Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-02-28
The Climax of Folly.

Montgomery, as a sort oi adjunct to
the State University, was under con-
sideratiOn in the Legislature, we
could not believe that that body seri-
Ously contemplated the enactment
Of the measure into law. But we
were mistaken. The bill, carrying
a large appropriation, was duly
passed, and commits the state to the
cgregious folly embodied therein.
Our distinguished Welchman
doubtless plumcs himself on the
glory of his great achievement, and
will hereafter point to the aforesaid
adjunct, dimly visible through the
smoke and fog of the locality, as A
monument to his enterprise and
ability as a representative ofthe peO-
pie. But whilst Mr.. Davies is feliCi-
Eating himself upon the success of
his efforts III behalf of his town,
there is not man of sense among
his constituents who will not con-
denim the stupendous folly of the
Legislature in passing his bill.
No such school was needed or
should have been established any.
where in the State at this time. The
State University at Morgantown al.
ready has preparatory department
fully equipped with teachers, appa-
ratus, books, etc, all maintained at
the expense Of the State. And it is
we'll known that during the whole
history of the University, from its
founding to the present time, a large
majority of students entering there
have entered in the preparatory de.
partment. But granting, for the
sake of the argument, that the Uni.
University needed another adjunct,
why establish it in q locality where
the surroundings are so unfavorable
to the success of such an institution,
and where it will he vain even tC
hope for patronage outside of the
- NJ v anu a IL" tpil
tguous mining towns on the Ia.
nawha river? The folly of estab
fishing State educational institu
ton in a little mining, railroad towr
like Montgomery, situated in hot
sweltering valley, so narrow tina,
one may stand at the mouth of the
mine and well nigh spit over the
town into the river, must be appar.
ent to all. The State has already
had one costly experience in the of:
fort to build up n school at Morgan
town. Why repeat the experiment,
at Montgomery where the chances
OF success are even worse? If the
Legislature intended to try this ex.
pertinent, at the expense of the
whole State, solely for the benefit of
the miners of Montgomery and adj
jacent towns. it should have frankly
aVoWed ITS purpose. And if thi.
was not its purpose, we are at loss
to know what the purpose was, un
less, as has been charged, the bill
was passed to insure, if possible, Da
Nles' vote for the proposed partisan
gerrymander of the judicial circuits
We have no prejudice agains
Montgomery or its people-non,
whatevcr-on the contrary, will re
Joice 10 see them prosper, but believ
ing, as we do, that the climax of ab
surdity has been reached i'm the pas
sage of this bill, we declare our dis
approval, as we did whilst the bill
was pending.
THE BOND SALE.-The subscrip
ton books for the sale of the new
government bonds were opened ir
New York and London on the 2Ott
and in about 20 minutes all wer,
taken and three times the amoun
could have been as easily sold.
A principal member of the syndi
cate is authority for the statemen,
that the enormous Over-subscriptior
to the bonds was astounding even I,
the syndicate. The success of th,
whole deal abroad cannot be meas
ured in immediate connection with
the sale of the bonds. 1t is antici
pated that it will revive the Interest
In American securities and stimulate
an interest in our railroad securitie,
such as has not existed since the Bar
ing panic, thus turning the real bal
ance of exchange in our favor, &
that when exports of breadstufs be
gin next fall the natural flow of golC
will once more be toward the United
States. The strain upon our gold
holdings will thus be relieved for tn,
first time in two years.
->.s.-p
PARTISAN Short,
before the Legislature adjourned the
House of Delegates passed a resolu
ton allowing Alfred Phillips, clerk
of the Finance Committee, ten days
extra per diem, at Sc per dav, for
the purpose of preparing compare,
tive statement of the appropriations
made by the Legislatures Of 1893 and
1895. So far as we know, this Is the
first time in the history of the State
that such silly and inexcusabIe