Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-08

At the meeting of the board OF re-
gents of the university on Saturday it
was voted to give President Adams
year of vacation in the hope that his
health may be rested.
DR.. Adams returned from Battle
Creek, Mich, where he was taking
treatment, about two weeks ago, and
yesterday conference was held be-
tween him and the members of the
board of regents, at which it was de-
cided he should take a longer rest. In
addition the board decided to issue
statement of the facts in The situation,
and directed ex-senator w. F. Villas to
prepare the statement, which is as
| follows:
He will spend his vacation cruising
in the Mediterranean. President
Adams will not leave Madison until af-
ter Oct. 20 as he desires to be present
at the dedication of the new library
building here Oct. 10. He will be ac-
companied by Mrs. Adams.
"The condition of President Adams
and the probability of his continuing
at the head of the university have been
topics of so frequent mention and con-
versation and are of so much interest
to the people of the state, it is desirable
the exact facts should be known by the
public. When DR.. Adams left last
spring for the Hot Springs of Virginia
there was grave apprehensions by his
physicians Of organic disease, which
his symptoms, though not absolutely
indicating, alarmingly suggested. AT
ter but a short stay at the Hot Spring
he went to the sanitarium at Battle
Creek, Mich, where he remained until
his recent return to Madison. The
regents of the university have recently
had full reports by his physicians and
also had before them one of those who
has regularly attended him. They as
sert positively as the result of salts
factory examinations that no organic
and incurabie disease exists, but, on
which were thought to point to it have
passed away and were surely referable
to other conditions, that his only
malady is functional and durable, and
that great improvement has taken
place during the summer. They con-
fidently predict a complete recovery
and promise many years of vigor and
usefulness in his present position, il
President Adams can be permitted to
continue in the course which has af-
forded SO much progress, but they
insist that freedom from care and a
warm, equable climate are of high i'm
portance if not essential to the good
result.
s'The regents have therefore decided
that it is not wise for the president to
undertake to continue the duties of his
Office to which he has recently re-
turned, because of the great risk of in
terruption and injury from labors and
cares and the effects of the approach
| ing cold season, and have determined
that he shall take a new leave of
| absence at half pay, and go to the
Mediterranean for a few months resi-
dence land it rs believed that within a
short time the welcome assurance will
come that he will be able TO resume his
duties with the just expectation of
years of strength before him. So de-
sirable an end will be thought worth
the waiting by all friends of the uni
versity. Should this hope be un-
happily disappointed such steps may
then be taken as shall seem best in the
circumstances.
Meanwhile Vice President Parkinson
having declared his desire to, assume
no additional duties OF the administra-
ton, the regents have appointed Ed
ward A. Birge, dean of the college of
| letters and science, to be acting pres1-
dent with all the power Of president,
at an allowance at the rate Of 81 900 a
| year during such time as he shall so
cit is fortunate that DR.. Birge,
while accepting the added labor, feels
| himself able also to continue his Gus
tomary service in his department so
that no additional Institutional force
will be necessary in it. Financially
this arrangement will somewhat dimin-
ish the expenditure provided for in the
university budget for the current year,
and it is confidently believed also that
with contribution of extra efforts
proffered by the faculty and instruct
ional force in the emergency, the high
efficiency of the university will be
fully maintained. The recent enlarge
ment of it's scope and facilities already
shows very gratifying returns.
"The new school of commerce be-
gins with a large attendance and
bright promise; the college of mechan-
les and engineering opens in the splen-
did new building afforded by the pro
violence of the last legislature with
largely increased attendance of which
much comes from other institutions