Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-10-26
ABOUT u COLLEGE.

EkeS. Dr. ward Addresses the public
Regarding the E~nstitution OF earn.
lug over Which ne Presides.
AT the Congregational church Sun
day forenoon DR.. Ward, president of the
fankton college, addressed q large con.
gFegatlon upon the subject of gankton
college, its works and its needs. HIS
address embodied a presentation of the
financial condition of the college and
an appeal for aid 20 clear the college
from debt. We give 8 synopsis of his
remarks, which run as follows:
Iowne, cities and states have their
characteristics ca we'll as individuals.
Commercial supremacy is not the most
enduring, nor even the most influential.
Nor Is political power the most desir-
able. Germany holds the peace of
Europe in her hand, but her greatest
boast Is of her universities. Alfred was
great, not because he laid the founda-
ton of E%ngland's kingdom, but because
be founded Oxford. suenoe of
power comes by teaching with unseen.
rather than material, forces.
Iankton has strong commercial ad-
vantages, and will be noted in the future
as o great centre of power IN this
material line, but from the very begin
ning her ambition has been for better
things, and she has ever been ready to
exchange material wealth for spiritual
and intellectual power.
Twenty years ago., when we had a
population of barley 200, the first public
act OF the people was to build, by volun-
tary gifts, unpided by taxes, a school
house. The women OF Yankton erected
what we now call the Brown school
house, on Walnut street. This early act
was prophetic of our future. Ever since
that day educational interests have been
literally cared for. Whatever may
divide us we are a unit IN favor of edu-
cation.
Thus Yankton was already noted as
an educational center when chosen by
the Congregational churches of Dakota
as the place to build a college. Yankton
by o gift of $4,000 secured the location
OF the college and subsequent events
have justified the choice of the
churches.
1t is the boast of Yankton
college that it was not founded
for any selfish end. 1t was not estab-
iished to boom a town, nor to sell town
lots, nor to carry out the schemes OF any
man or any party, The sole and only
purpose was to furnish a means of
giving to young men and women @
christian education.
When the building was finished and
ready for use there was upon it o debt
oft$lS,OO0. Expenses have increased each
year, but they have been met aud yet
the debt has been reduced until it is
now $4,000. About $4,000, of this debt
Is due to the permanent endowment
fund. The property OF the college is
worth $4,000. None of it is encumbereu
bya mortgage, as individuals have be.
come personally responsible for the
debt. Yankton has never been asked to
make o general effort 70 help the COL
lege slnce the first pledge of over five
years ago. A few individuals have given
something every year. The Congrega-
tional church has given something and
the little Willing Hearts have held
steadily to their purpose to raise a
a scholarship of $1,000.
1t is now proposed to cancel this
debt. Not all at once. but by INSTALL
ments. The people of Yankton are to
have the opportunity to give in the
followin G manner:
1st-To give all they can in cash or
thirty days.
2nd-Io give notes payable at the
bank In three, six and nine months,
these notes to be without interest.
This was the general plan proposed by
DIR. Ward and his request is for sub
scriptions in accordance With sugQes
tions above outlined. The college has
some resources in the way of endow-
ment and scholarship funds, not i'm
mediately available, and it has t Q good
will OF strongschurches in the east which
will yield substantial future aid. But
the college trustees desire to place the
institution out OF debt and therefore
make this appeal to its ardent admirers
here at home, that they may
have a share in the work. DR.
Ward hopes to clear up the liabilities
within nine months, by means of noteE
or cash, aud he agrees, if this can be
done, to assume personal responsibility
OF $1,000 of the Indebtedness.
Yankton can well afford as o money
Investment to give the aid asked for
Since the college was founded it ha,
paid out right here at home more thar
five times as much as it ever received
from the city.
Last year it expended over $4,000, il
Yankton, aside from the personal outlay
of it's students. Each year greatly
increases the amount of disbursements
ALI this is to be considered aside from
the value of the work done, which can
not be counted in money. The college
has given the city a wide reputation. l
draws desirable citizens. 1t is a fore,
-. a.