The times., 1901-06-24
CORNELL MEN CONFIDENT.
They Hope to Secure Mr.. Rockefei-
Ier's Conditional Gift.


ITHACA. n. Y. June 2s.-The events Of
commencement week this year at Cornell
were of unusual interest and Importance
to the university. But perhaps the most
important of all was the announcement b.
President Schurnan of the conditional
gift of S250OO0 by John d. Rockefeller. The
making of this gift is significant in sever
al respects.
This is the first time that Mr. Rockefel-
ler has made any large gift to any insti-
tuition of learning not connected with the
Baptist denomination. As was stated by
President Schurman. the gift was made
deliberately. after careful investigation.
and--like all of Mr. ROckefeller's benefac-
tions. as he would make business invest
ment- He sent tC Ithaca several months
ago competent agent. with instructions
to make a thorough examination into the
finances. resources. needs, and general
methods of administration OF the institu-
tion. Several days were spent in this in
vestigation. and the favorable report
made thereon led to the offer by Mr..
Rockefeller to give S25O.0O0 to Cornell Uni
versity. provided an equal amount should
be contributed by others within the year
ending at the next commencement.
At the university banquet. which fol-
lowed the commencement exercises on
Thursday. President Schurrnan stated
that this condition had been attached to
the gift at his own request. and he also
added that he proposed personally to see
that the additional s25G,0O0 was forth
coming. He mentioned the assurance
which he had Just received Of subscrip-
tions amounting to $500. of which $1,000
was offered by Henry R. Ickelheiraer and
5000 by Gen. Alfred c. Barnes. both men,
bers of the board of trustees, and ex-
pressed the strongest confidence that the
balance would be secured without diff
ficulty.
The S500,000 which will in this way be
added to the endowment of Cornell Uni
versity win supply several pressing needs.
In the letter of May q. by which John d.
Rockefeller. jr., conveyed to President
Schurman his fathers intention to make
this large gift, he stated that it was to
be used for the construction and equip
ment of building to be devoted to
physics or to the humanities q. e., Ian
guage, literature. philosophy. etc. il
funds for the former building shall have
been otherwise provided, upon the eOndi-
ton Of the raising of an equal amount of
money from Others. of which at least
100000 shall be invested in approved Sc
curities, or in a dormitory the income
from which shall be available for the
maintenance Of the building TO be erected
under this pledge-this pledge to hold
good until commencement day. 1902 and
payments under it to be made pro rata
with the payments of other contributors"
This viii leave, out of the s500.0 after
the construction of the proposed building
and the s1e0.C00 set aside for It's uainte-
nance, the sum of S15O.O00 to be used by
the trustees in meeting other pressing
needs of the university.
In the same address in which Presi-
dent Schurman made the announcement
of Mr.. Rockefeller's gift. he pressed ur-
gently upon the attention of the alumni
the excellent results which would follow
the carrying out OF the proposed scheme
for the erection by them upon the campus
of the proposed alumni hail. This matter
also came before the alumni association
at its annual meeting on Wednesday
afternoon. The committee having the
matter in charge reported that ii had re-
ceived from graduates OF Cornell sub
Scr1ptIOnS amounting to over S40,t1J, out
of a necessary Sl50, ,l1O required for the
erection of suitable building Prof.
Trowbridge showed the plans on a large
mittee and asked authority from the
alumni body for the breaking of ground
and beginning of the work next fall upon
the plot of ground previously allotted by
The greatest interest was manifested in
the project. but strong opposition was
made to the adoption of the plan present
ed without further opportunity for dis
cussiOn and deliberation upon the future
purposes Of such a structure. II was
finally determined not to authorize the
committee TO make any contracts for the
work until much larger subscription was
secured and until further opportunity TO
settle the question of the form of such
building.
President Schurman himself. in his
Thursdays address at the banquet took
strong ground against the adoption of the
present plan, and pointed out the fact
that there was on the Cornell campus at
the present time no single hall large
enough to accommodate on a festive Occa-
sion one-half of the regular membership
of the university community, which num-
bers about three thousand He thought
that the building to be provided by the
alumni should contemplate hall in which
all persons connected with the university,
whether students or members OF the in
struction staff, could gat, n whenever
there was occasion and should also supply
other needs of the undergraduate body as
well as of the alumni not provided for
in the present plans. His ideas seemed
to meet with the hearty approval of the
majority of those present at the banquet
nRTTTTA