The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-01
Noblesville, Ind. Dec. 81.
Enxnrs uniyer.ity RemovaI.

NoDlesNlile, 4nu.. DSc. Oh
Fnvors University Removal.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Inasmuch as the question OF the removal
of the State University to indianapolis, or
even of its existence, seems 10 be agitat-
ing the people of the State, | would IKE
to add somewhat and say again some things
that have already been said. As 10 whether
the State should support university Ii
seems that there can he but one side TO
that question. In an article IN the Jour
nal of Dec. % Mr.. L. b. Reynolds. "a former
member of the Legislature, voices wh%t /
understand as the argument OF those OPP
posed 10 the existence of the state Uni
versity. SO far as the right to tax the
people OF the State for the support OF the
university IL seems that the same argu-
ments apply to the support of high schools
by the State and cities throughout the land.
and yet who would say abolish the hiSn
schools because some must help support
them who do not attend, nor whose chill
dren do not attend. Just as we'll say abol-
ish the high schools and let the private
schools and the preparatory schools OF the
various non-State colleges take the place.
We are all sadly aware that taxes are
enormously high and should and must be
lessened, but where shall the lessening De
done? Most certainly not at the very head
of the educational system of the state,
system of which the State is proud. Ihere
never has been a charge OF corruption OF
exorbtant fees connected with the STATE
University. Let the lessening OF expense
begin where there Is room TO lessen ana
vet not damage the State in any way. Inere
are excessive salaries paid both State and
county officers to trustees of penal ana
benevolent institutions, who devote very III
tie of their time to their official duties anu
cannot be missed from their private places
of business at home. yet these same men
draw handsome salaries from the state.
There are also occasionally those extra serv-
ants about the Statehouse during sessions
of the Legislature, and some extra eiectio. .
expenses, of which an example mas peeh
brought to notice lately in Marion county,
and which probably exist to considerable
degree in other counties; and the lavish APP
preparations in connection with the various
hospitals of the State. 1t seems to have
become well-tixed principle that men nav
ing in charge State or county funds mus.
scatter them with liberal hand, ana
scarcely a State or county ofncef ne
found who will guard the public funds with
the same close eye to economy and bust
ness which he uses in his private AFFAIRS
It seems that there Is great held Tor Ire re-
these lines close following of which would
greatly lessen the burden of the taxpayer
State under the plea of economy. Who
can say the university receives more from
the State than it should when such sue 1,n men
Coulter. Gilbert and others are taken away
from it because they are worth more than
one point to another instance where the
State has gotten more than its money
t MpEp at the State University. and the fac
ulty, with DR.. Swain at its head and a
corps of good professors and assistants, IS
a strong one, but as it becomes stronger
it will, one by one, be taken away to other
institutions. because they are worth more
than the State of Indiana will pay them
The university. is referred to as an in
significant school, with three. or four hun
bred students: Last year the eenrollrnent
nyac n<i6 lV a al
a graduating class of sixty. and post grad
uate degrees conferred on seventeen,
P Prabnslv t0'a was onee eSeni ins is.
cant. early in its history, but
the west. AS time went on other towns
surpassed Bloomington. in growth and rail
road facilities and the State University
had many. disadvantages to contend with,
yet in spite of these and a dozen or so of
non-State colleges. having as their special
CARNATIONS which are behind them it has
grown amazingly in the last five or seven
years until i has probably the he largest s1ss
aside, perhaps, from Purdue, with its vari-
Gus special schools attached: while on the
have barely been able to show slight in
crease. and some show none.
One great disadvantage the State Uni
versity has had for years Is the superior
location of other schools in regard to ac-
feasibility. Bloomington is a very pleasant
country town in dry weather, but in wet
weather spring time mud reigns SUI
preme, both on sidewalks and in streets.
The many conveniences that shcu ne
found at the seat of such an institution are
not there Only persons living south or
Bloomington, on the Monon railroad. or In
very close connection to it, can make the
round trip in day. You may awake
bright and early at any point north of an
and most points south of that line, and
you cannot reach that town until late in
the afternoon, and the return trip t ss
should be at point most easily reacned
by the greatest number of the people,
which position indianapolis certainly holds.
There all the Accommodations and facilities
for study and original work that could be
ebod tb state Of Tnaiana Mheh brides
itself on a school system superior TO nearly
every State in the Union, and only equaled
advance, and even venture to consider taxi
ing step backward and step down from
some of the states that have heretofore
followed to assume the lead over US? Who
would urge 1t as good policy for the State
of Michigan to abolish or in any way
hamper the university at Ann Arbor? Yet
there is reason why the University of
Indiana should not closely rival the Uni
versity of Michigan, were it only located
at a centrally point and given
the liberal support by the Legislature
economy, and let it be rigorous. and not
assumed economy at the places where there
fairs of State, where pure extravaganza is
glazing before the eyes of the. people, and
not at the State University, where the as
sistance has always been too weak. and
where such men as Leland Stanford and
the trustees of Lake Forest University say
that the members of the faculty are not
rendered. Let the State. aided by what
the citizens of Indianapolis will doubtless
give move the State University to Indi-
annapolis and give it the liberal support
in the way of appropriations it deserves,
and we shall see how soon it will prove
a most formidable rival of the best schools
of the West, among which it now holds a
good position. w. H. NEWSOM. Il
Elizabethtown, Ind, Dec. 81.
AIcaxar Florist