New-York tribune., 1900-01-02
Mr.. CARNEGIE'S RICH GIFT.
A PRESENT OF 100000 MADE To THE
COOPER UNION.

FUND Is TO ENDow a MECHANICS ARTS
HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN IN
CREssED TO $4,000 BY THE
COOPER AND HEWITT
FAMILIES
Andrew Carnegie has made generous gift
OF 100000 toward the endowment OF a Me-
chanics Arts High School in the Cooper Union.
the great Importance of which has been repeat
edIy urged BY Dr.. Maxwell. superintendent Of
Public Education, and other educational au-
thOrities.
In letter TO ex-MayOr Abran s Hewitt Mr.
Carnegie says he has just learned that 100000
would enable the trustees of the Cooper Union
10 establish the last department OF the great
founders scheme, namely, a day school similar
TO the highly successful night school. which
gives practical instruction calculated to enable
the young TO become first class workmen, and
promises to send to Mr. Hewitt 100000 in
good railroad > per cent mortgage bonds Mr.
Carnegie's letter was dated December % and
yesterday the trustees-Edward Cooper. r. Full
ton Cutting, John E Parsons and Abram 5.
Hewitt-sent to Mr.. Carnegie a letter accepting
his offer and expressing their sense of graft
tude for the endowment which he proposed
10 make in order that the mechanics arts
Peter Cooper, may be Immediately established,
thereby completing the scheme Of instruction
for the working classes which Mr.. Cooper con-
ided to the trustees for execution The letter
also stated that for more than forty years the
trustees have looked forward 10 the day when
the entire building erected by Mr.. Cooper might
be devoted to educational purposes, and this
benefaction brings nearer the realization of
that hope Although larger endowments will
be necessary n the future the trustees are now
in the position TO complete the original plan OF
the Institution.
GIFT OF COOPERs AND HEWITTs
The families of Mr. Cooper and Mr. Hewitt
have also contributed to the support of the pro-
posed mechanics arts day school the income of
100000 at . per cent. or $4,000, which amount
is given in perpetuity. 1t is hoped in time to
increase the fund for the support OF the school
to S1OO00O0
EXMayor Abram s Hewitt was seen last
evening at his home, No. 9 Lexington-ave., by a
Tribune reporter with reference TO Mr.. Car
negie's gift. He said
Provision made in the trust deed of Peter
Cooper for free night classes in science and art.
for an art school for women by day, for free
reading room ana library, free lectures in the
great hall and for Gay school in science and
art, polytechnic school of the highest grade of
excellence. In forty years the institution has
had no money for the establishment of this day
school, although constant appeals have been
made to the public to enable us to start ii. The
Board Of Education proposed to establish high
school devoted TO technical education in the
mechanics arts, but has not done il.
The mechanics arts high school is the missing
connection between the public school system and
the advanced technical engineering schools
happened TO meEuon the SUBJECT, ana II came
T TO the knowledge Of Mr.. Carnegie, when he said
. would give 100000. I told him it would take
100000 to start the school, and the other 500
C0CBer'S ana
mine. The school cannot be. organized before
next fall, and probably it will be mainly free.
but il has not yet been decided whether or not
there are to be any fees. The income OF 5000
600 viii not be sufficient and perhaps others
viii contribute now that Mr. Carnegie mas made
his munifcent gift.
SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION OF WORKMEN,
We want to establish a school for the scien-
tifc education of workmen required by modern
industry The whole system of education has
necessarily been changed by the discoveries in
modern science. and we wish 10 educate work
men so that they may become foremen. man
ayers and in time owners We shall not turn
out engineers. but engineers VIII come from
the students. The school will combine scientific
instruction with certain amount of manual
work Students will be taught TO use tools, but
trades will not be taught. The use Of force and
the means by which tools are utilized will be
taught.
We have about a thousand students at night
in the arts and science schools and take
care of as many in the daytime II Will take the
/ income Of $1,000 a head, if should edu-
cate LOCO pupils we should need 81 900 600.
We have great advantages in our night classes
and all the apparatus necessary, and the in
come If the S1.0DOO00 would be applied solely
TO the cost Of instruction The day classes
will cost more than the night classes. The in
come Of SJoo,OOo, or N-9VoV, Whlch We snali
have, is not sufficient TO meet the pubic de
mands. and we hope other contributions viii
be made which viii pay for the instruction OF
a thousand pupils. We now rent stores In
/ Cooper Union, and want 10 use them for
/ laboratories.
The gifts Of Mr. Cooper and his family to the
OLE, +,ev will fa
Pu TO this time about Sl,JOO0OO has been
given. The Institution is conducted in the IN
terest of the public. and It is desirable that its
I usefulness should be increased. Mr.. Carnegie s
gift IS not the end Of things, but only the be
ginning 1t was generous, however, on ms
part and the fact that it was entirely unsollcit-
ed makes il all the more conmendable. Ihere
should be a dozen COOPER Union institutions IN
New-York and SJ0oO0O00 could be vel spent
in the work; but all We hope to get is S1V00Jo
MIR. CARNEGIE'S LETTER.
The letter Of Nj. Carnegie is as follows:
The Hon. Abram s. Hewitt No. Lexington
nv Dear Friend: I have Just learned that
S3Oit-lp wOu-d enable the trustees OF the Cooper
Union 10 establish the last department Of the
great founders scheme, namely, day school
similar 10 your highly successful night school.
which gives practical instruction calculated 10
enable the young 10 become first class WorkInel-
Perhaps YOU viii permit me 70 supply the
As y humble follower Of Peter Cooper. among
the first Of our disciples of the true Gospel Of
Wealth il would be a rare satisfaction. indeed,
for me- 70 be allowed 10 feel that I had con-
triblted the last stone, as it were, 70 the cairn
4 of his great henefacti5n- ~
If ] am thought worthy OF being granted this
/ privilege I shall send YOU S3opoo9 good rail- rail-
road : per cent mortgage bonds. and thank you
for the opportunity. Always with sincere re-
gard your friend. ANDREW tARE E1lt-
M : West Fifty-first-st. New York, December
% 1899
To this letter M Hewitt made the following
reply