New-York tribune., 1891-12-17

o.,;rs ;ts rresent location and environments
How strong and prevalent this BELIEF Is we nave
at present no means OF estimating, but the heA'
six months will supply valuable and it is hoped'
conclusive evidence on this point. Ihe quesuoh
Of removal is complicated one. 10 involves,
first of all, perhaps, definition OF the ideal
American University What do those VINO are
directly and indirectly responsible Tor the well
fare and deyelopment of Columbia want 1t to
he? We have not, as Germany and England
have n National type of university. For such
IN institution as that at Berlin great capital
has surprising advantages. There Is undouoted
force in the argument that here ut home the
multifarious life of a popuous city, Its courts
hospitals libraries industries and arts contribute
largely to the breadth and efficiency OF the edll-
cational establishment which they surround.
But nobody who is interested inthe development
Of Harvard and Yale would wish to see them
removed to New-York. Such change OF base
would involve a complete change OF character,
and their growth thereafter would be in new
direction. Along what lines is it most desirable
that Columbia should advance? If her destiny
il TO he collection of professional schools teach
ing by lectures and examining for degrees, and
concerning themselves not at all about the habits,
occupations and surroundings of their students,
then certainly the present site has some advan-
taees over the one proposed. But il the desire
is to inform Columbia with new spirit, to CEN
tralize il. to introduce into it more of the ele-
ments which constitute what is known as the
college life at Princeton and Harvard and Yale,
then change of location is essential to the re-
aization of that purpose.
This, we suppose, is one OF the impulses De-
hind the present movement. If it is, and II the
college authorities desire to stimulate tendency
in this direction, they must consider how far
they want it to go. II they are prepared to en-
courage q departure which may become meta
morphosis they must determine whether the
Bloomingdale site is capable of supplying the
probable requirements of the future. That To-
cality now seems comparatively remote and Sc
cluded, but it will not long remain So A few
years hence it will be surrounded by dense
population, and it will eventually be as close to
the heart of the city as the present college
grounds now are. Assuming that two million
dollars is not an exorbitant price for the property
to-day, or out of proportion to the resources OF
Columbia can the college afford to occupy and
cover with costly buildings tract of land which
may be worth ten or twenty UT thirCy "iiIo"o
fifty years from to-day? The material fabric
of an educational institution and its continuous
existence in one place, with the traditions, asso-
Citations and affections there accumulated are an
important element of its influence and utility and
a powerful factor in moulding its character. No
college could fail to lose by frequent removals.
If Columbia is ready to 60 as far as One-hundred-
nd-sixteenth- ST, ought it not to go further?
These. it seems to us, are some of the ques-
tons which will have to be decided soon, and
which the acceptance of an option on the Bloom
ngdale property will help the trustees and friends
of Columbia to decide wisely.