The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
DR.. Rainsford's Three P~rojccts.

The Rev. DIR. Rainsford, writing in the
Illustrated american Of what he would do
with a million dollars, "if that sum were
placed in my hands tomorrow" for charita-
bic purposes, says that he would invest 1t
In one Of these three ways:
FIRST. I would like TO buy as large a plot as I could
in the most densely inhabited part OF our city OF New
York. knock the houses on Il down. clear the ground,
put a fence around 1t. but no sod on It or obstructions
of any sort. give 1t to the city on condition they guard
It: and there. winter and summer. let the people
breathe and the children play.
Second. our public school system In New York
takes the children at six and Is supposed to keep them
TIL fourteen. Every one who knows anything about
education knows that education should begin at least
at three. Many years must pass. however. before
the kindergarten Is possible TO the New York street
child. I would like TO form n trust fund. subject to
some such conditions az that splendid Peabody Edu.
cation Trust Fund. which that most wise and far.
oeeing philanthropist, GEORGE PEABODY. gave to this
country thirty years ago, the fund to he used for the
developing Of kindergarten instruction In New York
till the kindergarten training Is possible TO all.
"And then my third: I would like to establish an
other trust fund similar to that which has been estab-
lished for London. and which bears the name OF this
same honored benefactor. GEORGE PEABODY. The
fund should be used to erect. where they are most
needed, dwellings for tho workingmen. to be rented
~ hte y pay u CERTAIN percentage on money fn-
vested, the money from such rents to DO rcinvested
for the same purposs. I am not able to conceive Of
any way In which the cruelty high rents. rents above
all proportion heavier than they are able to pay. can
be suddenly reduced for our working people"
II these projects were wise and would con-
duce to the glory OF GoD and the elevation
Of society, DIR. RAINsFoRD would have no
difficulty in getting the money for them,
and for all Of them. Bishop POTTER Is now
engaged In an effort to raise money for
the building of the Episcopal Cathedral of
st. John the Divine. The whole sum re-
quired to carry out the cathedral scheme
is more than twice the amount necessary for
the three projects Of DIR. RAINsFoRD, accord
ing to his estimate Of their total cost. II
these schemes are Of the p%reGminent neces.
sity he assumes, they are more important
than a cathedral, and in st. Georges Church
alone there are men who would not hesitate
to put up the money for them. President
Low of Columbia College teaches the Bible
class In that church, and IL therefore under
the immediate influence of DR.. RAINsFoRD (;
but when he gave away one million dollars
he gave 1t for the building of the new Co.
lumbia Library. The new Public Library
Is to be built at public cost on the
site OF the reservoir at Fifth avenue and
Forty-second street, and undoubtedly
the whole three millions required to
carry out DIR. RAINsFoRD's schemes will be
expended on it. Parks such as he suggests
have also been made at public expense by
tearing down buildings In some most densely
inhabited parts Of the town. Mr.. PIER.
POINT MORGAN has lately given a million
for the Wonian's Hospital; and great sums
have been contributed by rich men for
buildings for Columbia University at It's
new site on Morningside Heights. The
n~eighboring Barnard College for women is
also erected by private muniicence.
Thus we see there is no difficulty In get
ting money, both public and private, for
purposes useful to society, or which are sup
posed to be useful and 1t may be assumed
that II there were a crying need for the &C.
complishment Of DIR. TRANSPORTS projects
they would not remain In his Imagination
only, but would be executed in reality.
AS we have said, his park scheme merely
repeats a plan upon which great sums Of
! public money have already been expended,