The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-25

L2lieS' cOlIege was among the numbtT.
Having no financial backing, it soon suf
fered the fate which has oyertaken the
other local schools of higher education.
About three years ago the friends of
Paramount determined to save the prop
erty for the purpose of higher education.
The school was incorporated as Fairmount
Institute, and the trustees appealed to the
American College and Education society,
OF Boston, Mass, for an annual appropria-
ton for Its current expenses. Since that
time the tbt has been reduced from S29,-
600 to $1,000 part of the building has been
finished, and two years of increasingly
successful school work have been done.
The trustees expect to reduce the debt to
81, 500 this year by a gilt from the east.
All the money except few hundred dol
lars received from buttons and local
friends has been contsibui ed by the Educa-
ton society and the eastern friends OF
christian education. The gifts of Wichita
people have not been solicited. Excluding
the Methodist College in Winfield, there
Is no other institution of college rank in
active operation in southwest Kansas with
its population of half a million. The col
lapse of the other colleges of this city
has influenced the TRUSTEES of Fair
mount Institute to elevate the rank
of the institution from an academy to
that of college. as it was announced
few weeks ago. The existence of first
class high school, and the prosperity of
the L-wis academy render il, according to
their judgment, quite unnecessary 20 at
tempt the building of another academy.
The list OF educational institutions will be
complete when Wichita has frst-class,
prosperous college. An excellent faculty
has been chosen for the institution for the
ensuing year, and the trustees have an
nounced that freshman college class will
be started one year from next September.
In the meantime great effort will be put
forth TO properly advertise the institution,
10 increase its enrolment of students and
equip the school with laboratory, library,
aud faculty necessary for a college. The
current expenses of he ensuing year have
been provided for by an appropriation
from the educational society which has
thus far maintained the school. When
the institution assumes college work, the
appropriation from the Society of Boston
will be doubled. This society is annually
siding young colleges ana academies IN
the west TO the extent of $780, 600 besides
encouraging the wealthy people of New
England to endow the institutions under
its care.
Fer many years Washburn college of
Topeka was indorsed aud aided by this So
ciety, until now it has the largest plant
aud endowment of any college in the
state except the state colleges.
Twenty-four colleges have grown into
great strength and permanently through
he fostering care and irfiuence of this So
ciety. 1t is now extending aid to eight col
legrs and eight academies IN The new parts
of the west, some of which have within
the past year received large gifts for en-
dowment.
Now, the question is, will the public
spirited citizens of Wichita approve the
action of the trustees of Fairmouut, in at
tempting to buiid up Il college. Until they
give an answer to this question In man
ner that indicates genuine Interest in the
success of the institution, the Education
society will not promise its Endorsement
and aid after next year. This college is
the only one which Wichita can now pro-
badly save. because it is the only one that
has liberal backing by outside benevo-
lence As "A Christian college IL Will be no
more sectarlan than is Harvard Yale, or
Chicago university. But the Education
society only extends its aid. to Institutions
whose local friends are interested III its
welfare, The people of Wichita with pub
diate action in beba { of this institution.
As "A college il will not compete with any
OF her educational institatioE, but 1t viii
afford advantages to the young people OF
the city ami southwest Kansas which they
can now have only by going 10 college IN
the eastern corner OF the state.
4 few weeks ago Rev. Frank IL. Fergu-
son. one of the secretaries of the educs-
tionnl society, visited Wichita aud eX-
amiued the condition OF Paramount lnstl-
tute. The trustees laid before him their
new plans and desires and he reported the
same to the directors of the sDcie'y IN
Boston Ii is not the usual policy OF Inc
society to ala in the building up or more
than one college in a state, but la assn uch
ss Fairmouut institute has such "A fine
property, and other attempts at college
huiIding have failed, and the southwest
portion OF the state Is unprovlded with a
high grade collrg-, there IS no doubt that
the society Will make an eXcep-
ton of this institution II the CT liens
of Wichita arouse themselves h tch of
the other Institutions ludOr>Oi by he So
| clrty has received fIom tue New England
p-ople; from 500 to 500. 0O). W cniIa can
| have "A college equal t. any of Jnvm within
the next ten wears If tie citizens are will
| ing TO do heir part. Tue colleges Ia toe
other states as we'll a. Washburn in Tope-
! ka have now an annual enrolment OF
. A
| ON lsy of each student Is not less than S2Jl
or 500 Many families also move into the
communities where colleges ars est abllSh
| ed l. needs very little figuring therefore
| TO estimate the great and permanent value
I of such al institution "a the commercial
1 interests of this city The social intel
! lectual and moral benefits are beyond cal
/ cula ion.
The trustees have invited Secretary Fer
/ ruson To the presidency OF the Institution
! when il becomes college next year, and
! lie il fayorabIy considering thvir call lie
! has had experience at the mead OF a Me-
! brASka institution, winch IN three year:
! increased its attendance from niue TO la
and which during hat time received ma )
Thousands OF dc lars from he east. TIT
truslee are confident that under his mau'
! a.sement aud with his alb lily 10 com
maud the brneyoience OF eastern friends
of educ { On, Paramount csllegt
msy experience a phenomenal g-owtG
Tax board OF trad and the citizens O
| Wichita will NEE, this. " edaeSllsy, even
ing AT " hich time Nr. Ferguson will tel
| what the sc ety has done Tor other lustE
tufionS and ShOrJ addresses on all phase
OF this on, siion viii De made 10y prom
neut citizens. No attempt wall b made a
the meeting 10 solicit money or suo>crlp
tion~, but every educator, minister, pro
fr-sional man, business maa, and publn
| spItited citizen Is ur-ed TO attend tH
me. ting aud enter into the discussion.
This Is one oG The opportunities WIchitl
has of scouting an enterprise THAI VII
| GROW Year by year, and Tor gvnerailous An'
oruturIes 20 come w.ll be an uuto!i bless
! in, - all the best interests OF WIGHT
| and sou hwess Kansas. No other euteg
prise should appeal more strongly TO IN
selfish or ua-e4iish interests OF tue peoptr
and il will De very serious mi-tzke
every man who desires the welfare Q
| Wichita. j. not present at tae meeting 10