Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-07

Washington anU Lee University
The centennial organization for the bet
ter endowmen of Washington and Lee
University is making a strong effort to
place that institution on satisfactory
financial basis. The university, as is well
known, is located at Lexington, Va, and
was chartered in 1872. 1t is the only seat
of learning which received personal aid
and encouragement from Washington. He
took a deep interest in its welfare, and in
1896 gave it $50. coo. Gen. Robert f. Lee,
at the time OF his death, was its President.
1t is claimed, and no doubt justly, that
Washington had a well-deined plan fer
making this university one of the great
institutions of learning of the country.
Its location is admirable, and it has many
advantages not possessed by any other
college. 1t is being enlarged, improved
and developed il harmony with the views
entertained by Washington with regard
to it. What it needs is money, and to Sc
cure the amount of money required is the
aim of those who have charge of the in
terests of the institution. In 1876 a meet
ing was held in Independence Hall TO de-
wise ways and means to increase the en-
dOwment. At that meeting an Organiza-
ton was effected. composed Of some Of the
most prominent men Of the country. 4
little money was obtained at that time.
In 1881 the following officers OF this en-
dowment organization were elected:
President, Wm. NJ. COrcOran, the Wash
ington millionaire; Vice Presidents, Chief
u 4 fr,fb GFe1
NJ. Eyarts, Theodore T. Randolph and II.
H. Houston. These gentlemen have sue
ceeded admirably in collecting money.
They have already turned over to the
University 100000. They are not, how
ever, resting on their oars. They are
still working. 1t is estimated that to
carry out the plans deemed necessary to
put the university on a footing that will
attract students and enable it to compete
with other institutions of the same kind,
the sum Of 100000 is required; of this
amount about S4O0, 600 has been subscrib-
ed. more than half of which is from the
North. There is immediate use for about
100000 to establish u school Of mines in
the university. 4 school .ot this kind is
deemed very necessary, not only on ac-
count of the good results that are sure to
flow from it, but also on account Of the
advantages which the surrounding cOun-
try offers to students who desire to pur-
sue this branch Of study.
1t is suggested that this institution,
properly endowed, would be a fitting
monument to Washington, and in the line
Ofhis own example. The appropriateness
Of this suggestion will no doubt be appre-
ciated. The officers of the centennial or
ganizatiOn point cut way in which the
5000, 600 Immediately needed can be raised.
This is the way: Let the people all over
the country celebrate the anniversary Of
WashingtOn's birth by making cOntribu-
lions to the needed endowment. Large
sums would of course be thankfully re-
ceived, but small sums are, doubtless,
what are expected. If the giving were at
all general, and in sums so small as not to
be missed, the amount raised would be
far beyond what is now asked for. 1t is
a point to be noticed, that a contributor
has right to direct the special application
of his subscription. All communications,
subscriptions and contributions will reach
the proper party if directed to Gen. r. d.
Lilley, 1O2 Broadway, New York. The
people of the South have a special interest
in this institution, inasmuch as Gen. Lee
was at one time its President.