The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-23

| consent and custom to guide the assessor;
| If Colonel Astor's estimate fixes the valid
| alton at 50 or even 100 per cent greater
| than it now is, his friends are certain
| that the man who was willing TO risk his
! life for his country and furnished and
equipped a light battery for the Philip
pines. Will pay the increase of taxes with
pleasure, and feel that ne is only doing
his duty as citizen.
If the many other miltonaires and
wealthy persons could be induced to fol-
low the grand example set by Colonel
Aston. the treasury would be felled 10
overlooking. the tax rate would be re-
duced and the burden of the persons who
own only their homes would be greatly
reduced.
Colonel Aston has thought out since his
experience in Cuba other noble ways
for the use of his many millions for the
benefit of humanity. His wealth is piling
Up so rapidly that it has got TO be OF
awkward proportions and hard TO manage
a large portion of his fortune will be ex-
pended in practical charity. He has al
ways given largely to aid the poor and
needy ad without ostentation- The bene-
hciaries of his bounty are numbered Hy
the hundred.
Perhaps the greatest of his projects is
an educational one. Colonel Aston is a
strong believer in the public school sys-
tenn and knows that most of the people
who have made successes in life in this
country got their start in life in these
schools. He is also aware that there are
many young men who are ambitious and
yearn for better education than the pub
lie schools afford. and yet are debarred
because of the lack of means from going
to college.
Now Colonel Aston has in view the
building and endowment of a college or
university which will rival Yale and Har-
ward. 1t is Colonel Astor's idea to have
an institution of this kind so arranged
that the students will be able to take
care of themselves while attending the
college, and when this cannot be done
the income Of an endowment fund will
be lent to the students with the under
standing that it can be repaid at such
time afterward SIS the graduate can afford
TO part with the money.
The site of this college is TO be a beau
tiful spot in the vast estate owned by
Colonel Astor in Westchester county.
When the project is completed in all of its
details, Colonel Astor will lay out, it is
said, s., 900, 900 for buildings and will fur
nish as much more as will be necessary
to do the work of the college thoroughly.
The details of Colonel Astor's plans are
known only to himself.
Another charitable plan which Colonel
Aston has under consideration is the estab-
lishmet of cheap restaurants in this city
the Princess of Wales, and for which Sir
Thomas Upton, the challenger for the
American cup gave $500, 900. Colonel Aston
is studying this subject carefully, and the
idea in view is to furnish food to the poor
at its exact cost. Luxuries which the
poor cannot afford will thus be brought
within their reach.
Among the other projects which Colonel
Aston has in view is the erection of a
hospital in Winchester county for the
treatment of the diseases of women and
children. Everything is to be furnished
free. and the best medical and surgical
talent in the world will be employed
These are few of the ways in which
Colonel Aston intends TO spend his mil
lions while he lives and can see and enjoy
the good that he has been able TO do for
those who are not able to help themselves
Whe Colonel Astor's plans for human
ity take form he will rank with Peter
Cooper, Peabody and the othed great phil
anthropists of the world, who did not
wait until death before disposing of their
wealth..