The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-15
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
NEW BUILDINGs At CHARLOTTEs-
VILE DEDICATED.

The Structures Formally Turned
over to the COmmOnwcnIth-Larg
Crowd In Attendance on the Cere-
monics-CharIeS Broadway ROuss
Physical Laboratory Received.
Eloquent Address by Hon. james
c. Carter.
Charlottesville. Va, June 14-To-day
was dedication day at the University of
Virginia. being devoted to the turning
over of the new buildings to the com
monwealth.
A large crowd assembled in the audi
forum, and after an invocation by Rev
DR.. Randolph McKim and the singing of
the hymn Rise, Crowned With Light"
Hon. Armistead c. Gordon read an orig
inaI poem entitled The Fostering Mo
Their"
Next Rev. Theodore NJ. Carson received
the Charles Broadway Rouss physical
laboratory.
This was followed by an address from
Hon. James c. Carter.
Hon. Charles P. Jones. rector Of the
University, then presented the buildings
to the commonwealth in few words, and
they were received by Gov. Tyler in
brief speech.
The ceremonies closed with singing
America"
More than two years ago. on the morn
ing of Monday, Oct. 2S, 1895, the papers OF
the country contained the news that the
principal buildings Of Jefferson's Universe
ty had been destroyed by fire
The fire burst out on Sunday morning
as the church bells were ringing. Within
three hours all that was left of the ro-
tunda and its stately annex was crumbling
walls and smoking ruins
By Jan. is, 1896, there had been raised
in cash and pledges from the alumni and
other friends of the university about SIS 600,
which amount was increased by later gifts
TO $4,000. There was in hand from the
original Fayerweather bequest and from
the Shields bequest enough 10 raise this
sum to $140,0 900. The conditions of the liti-
cation with reference To the residue of the
Fayerweather estate justified the eXpecta-
ton Of about 1920, 900 from this source. And
the bill of relief before the Virginia Leg
islature had been so far assured as to
give reasonable assurance of $500 600 from
the bond issue which they finally voted.
Altogether there was about $4,000 in sight
for the work of reconstruction.
the building committee secured architects
of world-renowned ability from New York
The task set before them in the present
case was to restore the rotunda, and to
construct a system of new buildings ad-
equate for the enlarged needs of the uni
versity, all in harmony with the original
composition of Jefferson, and so arranged
as TO permit future extension as the
growth and resources of the school might
Justify and demand. The new buildings
were to be made as nearly fireproof as the
funds available for restoration would per-
nit.
These buildings are now completed. Their
arrangement is a simple and beautiful
one. The main quadrangle is a terraced
lawn about 900 feet long. 200 feet wide in
the old part, and 300 feet wide in the new.
At the northern end is the rotunda, a
building in the Corinthian style, modelled
from the Pantheon IN Rome. Its base
consists of four terraced wings united at
the eastern and western ends by cClonnad-
ed. and covered by fiat roof, forming
with the north and south pordcos con-
tinuous promenade around the building.
This promenade, guarded by its handsome
parapet is q beautiful feature of the re-
modelled structure. From the center of
the base rises The rotunda itself, circular
In plan, with a shapely spherical dome,
and its superb Corinthian porticos. The
interior is a single room from the portico
level up, devoted entirely to the uses
OF the library. In addition
to the sDace on the main floor,
there are three galleries, the topmost at
the springing of the dome, being carried
by perlstyle of twenty Dornthian col
umns. The room is finished in white, ex-
cept the ceiling, which is sky blue. picked
out with stars. The decoration about the
central light Is a circle of eagles, modelled
from the figure in the ceiling of the hall
at Monticello, the eagles seeming to soar
downward through the blue ether The
base of the building contains, in conven-
lent proximity, the offices of administra-
ton, the law lecture rooms, the law libra
~ and the assembly hall of the Young
Mems Christian Association.
The north portico looks out upon G
handsome court, which is the transformed
side of the old annex. Beyond Is the cam.
pus for the students athletic sports, will
the gymnasium on the left, and the leafy
oaks of Cars IIill rising above Its pillaret
portico, and still further away fields and
forests and the blue mountains of Vir
gInia shutting in the horizon
From the southern portlco stretches IN,
lawn, with the academic village" of lief
ferson bordering the sides The graceful
collonades, the classic facades of the pro
fessors' pavilions with the low-roofe,
dormitories for the students between. lool
like a fragment of Greece set down be
meath the soft Virginia sky. Closing tn
quadrangle on the southern end stan,
the three new buildings. simple and soli
appearing, but harmonious Fl
proportion, and like all the rest truI
classic. The central member of the AGA
demio building has its pediment adorne
with fine group of Zoray and beneat
the words of Holy Writ. which might We
be chosen by the University as her watch
word: "Ye shall know the truth an
the truth shall make you free" m
space within is given up to a superb ceI
ridor, the auditorium, an old Roman am
phitheater, with opera chairs and electrl
lights. The wings to right and left cor
tain the lecture rooms of the academi
classes. On the eastern side of the ne
terrace stands the building whose tit
commentaries the generosity Of the don,
the Rouss Physical Laboratory; on ~
western side the new home of the enginee
ing school Of the unversity-the necha1
ical laboratory Both buildings nave N
same external design.
The entire group. with its terraced law
in the center, with the rotunda and &C,
dernic buildings at either end, with /
residences and domitorles and arcades {
each side, forms one of the most harmon
ions and i'm pactnar %