The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-29
Tho Now Site Of Columbia College.

It may be assumed that Columbia College
will purchase tho portion Of the property
Of tho Bloomingdale Asylum upon which It
has obtained an option at tho price OF
$4,000. 900. and that within few years the
institution. will be removed to that site.
Tho trustees. the faculty. the whole force Of
instructors. and the alumni are united in
favoring the project, and at the meeting Of
the alumni at DRLMoNIco's on Friday even
ing Mr.. HEWITT expressed entire and rea-
sonable confidence that the money neces-
sary for Its execution would be obtained.
The objection was made to tho removal
by ono Of the speakers that only by estab-
fishing itself Mt q greater distance from the
populous centre could Columbia hope to
compete with colleges like Harvard. Yale.
and Princeton. Ho would carry tho college
to some situation beyond the Harlem. where
with much greater space obtainablc at a
price no larger than Is charged for the
Bloomingdale Asylum property. 1t could put
up dormitorles for students. and thus cstab-
lish college community which would af-
ford an opportunity for tho college life thnt
now distinguishes those other institutions
from Columbia. Ho would transform 1t
from n city college into country college.
It Is very doubtful. however. whether
such change would be- Of any advantage
In increasing the number Of undergraduate
students. and so far rs concerns tho special
and professional schools and purely univer-
stty courses. 1t would 10 manifestly inju-
rious. for the flttcst place for these Ia UNI
questionab!y great capital. 1t would be
n hazardous experiment for the venerable
institution In every way. an entirely novel
and problcmatical venture.
AS distinctively city college Columbia has
a mission OF its own, and certain decided nd
vantagcs. It Is true that 1t may never at
trnct to 1t undergraduate students in as
grcat numbers MS Harvard and Yale already
secure. but 1t has now enough OF thcm to
justify amply It's existence rs a college. and
II it maintains and increases its deserved
reputation as school Of learning. the great
population ut this most populous centre Of
the Union will always keep tho supply suf-
tlcicnt. Even IL the majority OF parents
in this region continue to prefer to
send their sons to far-awny college
communities. there will still remain mi
nority who will prefer that they should be
under homo influences and New York 1880
Citations while they are pursuing their COL
lego course. II Columbia undertook to en-
ter into direct competition with Harvard
and Yale by establishing n similar college
community, it would venture into q field in
which it would DO novice measured against
veterans and experts.
A college department proper is merely
preparatory for tho subsequent special and
university training for which the situation
OF Columbia gives it incompatible advan-
tages. so far Us this country is concerned,
and these advantages will steadily become
greater. Whatever Is best in intellect. in
art. science. and learning will tend moro
and more to New York. and in its train
will come the youth who desire to
profit by its instruction and example.
Whether these young men have received
their undergraduate education ut Columbia
itself or in other colleges. is not matter Of
consequence to the university. What it
has to offer to all who come to it is the
essential matter. II it gives them more
and better in the way OF education than
they can get elsewhere. its attractions will
DO enough without the help Of dornitories.
That is the field for Its competition.
The Bloomingdale Asylum site Is in a
neighborhood which is destined to become
before many years the most distinguished
in New York. On TINT high plateau will be
gathered Columbia College. the new cathe-
dral. the Grant monument. st. Luke's Hos
pital. and other imposing structures which
will command the attention Of every clifton
and every visitor. Property owners in the VI
cinity OF the insane YUM have strenuously
demanded that streets should be run through
its land. for that prison-like enclosure Is a
bar to tho development Of a region which is
one OF the most beautiful In the town. but
they would welcome the advent thither OF
this college and the improvements 1t would
bring with 1t. The college grounds would be
OF the nature OF park. which would so great
ly enhance the attractiveness OF the neigh
borhood that there would be no danger
that they would be disturbed for the open
ing OF unneeded and needless streets
through them. Columbia could plant itself
there without fear of any such opposition
as the asylum's presence has naturally
mere possession OF 1t would Increase greatly
tho value OF the property.
This question OF removal having been set
tied virtually, and the site for great New
York university having been determined
upon. it now only remains for the smaller
institution in Washington square to join
In the enterprise by establishing some sort
of federation with Columbia. 1t Is absurd
for 1t to expect to raise the millions 1t would
require to buy new slte for its buildings
and to provide an endowment sufficient to
maintain them. when every reasonable
nan knows that only ono real university Is
needed or can DO supported In New York.
and that its site will be on tho heights Of
overlooking the Hudson.
The Cresslcr Flying Machine.
1t WAS not to be expected TINT perfect
flying machine would be produced ms n re-
suit OF the first attempt, or tho SECOND.