Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-09-03
NEW ERA DAWNING.
IL,
Salem Can't Afford to Lose
Willamette University,
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
The Question Now Being Dis
cusSed.-.Strong Representa-.
ton From Portland.
SOMETHING MUST Be DONE


University building yesterday after
noon. The committee was well rep
resented and the subject was dis
cussed at length, but no conclusions
were reached. subcommittee werr
appointed to look up the sites and
locations which have been proposed,
and to report at some subsequent
meeting.
A JOURNAL reporter hunted up q
number of the members o: the com
mittee and got their views of the
subject
GEN. W. Il. ODELL,
of this city and chairman of the
board of trustees, was interviewed
this morning by the reporter, whu
found him calm on the subject, yel
the talked freely about the interests
OF the school. He said the general
drift of the argument at the meet
ing of the committee yesterday was
that the school be allowed to remain
in Salem. He stated the work ul
the committee was not the removal
IF the school; how to secure lar
ger campus, a greater endowment
fund and better building, aud that,
ii anything, would take the univer-
sity from Salem. He further stated
the school could not be maintained
and keep its present influence IL
The North pacific coast and its grow
ing scendeucy with its present fa
cilities, buildings and appliances;
where all these could be better en-
dowed and better maintained
would be where the future OF the
school must be.
Mr.. G. W. STAVER.
Of Portland, was interviewed by The
reporter, who found him incliued.to
talk but little on the subject TO Il
newspaper representative, as he
thought by quiet work better results
would lie reached. However, he
said the matter was being talked
upi in Portland, though no canvass
has been made, and q number OF
wealthy men desire 10 see the school
removed TO that city. One syndi-
cate had offered TO give 100 acres,
and that other wealthy Men would
give literally.
REV. MR.. RUNNER,
another Portland man Is very en-
thusiastic in the matter, though not
especially favoring its removal to
Portland. He said money was what
was needed and if necessary the
university should go TO some other
city TO get it, but he thought the
salem people would respond to the
call of their old and respected intitu-
ton. He had about the same views |
as Mr.. Staver as to what their city |
would do TO aid the institution.
The following is from yesterdays /
Oreognian on the advantage of a
college at Portland. The same ad-
vantages would accrue TO any other |
city, so they are clipped.
IF the attendance were only 100 I
students outside Of those from this ,
city, these would bring to this city /
the first ten years at least s4O0, 900. .
The average expense of a student ,
at Williams is $500 year; at Brown,
$500; at Amherst, S34s. And this 1
does not include books, clothing and .
incidental expenses. The money eX-
pended by professors families in liv-
ing expenses in ten years would not
be less than Sl50,00o. These esti- .
mates are based upon statistics OF
other institutions Of learning aud
are not unreasonable. They are too
low if anything. Then, further,
the location OF such an institution
in the city would bring large num-
her Of families here expressly to ed
ucate their children. Thousands of
dollars annually would be brought
to the city in that way. The second
ten years, much more money would
be brought 10 the city than the first
ten, and the sums would increase
steadily year by year That Is the
history Of all institutions of learn
ing after they have secured 800, 900
worth of property.
The Gen. further observed that
the people who had grown up in its
shadow had not fully appreciated
the school. While many have given
literally some have stood by and
have seen the school linger along
and struggle under difficulties. He
also believed the people here would
take a new interest in the school and
show a pride in building it up.
a NUMBER or OTHER
members OF the board of trustees
have been consulted and their
opinions are substantially the same
as those given. One prominent busi-
ness man of salem, who il a member
Of the board, was heard 10 remark yes
terday that something must bedome.
The average attendance to VIII
lamett from abroad il about 80
scholars and putting their average
expense as low as $50 each would
bring into the city nearly $4,000
annually; add to this the expend-
itures Of families of the professors
and the families vino spend tine
winter in the city Ia send their
children 10 school will swell the