Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-06-26
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.
Plans Made for Great Educational In.
StitutiOn.


StitutiOn.
Methodism in the United States will
soon nave educational facilities unsur-
passed by any of the great universities
of the old world.
The reproduction on American soiI
of university patterned after the
highest types of such institutions in
Germany is the rather ambitious pro.
ject which has been undertaken by
Bishop Hurst and his associates in
founding the American University, in
the District of Columbia, short dis.
tance outside of this city. This insti-
tuition is to be distinctively seat of
higher education. 1t is not proposed
to embrace in it, for the present, at
least, collegiate department, but all
applicantsf for membership m ust present
diplomas from some recognized col
lege. Women, as we'll as men, will be
allowed to share in its advantages in
all departments. and no distinction will
be made on account of sex.
The projectors of the university were
peculiarly fortunate in their choice of
a site. They have secured ninety acres
of ground on an almost level plateau,
400 feet above the level of tide water
in the Potomac at Washington. The
view from tho site is by far the finest
in the neighborhood of the national
capital. 1t has long been famed as the
INLAND View" To the southwark
the broad reaches to the Potomac can
be seen stretching away in the distance.
To the westward the view extends over
forty miles of fertile vallies to the Blue
Ridge of the Alleghanies. The notch
in the mountains at Harper's Ferry,
where the Potomac River breaks thro
that barrier, can be distinctly seen.
And to the northward Sugar Loaf
Mountain stands out in clear relief.
There will be erected group of
buildings that will be in every way
worthy of the great institution. For
the complete fulfllment of the plans
millions of dollars will be necessary,
and many years will be required, as
such an institution must necessarily
have gradual growth. The beginning,
however, gives ground for the belief
that the work will not be greatly de-
layed for lack of funds. Already one
hundred thousand dollars has been ex-
pended for the site, which is complete
ly paid for, and which, with the rapid
advance of values in real estate in the
suburbs of Washington, and the ex-
tension of the city streets, is now worth
eSeral times that much.
The first building to be erected will be
the Hall of History. For the endow-
ment of this hall 100000 has been
contributed, and an additional $3.50, 1000
has been secured for the erection of
the building. Within the next few
days the executive committee of the
board of trustees will appoint build
ing committee, which will at once call
for the submission of competitive plans
for the proposed building.
The architects submitting plans will
be requested not only to submit plans
for the Hall of History, but to propose
general outline for the architecture
of the other buildings. Some time will
be required for the preparation of the
plans and the decision of the building
committee, but it is the intention of
the board of trustees to have the exca-
vation made and the foundation COM
pleted before next spring, finished in
time for the opening of the university,
in some its departments, for the school
year of 1S97-9S.
The second building to be commenced
will probably be the Asbury Memorial
Hall, for which$1O0, 900 will be required.
1t is proposed to make this hall a.mem-
orial to the clergy of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and contributions
to the fund are solicited from clergy
men only. A large memorial tablet
containing the names of the clerical
donors to the fund will be placed in
| the buildinp. Considerably more than
half the amount required has already
been subscribed. In the construction
of this hall the projectors of the uni
versity propose to produce as exactly
as possible, consistent with modern
methods of construction, the buildings
of Christ Church College, Oxford, where
John Wesley, the founder of Method
ism, received his education. Wash.
Correspondence of the NewYork Her