The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-29

burned dormitory at the State Agricult-
ural School at Kingston with two
magnificent structures and "A water
plant will come before the State Senate
on a majority and a minority report OF
the senate finance committee.
We shall have little more 10 say or
this subject. We have no idea of the
opposition of the members Of the Assem-
bly, on this matter and have no DISPOSE
ton ourselves TO do more than present
the plain facts and figures of the con
dition of things at Kingston for their
information, believing that it is a part
OF the province of a newspaper in the
public interest TO be prepared to furnish
all information that it can gather regard
ing the conduct OF public institutions and
recognizing that the esources of a
newspaper plant afford opportunity for
collecting and presenting such informa-
ton as is not otherwise available TO the
public. We confess that when the
amount OF the appropriation, asked for
In a loosely worded resolution, excited
an inquiry into the subject we did not
realize that there would be disclosed
any such dismal showing as the
Kingston School has made since
it was founded by the beneficence
of State and National governments. We
confess our W surprise at the condi-
tim nf fItnna In TINT nA1Iv lacfOnn1
institution. We have sought to publish
the facts and figures that we have taken
the pains to study put without prejudice
and without sensationalism anl believing
that the management and the faculty
have done the best that could be done
considering the unfortunate location
OF the school. We are Of the
opinion that if the Assembly will look
into the matter for themselves they will
find that it is desirable for the best
interests of the institution to move the
school, now that the biggest part
Of the plant must be rebuilt.
And we see no reason why the APP
preparation should not be suspended
pending uch an examination, for the
handful of pupils who board at
the school eau get along a
little while longer without the
new buildings, as they have been
accommodated all winter, and there is
not likely to be any crowding of pupils
in the school for the immediate future,
or so long as it is located on Kingston
Hill, for it has been already demon
strated that the school attendance goes
backward instead OF forward under the
best conditions that have prevailed on
the hill.
We want to add a word TO correct a
misrepresentation that we understand
exists in some quarters. We have been
charged with unfairness in one particu-
lar, in that we have stated that upward
Of 800, 900 have been devoted to the
Kingston School, implying that that
amount of money has been spent ON
the school. We did not intend
that inference should be
drawn. All that money has, of course,
not been actually spent, but the en-
and the money spent amount
20 that-or, more accurately, 1887, 900.
We guess that the School ought to have
something more than 800, 900 in bank
interest and some Of this en-
lowment protected from use. The
catalogue does not tell us. Perhaps
My about a quarter of a million dollars
has been actually expended.
But now that our attention has been
allied to this matter suppose we do a
title more figuring to learn what the
that have been and are available to
he Kingston School really amount to.
We think it will be plain that we have
lnderstated them rather than over-esti-
lated. In addition to the 1887, 900 al
eady appropriated for building and
expenses and endowment the school is
receipt OF al annual income of not
'ss than SEQ. 900 from the National gov
and not less than $40, 900 from
ne State government. The National gov
rnment's beneficence will be increased
y $1,000 a year until 1t reaches S25, 900
nnually when it becomes a permanent
nnual contribution at that figure and
State gives S15, 1000 or even more
years. In addition the Experi-
lent Station, practically a department
7 the institution, has SO, 900 a year
'om National government.
But accepting only the first two fig
res, they represent an endowment fund
at 5 per cent of $500, 900. which.
18th 1897, 900, makes one million dollars
lat the school has had, or has. at its
'mmand in one form or another.
This seems 70 u SO plain that all the
of the heads Of the agricultu-
Il school cannot obscure il.
WI have no means of knowing who