The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-29
WEST VIRGINIA. UNIVERSITY.
Its Present Prosperity and It's Futuru
Necessities,

Sptcldt GCrrtSpORdsNcsV " ne JhteWDeNctT.
WAsnlSGToN, D. G., July GA few
days since, during the Washington visit
of President Turner, Of the Morgantown
University, your correspondent had the
pleasure Of meeting and convorsing with
him about the future OF the institution
over which he presides. The President,
as everybody knows, is an ipdefatigable
worker, and II there is any ono subject
upon which he cannot converse without
becoming enthusiastic it is the subject Of
the State University, itB needs and pros.
peCts. He informed me that his visit here
was principally in the interests Of the in.
stitution, and added almost in the same
breath something to the effect that he be.
lieved 1t had before 1t a brilliant future.
The very successful year just closed has
greatly encouraged the faculty and all the
friends OF the University 10 renewed OK.
eltions in It's behalf. Already the signs
are that next year will surpass all former
terms. 1t 10 thought that the number OF
students next winter will be In excess OF
any other year. The recently completed
tairmont, Morgantown 4 Pittsburgh
Railroad will prove great benefit to the
University.
President Turner says he thinks that
the press Of the State cannot 90 to ex.
tremes in the matter OF booming the in.
stitution. He sses no reason why 1t ought
not to be made great national celebrity,
aud rank among the standard colleges and
uniyeraities Of the country. Tho benefit
that would accrue to the State cannot be
estimated. The method adopted by the
management last year has given satisiac.
tion, aud all that Is needed, now that 1t
has been lifted out OF tho mire Of partizan
politics, to make the institution an honor
TO the State, and powerful factor In the
progress and development Of West Vir.
GINA, is greater pecuniary liberality on
the part OF the Legislature. Two or three
more protesaorships need to be estab-
lished.
ANEW CHAIR NEEDED.
There is pressing need, particularly OF
q Chair OF Mining aud Civil Engineering.
The advantage OF this addition to the State
will be apparent 10 everyone. The Legis.
lature should not bo niggardly in granting
its support 10 the University, so that the
poor and ambitious young men OF the
state may have placed at their doors op.
portunlties that only the wealthy can Sc.
Curs at Princeton or Harvard or Yale with
out great sacrifice. While speaking upon
this subject President Turner took the
broad ground that all OF West Yirgnia's
educational institutions, the Normal
Schools in particular, Bhould receive bet.
ter support. Tbs starring out process has
gone on long enough, aud II Is time that
our Legislative bodies were waking 10
realization OF the fact that in the prosperi.
ty OF these institutions, together with a
more liberally lostered press, lie the hopes
OF the State. The term BourDonism (not
used In political sense) would express the
spirit or sentiment which has governed
heretofore the acts Of our Lawmakers with
reference TO these matters. "Lst our
Legislature try a few years tho expert.
ment Of more liberally supporting the Un.
iversity and N rmal Schools" said Prof.
Turner, land we promise, In return, that
bOurbonism and mossbaCkism will soon
exist only as blots upon the pages Of his.
tory. West Virginia will then take her
place among the great progressive States
Of the Union, and not until them"
RNDowMENTs wANTKD.
President Turner is living In the hopes
that some Of our public epirited and
weather. citizens who are doing 90 much
for the development Of the material re-.
sources Of the Stale, will turn their atten- |
ton 10 the needs Of the Uniyorsity and |
endow 1t. Here is q suggestion for such |
men as Camden, Davis, Elkins, Golf, and |
others, who are blessed with an abund.
anCe Of this worlds goods, and who could
build no more enduring monument to
themselves. The suggestion iB grAtutous
on my part. 1t will, no doubt, be taken
for what 1t is worth
As the years progress and the graduates
OF our University, colleges and normal
schools become more numerous In tho
ktate, and the public patronage Of the
enable them 10 attain greater
efficiency In the work Of progress, change
will gradually take place In the sentiment
Of the people. A demand for more intel.
ligent Legislators will secure them, Bour.
bon prejudice will give way 10 progressive
llberaIity In both political and financial
matters. Stalesmanship will be develop.
cd and lead while the tno8bbACk politician
and the ioBSilated relic Of the days when
"blood" and not education made the man
will be retired "iOr tho good Of
the State"