The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-02
PRESIDENT HARPER.

airy 1, 1900 But at that time the uni
versity, on its own behalf. was far short
of the needed 81, 600, 900. Mr.. RockefeI-
Ter extended the time for raising the
needed sum three months or to April 1,
Sunday morning.
The president raised $4,000 Satur-
day. 1t had to be done. 1t had seemed
an almost impossible task. Sometimes
he looked blue, but he was never really
discourag ed. The money began to come
in, but lately it moved slowly and the
supply Friday appeared to have been
exhausted When he got up Saturday
morning he was $4,000 short. He ate
no breakfast and started out in a cab,
seeking whom he might hold up His
success was remarkable and when 5
o'clock came he had more than enough
He wired his patron and the answer
came back that a check for $3.50 900
would be forthcoming next week There
was grand jubilation at the univers-
ity.
More than 100000 in good land, cash
and secured pledges was in the possess
sion of President Harper and the uni
versity officers Saturday Then and not
until then did President Harper tele-
phone from his office, where he has lit
orally lived for three months past to
his home: 1.-The prize is ours''
The good news spread to the univer-
Sity halls and down into the city. The
telephone at the presidents office was
kept busy receiving congratulations. AS
for him, he sat with DR.. Goodspeed and
Comptroller Rust and said to all who
called on him:
THE newspaper boys made it appear
that L was blue, that I felt failure in
the air. That is not true. I knew we
would win in the end. We have not on
~ secured the necessary ,000 but
more than that-nuch more. Now we
will give our friends a rest"
Turning to an inquirer he said: Now
we will build-build many new struc-
lures just as soon as work can start.
Every pledge we have received is good
and our valuations on these pledges and
| gifts have been low. Land we have on
| ly accepted at its actual cash value The
| Gurley pathological collection, positive
~ worth $l25 wy, We have placed in our
list at only $4,000. No effort has been
made to swell the value of any gift. All
have been treated on the business basis.
Mr.. Rockefeller stipulated they should
be: We even had official appraisers
value the land given. We can justly say
that We have raised on our part much
more than $2,000.0Oo. and that the uni
versity is in round numbers So, 900, 900
To DR.. Goodspeed he said: How many
contributed this last timer
! two-million fund"
so you see," continued he president
there was great popular interest in our
succeeding A large number of the sub
scribers were Chicagoans. Many were
| former students at the university. A few
| subscribers live at a distance"
Talking of some of the contributors to
| the two-million fund Dr. Goodspeed said :
I'VE have been careful not to mention
| names, because of requests not to do so,
| The trustees know, though, the name Of
| every giver- I can say that Marshall
| Fields contribution vas S135 600, that Mrs
| 0O0.'
Yes said President Harper. land
| there were any number of people who
! gave IS, so and $25, each according to his
! ability And everyone Of these has now
a financial interest in the success of the
university. And you gentlemen of the
press can say that we will not trouble
| them again next. week"
That's true" said DR.. Goodspeed. "but
| the university has only just got a begin
| ming. Her assets are 81, 000. 900. When she
gets $10.0000O0 more she will be in fair
condition"
President Harper asked DR.. Goodspeed:
| How many persons have contributed to
| the university since its start?'
-Four thousand at least
Il wish to say chimed in the presi-
| dent, that the erection of buildings to the
value of 100000 will commence at once.
| Plans are now being drawn The stu
| dents clubhouse will go up, and will cost
from $125000 to $3.50. 600. The commons will
| also be erected. but no gymnasium"
The president picked up COMPTROLLER
Rust's last report, just made public (to
1 July I. 1899, and said Here's is the most
| complete financial report as to the uni
| versity affairs ever made public. We con-
| ceal nothing. Every dollar we have re-
ceived and expended is shown there with
all uses made of our bequest or gift
| funds. That report will show how the
University of Chicago stood last July
| have received since July last and YOU