The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-01
ONE GREAT UNIVERSITY.

DIR. Swallow Advances Reasons Why 1t
Would be Preferable.
To THE INDEPENDENT: In my last ! tried
in a brief way to show the necessity of de-
~termininR the best plan for our state
schools before any of them are located.
The first question to be decided is whether
these schools and colleges shall lie assooi-
ated in a university or kept as distinct and
separate schools. Some of the most obvi-
GUS reasons for separate schools we're given,
as we'll as some arguments why associating
them all in a university would be better.
A few more facts on this question are
justified by its importance at this crisis,
when the immediate location of some Of
these schools at distant points is 80 strenu-
ously urged.
II we had ample mean in hand-ssy,
$500, 900 for eaoh-toe equip and endow these
colleges and schools, 20 that each of them
could be prepared to teach all departments
of learning like Cornell, then each would
be a great benefit to the portion Of the state
where located and would command the pat
ronage of the whole state; but. as It ia, the
land given to endow each school cannot for
and endow such a college az will command
the support Of any considerable portion of
On the other hand, should all these col
leQes and schools be associated in one uni
versity, the funds from all the lands, with
what the state could give, would soon build
up q school to be proud Of. A few facts
will show the economy of such associa-
ton:
The buildings which would accommodate
all these colleges as separate schools would
cost much more than the buildings which
would accommodate all when associated.
Associated they would need but one
library, while separated each would need a
library.
Associated, one chemical laboratory, one
set of chemical apparatus n one series of
lectures and instruction would answer for
all; whereas. as separated schools, each one
would be forced to have the same expense
ton.
The same may be said of the departments
of geology and mineralogy. physiology, as
t1onomy, physics and English language, for
we must have all these studies in the uni
~yersity, in the normal school, in the school
of mines and in the agricultural college.
1t will thus be seen that it will cost near
ly four times as much to establish these
four schools as separate institutions, than
it would to establish all associated in a
university. 1t will take some $4,000 to
make q respectable nucleus for a collegiate
library. One library Will ACCOMMODATE all
the schools. if associated: but it will take
four Libraries for the four schools, if To-
Gated at distan. points, as some propose.
The same fourfold expense will be required
for equiping each of the departments of
study above named for four separate
schools located at distant points.
1t ia obvious, therefore. that with tho
means We have, these schools can be made
nearly foul times as efficient, associated in
n university, than they can be made as sep
arate institutions.
And besides, the day is not far distant
when Montana will have q school of engi-
neers, q commercial college, a medical col
lege and a law school,. II We adopt the plan
of separate institutions, it will cost large
money to make them good schools; but on
the associated system of the university, it
would cost much less, and We can have
these schools much sooner.
Yes, those who want u diversion will say,
that is all right in theory; give us the school
and we will SEQ they are made what they
should be. But the Advantages of a~ssocia-
ton as above stated commend themselves
to practical men. And besides the expert
ences OF our American colleges for the last
fifty years, give us many bright examples
of the advantages of association and a hun
dred sad examples OF separate schools liv-
ing at a poor dying rate.
There are state schools now thirty years