Evening star., 1895-06-03
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.
Plans Made for Great Educational
Institution.

INSTITUTION.
Wash. Correspondence of the New York Herald.
Methodism in the United States will soon
have educational facilities unsurpassed by
any Of the great universities of the old
world.
The reproduction on American soil of
university patterned after the highest
types of such institutions in Germany is
the rather ambitious project which has
been undertaken by Bishcp Hurst and his
associates in founding the American Uni
versity. in the Distric. of Columbia.
short distance outside of this city. This in
stitution is to be distinctvely a seat Of
higher education. 1t is not proposed to
embrace in 1t. for the present, at least,
collegiate department. but all applicants
for membership must present diplomas
from some recognized college. Women, as
well as men. will be allowed to share in its
advantages in all departments, and no dis
tinction will be made on account OF SEX
A Beautiful Site.
The projectors of the university were pc
culiarly fortunate in their choice of 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 the site is by
tar the finest in the neighborhood of the
national capital 1t has long been famed
as 1.-The Inland View" To the southwark
the broad reaches of the Potomac can be
seen stretching away in the distance. To
the westward the view extends over forty
miles of fertile valleys to the Blue Ridge Of
the Alleghanes. The notch in the noun
tains at Harper's Ferry, where the Potomac
river breaks through tkats barrier, can be
distinctly seen. And to the northward
Sugar Loaf mountain stands out in clear
relief.
There will be erected a group of buildings
great institution. For the complete fulfill
ment of the plans millions Of dollars will
be necessary, and many years will be re-
quired, as such an institution must neces-
sarily have gradual growth. The be-
ginning, however, gives ground for the be-
lief that the work will not be greatly de-
layed for lack of funds. Already 100000
has been expended for the site, which is
completely 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
several times that amount.
The Hall of History.
The first building to be erected will be
the Hall of History. For the endowment
of this hall 100000 has been contributed
and an additional $1500OO has been secured
for the erection of the building. Within
the next few days the executive committee
Of the board of trustees will appoint a
building 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 a general
outline for the architecture of the other
buildings. Some time will be required for
the preparation of the plans and the de-
c!son of the building committee. but 1t is
the intention Of the board of trustees
to have the excavation made and the
foundation completed before next spring
If possible, and to have the building
finished in time for the opening of the
university. in some of it's departments, for
the school year of 1S97-S.
The second building to be commenced
will probably be the Asbury Memorial Hall,
for which 100000 will be required. 1t is
proposed to make this hall a memorial to
the clergy of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. and contributions to the fund are
solicited from clergymen only. A large
memorial tablet containing the names of
the clerical donors to the fund will be
placed In the building. Considerably more
than half the amount required has already
been subscribed In the construction of
this hall the projectors of the university
propose to reproduce as exactly as pos
sible, consistent with modern methods of
construction the buildings of Christ Church
College, Oxford, where John Wesley the
founder of Methodism, received his edu-