The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-09
Norwich University.
Some Reasons why the Institution Should
Have State Aid.

No college is a self supporting institution.
Cost of equipment and expense of admin.
istration are very large, and the large ma
jprty OF students are poor. Free scholar
ships are needed to help them along. I'M
like the other colleges of this State Nor
witch University has no endowment. Its
rigid military course, though of the highest
benefit to the State and the country at large
in training youth for soldiers and as BUSH
ness men, is drawb back to the college finan-
cially, as most boys naturally prefer some
school where they have greater liberty. To
this disadvantage is added the further fact
that in time Of war the students are largely
called away by the demands of the service
During the civil war the college was oblig-
ed for "a Time TO close its doors on this ac-
count, and the late war with Spain depict.
ed the ranks Of the school to the extent that
it is now unable to pay its running ex-
penses. Therefore 1t appeals to the State
for aid to maintain the excellent work of
the past, and to make such improvements
as shall render it more useful to State and
nation in some future emergency. The ex-
periences of the late war teach a lesson in
the matter Of preparedness for armed strife,
by the military arm of the service, that can
TT pass unheeded.
Norwich University was founded in 1919
by Captain Partridge, an ex-superintendent
OF West Point military academy. 1t was
chartered as a college in 1884 1t furnished
officers for the Seminole and Mexican
wars, and in the latter, Gen. T. B. Ransom,
president of the institution, commanded
the New England regiments and fell in the
battle OF Chapultepec while bravely lead
ing the assault.
AT the time of the civil war the ca lets of
Norwich were in demand all over New
England as drill masters. The University
furnished to the Union army over 800 Off
GERS, some OF whom rose to the rank Of
major general. Rich in military glory and
trtO ttna 81 thn sxat
ton, bereft of its students, became poor in
deed in the number Of its pupils and in ma
terial resources as the result of its great
con tribution to the personnel OF the armies
of the Union.
In the Spanish war, though short, the
University's long list OF soldiers and sailors,
headed by him Of world wide-fame, George
Dewey of the class Of 1865, has given Yer
mont unequalled renown. In recognition
of its gre at usefulness to the State, and the
good fame its children have brought this
community among the green hills, is there
not fitness and propriety in awarding to
this nursery OF the nations military and
naval heroes something more substa tial
than homage, something that will more
effectually enable her to rear another crop
against the country's need in some future
crisis?
A partial list of the railways and canals
constructed by Norwich University gradu
ates in the engineering department aggre-
| gates over 200 IN number, and many thou.
sand miles Among these are the Union
Pacific railway, built by Major General G.
M. Dodge, class of 1850 the man who is now
chairman OF investigating committee on the
conduct Of the war.
The daily routine Of the college Is admir-
able. The students rise at the call of the
bugle. They take their meals, drill, attend
Rotations, roll calls, and retire at night all
| by the bugle call, with careful military pre-
csion. Each cadet graduates as commits
| stoned officer and learns to command the
company and the battalion. The college is
at present furnishing military instructors
free 10 several high schools in the State.
and will extend this system as fast as its
means will permit.
The University's contributions to the
military service of the country have been
| great and important but her distinction and
claims upon the good will of the State do
not rest on these alone. 1t is worthy of
support on the ground, also, of its purely
academic work. The COLLEGE has four
courses: Civil Engineering, Arts, Chemistry
and the Latin Scientific, all of which are
we'll equipped and in all OF which the insti-
tuition is efficient. The graduates in these
departments are distinguished everywhere
as lawyers, clergymen, physicians. states
men, chemists, civil engineers, business
men, etc.
All United States inspectors have agreed
in their official reports that Norwich Uni
versity outranks all other military schools
in the country with the single exception OF
! West Point
Cannot the State of Vermont afford to as
sst in sustaining, extending and making
more efficient this admirable system of edu-
cation by contributing the small sum OF
money the University is asking?
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