Evening journal., 1895-05-25
BY An UNKNOWN DONOR
New York University to Have .
$Iooo,ooo Building.
GIVEN BIZ TIE GOULDs, PERHAPS

The historic old Univeraify Is TO Re Put
on the Same Footing as Columbia Col
iege-Jay Gouid Was Personal Friend
Of Chancellor Rinecracisen.
New YoRK, May 25. Following close
upon seth Lows munflcont offer Of d
sl 00o. ooO library building TO Columbia
college comes THE announcement thar the
University Of tho City Of Now York will
ha enriched by n aimilar or perhaps greater
gift The announcement was made by
tho huilding committee OF the university,
and was TO Tho effect that It had accepted
the offor of d central building for library,
commencement hall and museum at Uni
yersity heights, with no conditions save
secrecy as to tho name Of the giver and
that the building in beauty and cost ao-
cord with the university plans. This un-
doubteuly means structure that Will
cost at least 81 600, 600
The conditions Of tho donation sealed
tho lips OF tho university officials when
asked for further details. There will of
course be great amount Of conjecture as
TO the identity OF the donor, but ono solu-
tion of the mystery suggested has many
clements Of probability. It Is that the
mysterious giyor is no other than George
Gould, acting for himself and the other
Gould hoirs.
1t viii bo remembered that the win Of
the late jay Gould contained no public
hoquests, and this was marveled at. Mr.
Gould was a warm personal friend Of
Chancellor MaoCracken, head Of the New
York university, and It was generally be-
lieyed that the long neglected institution
would fare handsomely at his hands 1t
was therefore. much to the surprise of
many that It did not figure among the
benoiloiares Of HIS will.
Perhaps Jay Gould Left 1t.
An explanation OF tho mystery was
published a snort timo after Mr. Goulds
death on what seemed to be good author
ity. lt was declared that the deceased mil
lonaire had by no means forgotten Mr..
MacCraokon's Institution, and that his
wishes, while not expressed in the VIII,
would be duly carried out. He was said
to have intrusted the matter to George
Gould, who would see that q handsome
sum OF money was applied in such q man
nor as MI. MaoCracken desired. 1t was
further said that this gift might take the
form Of a large preparatory school, with a
handsome endowment This announce
mont, however. suggests that the money
may be otherwise utilized
Leaving the wishes Of his father out Of
consideration it would not astonish some
Of Mr.. Gould friends if he made the gift
Of his own free will He has developed a
liking for giving the public surprises, chief
among these being his coup in buying the
Nigilnnt and racing his way into British
society.
Should the gift be really his, there is
little doubt that the fact will become
known after tho public has done good
deal Of guessing Aside from the Gould
family tho list of known friends Of the
university who could afford to give 81,
00O, 600 buildings cannot be large
Historic Old University.
That tho cost will total this amount 4.
certain from the character OF the build
ings already erected on tho new site. II
is only year or so since the department
OF art and soionoe of the university re-
moved 90 Fordham heights, 1t hasa large
plot on tho crest Of the hill at the eastern
side of the Harlom river and nearly oppo
slte Fort George. Wohb's Sbipbuilders
homo and academy is near by. The inton
tion Is TO have tho large university quad
rangle entirely surrounded by buildings
but only few Of the large permanent
structures have yet ncen Duilt. Inc Class
ical style Of architecture has been seleoteJ
for all tho buildings. and a central ont
thar Will be adequate for its purposes anJ
impress its pre-eminonce on the surround
| ings will cost at least the sum named
The foundation of the New York uni
vorsity dates back 10 1S29 and it was du
to dissatisfaction over what was consider
cd tho narrow mindedness OF Columbia
college. In which the influence of the Epis
c0pal church prodoninated
Tho old university building ON Wash
ington square, torn down not man!
months ego, was erected between 1892 ant
| 1885. and was notable from the fact tina
within its walls Morse invented the tele
| graph and Draper took the first photograph
Of the human face A LARGE ten stor
business cdiHoo has lately been orectc
on the site and it's two top loors win still
ho usnd by the university S schools Of lnN
| and pedagogy The gift announced vii
| put the old institution more nearly on
level with tho leading American universe
ties than Il has been in tho past.