Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-05
A COUNTRY COLLEGE.
Captain J. B. Ford Offers the Nucleus
For lis Endowment,
TARENTUM is TO BE THE PLACE,
And the First Cost is to be From $4O, 900 to
$4,000, if Built.
DR. MCCULLOUGH AND OTHERS FAVOR 1T

Captain j. b. Ford, of Tsrentum, large
stakeholder of the Pittsburg Plate Glass
Works, has made the citizens of that town
q magnificent offer, in the hope of encourag-
ing them to erect college or other school
of learning in Tarentum. His offer, as
made, is that they (the citizens) must raise
by subscription from $4,000 to S25, 900, and
then he will donate the same amount as sub
scribed.
A call was made on Captain Ford to gain
some information concerning the project =
In answer to numerous questions he said:
'I did not make the offer openly. but only
to several of my townsmen, while talking
over what things would benefit the
borough. Nevertheless, my word is
good, and 1 shall do as 1 said,
donate SIC. 900 to the enterprise, or morelif it
be required, provided the citizens raise the
same amount. Ny object in establishing a
school in this town is the benefting of those
who want to attend college, but who are un-
able to go any distance on account OF their
financial condition. Ny first idea of a school
was that it should be ladies' seminary.
/ have since concluded that any other kind
of a non-sectarian institution would do just
as well, or even better. would like it to
compare favorably with other schools of
note in this State. think this town is well
located for such a place of learning, and
think that pupils from all the west
ern portion, and probably from all
over the State, would come, provided,
of course, that it will be a model school. As
to its situation, il should be inside the
borough limits, and be surrounded by five
or SIX acres of ground, kept in neat condi-
tion. The building should be substantial
and neat. If not handsome; and $4,000 or
$4,000 will put up a nice building. Ii
would certainly benefit the town and vicin-
ity, and the citizens cannot fail to see the
advantages to be derived by such an insti-
tuition.
ANOTHER PUBLIC PROJECT.
81 have also spoken to a number of the
citizens concerning the erection OF a first
class hotel, one containing 90 to so rooms.
l have offered to take one-half
of the stock, if the citizens
will take the balance. Any
person who has ever stopped in this town
knows the need of such a place. Other
towns OF less population, and much less
important, have large hotels. Apollo, for
instance. At present between 80 and 40
new houses are being erected in the town,
and this alone should awaken the people to
the fact that our town needs such things"
A call was also made on several of the
citizens to whom Mr.. Ford talked. Mr..
James Karns, one of the gentlemen, said:
"There has not been much done since Cap
tain Ford made us such handsome offer;
but something will shortly be done to ad-
vance the project" DR.. j. S. Mccartney
was also called on, but said he knew moth
ing about the enterprise, further than hav-
ing heard it talked over by several people.
Colonel j. d. Travers, another Of the
prominent citizens, said: Several DAYS
ago gentlema an called on me with an out
line of a subscription list. He was not So
liciting any subscriptions, but said that a
move TO do so would soon be made. 1 think
the idea is good, and have no doubt il will
succeed, although the business men of our
town are not all able to contribute"
DR.. Mccullough, State Representative
from that section, is heartily in favor Of the
plan. He said he believed the citizens
could raise $40, 900, if necessary. He
further said the town missed its chance by
not having the offer made before the State
Normal School was built at Slippery Rock,
Butler countv. 1t was his opinion that,
had the donation been offered before then,
Tarentum would have secured the institu-
tion.
STATE AID WOULD COME.
As it is, he thinks the building should be
a manual training school. 1t would then
get State appropriation. He thought that
So, 900 could be gotten from the Common
wealth without any difficulty. He said,
further: 'T heard that Captain Ford had
offered $4,000. A subscription list
has been started, and several rather
handsome amounts have been sub
scribed. The money required, how
ever, will never be raised unless
public interest is awakened. 1t is the in
tention of the citizens to hold public meet
ing soon, to take action on the proposal OF |
Captain Ford, and also to devise ways of |
raising the money. As to the hotel, it is |
sadly needed; but it will never get the sup |
port that the other project will.
Several others said the trouble is that the |
citizens of the town are not enterprising |
enough.
The old scheme Of opening up q fair |
ground near the town is again talked Of A |
prominent gentleman gave it as his opinion |
that a large fair ground will be opened very
soon, as more interest is taken in it than |
ha.a