Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-12
The Former Replies to the Latter's Letter
and Asks That Credit iic Ac-
corded where Due.


chanics' Institute and he relates how
they did it in the summer OF 1893. Mr..
Oyciton Howard first suggested it that
the Builders Exchange was at that time
I'm an ccpirlng condition. He Is
mistaken.
The Builders Exchange was organ
lzei January IA. 1884, and lasted uutIl
January. 1886. In the summer and fall
OF 1881 it was in an exceedingly flour
ishing condition. and was taking steps to
organize a mechanics institute and 20
get mp an exposition. / was an honor
airy member OF it, and my firm was its
counsel. Captain Thomas Elicit was ITS
secretary.
President Tyler says that the origin Of
the present institute had no connection
with the Builders Exchange.
HE is susrAEEy.
The letters in the public prints st the
time of the organization Of the exchange
adyertcd to the work of "adding c4n ~
Gona' and business facilities to The me-
chanical interests, and the organization
OF mechanics institute was freely dis
cusscd 10y this assoc alton and its menu
bers. | was requested to get charters,
reports. DC, OF similar institutions IN
other cities, and did get them, and have
q number Of them now. This was sevc-
raj months before Mr.. Iyler's letter ap-
pearcd. | knew that when his letter was
written in September, 1881, at Ieasttwo OF
the members hceXchange though that
1t was written IN consequence OF the
steps going on to start an institute and
because he wished to assist. The secre-
tary oil tie exchange on the publication
of the letter. OF Messrs. Howard and
Tyler Immediately saw the president,
who gladly avaied himself Of their slr-
vices. and on the 9th of September,
1854. the Board Of Directors OF the
Builders Exchange called a meeting Of
the exchange O. to consider the estab-
hshment of a school for instruction N
mechanic arts And on the Sd OF Oc-
tober the night-school was opened, the
Builders Exchange furnishing ,herooms,
fuel, and lights, and members OF the eX-
change donating q portion II not the
whole of the boards and desks, ana SIX
gentlemen, Mes-rs. Tyler and Howard
among them, giving their services as
teachers.
President TYLER says that they him
self and friends) arranged classes and
teachers. "as we'll as determined upon
George Ainslie as president. lie says
further that "it was deemed proper Dy
the orieinators. who were the teachers,
that the officers Of the institution should
he representative mechanics, and hence
1t was that Mr.. Ainslie was asked TO be
president and Mr.. Starke yice-presl-
dent" Further. that "all these move
ments were originated 10y Mr.. Howard
and himself, and Gin profound ignorance
Of any first suggestions by any other
person, which are cheap unless followed
by hrst actions.
AGAIN N ERROR.
President Tyler is mistaken, else he
YVES most successful in keeping himself
in the background. Captain George 4.
Ainslie was called TO preside over the
meeting of December >, 1881, not 10y
President Tyler. but by Captain DIM
mock. a member of the dlcrcctory oil
the Builders Exchange, and Captain
Ellett, the secretary OF tie exchange,
was made secretlry. ] was present at
the meeting as was a very large number
Of the members Of the exchange. Mr..
L. l.. Archer offered the resolutions,
one OF which was to appoint com
mitteo of thirteen, who shall be author
lied to prepare q plan for the conduct OF
/ said institute. to apply for a charter, &c
solicit aid, and to take other steps which
they shall deem proper and eXpedient
The Chair appointed Colonel Archer
Anderson. ". T.. Simons, Ashton
starke. Preston Belyin, Il. Wiley Davis
/ y. Y. Randolph, Thomas y. IaSe, ",
r. Tanner. John OFT, Allan Talbot, w
Nj. Archer, Lewis Ginter, y. Bargamin
and ". ). WestwOod. Captain Alnsh'
and CAPTAIN Thomas Elicit were als'
added. and the six gentlemen who haC
been teaching the night-school gratul
.ously "were requested to cooperate
with this board"
he OMITTED THREE TEACHERS.
Mr.. Tylcr Saws that the classes OF the
nirht-school "were formed by Messrs
Howard and Tyler in arithmetic, aige
bra. and geometry by Nj. james .
Tamn in book -keepng, and by Ar. W
r. Higham in architectural drawing.
These gentlemen, he says, gave thei
services gratuit Ously the first year Mr.
TYLER. Of course unwittingly, does tire
gentlemen the injustice 10 omit then
from the list OF teachers who gave thel
time-Mr. William j.. Sheppard. VII
TAUGHT drawing; DR.. Cherries Ii. Chaih
lev. who taught chemistry, ana MI
Thomas \. Carter, who taught arith
metic and algebra, two subjects to on
(artbmetic) which Mr.. Tyler taught
At the meeting OF the board January -
/ 1895. President Ainslie appointed tn
standing committees. Mr.. Tyler was o.
I two-Le ctures and Canyassing wa
on three-Finance, Library, and Gan
yassing.
OTHER ERRArUN.
Mr.. TYLER saws he had tho honor to b
chairman Of the Committee on Gan
wasting. He is mistaken. Mr.. Jon
OFT had that honor.
lie says that he was chairman OF I'd
committee to draft the constitution, an
with Mr.. Howard ne aPptaiou '01Oi
the Council III advocacy OF the apprc
nriation desired. He was chairman {
the committee OF three to have the cor
stitution and bylaws printed and I
urge the appropriation OF 81, OOO, an
he did appear before tue Council, pr
so did Mr.. ii. Il. Owen an
Mr.. =. Wiley Davis, who WEI
tine other members OF the committee
and Captain Thomas klIett, whose &c
sires were perhaps us effective with ID
Council as ,Sere those OF Mr.. Tyler an
Mr.. Howard. II President Tyler WI
consult the records he will find that TN
committee was appointed on the motto
not OF himself, but of an humble men
her of the boald. who was a member
tine Builders Exchange aud Its counse
and who had the honor at the time TO
q member OF the Board OF Aldermen, J
which no had in October, 1884 oiiere
The resolution under which the appr'
nriation was made. He. as well as NJ
} 'iCvler and Mr.. Howard, appeared peiol
the Council in advocacy OF the appr'
priatjon desired, and the Council did hi
-. a., ant the fund under charl