an institution Of learning in Its
midst. The presence of the University here
would not only be powerful stimulus to
the education, the culture and the refine
ment OF our residents, but it would have 8
pecunisry value. A large portion of the
appropriations for the University (now over
$40, O6O) would be expended among our
merchants. At Morgsntown the number OF
students has been from 100 to $50. It
cafe TO assert that that number would be
doubled, If not trebled, in Wheeling. The
presence of two or three hundred students
in Wheeling during about eight months Of
every year, would be equal, in pecuniary
value, TO the presence Of the legislature in
the city for few months every two years
and the presence OF the faculty would, in
,be same way, almost have an equal value
With the presence Of the state sdministra
ton, which We are about TO lose.
What claims has Wheeling on the Uni
versity? A county that contributes twelve
and ope-balf per cent, or one-eighth of the
total amount, or $4,000 sf the taxes col
leeted for state and school purposes annual
~, has q right, at least, TO ask for some ben
eft from this large contribution, aside from
that Of a good government. Heretofore.
We have enjoyed the privilege of our city
being the temporary capital, for which We
have paid q handsome sum, aud have in
CURED large debt for the erection of
home for our state government in the pres
ent handsome capitol building.
OF the several plans of bringing about
this removal the following appears to be
the most feasible to the writer with his
present knowledge Of the financial condition
of the State and city, which is admitted not
to be very exact: The State to pay, say
$4,000, to the city of Wheeling for the DER
petual use of the present Capital building
for the purposes Of University. This
would give the State fine building with
ample room, which would require little il
any alterations Of its interior arrangement
Of rooms for the use of University. The
arrangement Of the lecture rooms, library.
laboratories, e;c., the writer viii leave to the
fertile mind of the REGISrER reporter for the
present The Linsly Institute in the i'm.
mediate neighborhood could possibly be in
dneed to cooperate with the University as a
preparatory department As reform
school is becoming necessity in this State,
and not only in the county this school
should be made q State institution, for
which the present University buildings at
Morgantown could probably be adapted at
small cost. The F., NJ. & P. railroad will
be completed during the early part
Of the coming year, which viii make
MorgantoWn. which is better adapted for
q reform school than Wheeling. accessible
4