Evening star., 1901-12-10
Mr.. CARNEGlE'S GIFT
Ten Millions offered to Endow a Ma
tional University.
GREAT SEAT OF LEARNING HERE
History of the Project Which
Now Approaches Success.
DETAILS NOT ANNOUNCED

government or perhaps some corporate es-
tablishment for the purpose of creating and
maintaining an institution for higher learn
ing in this city, to be known TO have
the proportions of a national university.
The details of the project have not as yet
been disclosed, for the letter remains in
the possession of the President, not having
been officially communicated to any one
outside of small circle of those concerned
In the success of the enterprise. 1t is eX-
pected that it will be presented to Congress
for appropriate legislative action. A mes
sage from the President to this effect is re-
garded imminent. There is no absolute
certainty as to the amount named by Mr..
Carnegie, but that stated above is believed
to be correct.
At the cabinet meeting today the Presi-
dent formally announced to the cabinet
members that he had received the letter
from Mr.. Carnegie TO this effect. and that
ne proposed to consult with members of
Congress concerning the matter before any
formal statement of the case was given to
the public or communicated to the houses.
Ihe understanding is that the President
hopes 10 prepare the way for prompt ac-
t1on by Congress on the legislative phase
of the affair and to insure immediate prog
ress along the lines indicated by Mr.. Car
neSle In his letter. The suggestion is also
heiG out today that the President and Mr..
carnegie Will consult further concerning
tn precise features of the project the tat-
teS visiting Washington in all probability
III the course of d few days for that pur-
pose.
Mr. Carnegie's gift to the government as
II must for the present be considered is Tor
the purpose. it is understood. of permitting
the fruitiOn of the plans which have been
discussed for many years for the establish
ment of some form of goyernmentally
supervised educational establishment in
this city. George Washington left a fund
Tor this purpose. and there is now in eX-
istsnce an organization known as the
George Washington Memorial Association,
whose purpose is the DEVELOPMENT of the
original plan. enlarged according to modern
IDEAS one result of the formation of this
association was a move by the Washington
Academy of Sciences, two years ago, to
conserve all the forces which have been
striving for the creation of q national uni
versity at Washington. The academy,
through its leading officers. secured the CO.
operation OF the leading educators of the
country 20 a plan for the establishment
here of a postgraduate institution which
should utilize all the governmental agencies
and scientific bureaus for the higher educa-
tion of students.
Mr.. Carnegie Interested.
The present understanding is that the
work of the academy which was promi-
nently in evidence few months ago when
the matter was discussed before the Ma
ttonal- Educational Association, attracted
the attention of Mr.. Carnegie, who, it is
further understood. has for some years
tertained a thought of providing for some
form of national university at Washington.
He consulted. il is known, with several in
innate friends. educators OF prominence,
foremost among whom was Andrew ID.
White once president of Cornell and now
ambassador to Germany. Others consulted
by Mr.. Carnegie were President Eliot OF
Harvard and former President Daniel c.
Gilman of Johns Hopkins.
/ Gilman Is he boad Of ba in
eututlon which was projected a few months
ago as a result of agreement between
the Academy of Sciences and the Memorial
Association. He has been engaged for some
time in formulating plans for the further
ance of the enterprise, and he and Mr.. Car
negie held several interviews, at which, it
is stated, the subject of the projected uni
yersity was carefully discussed.
Consulted With the President
About ten days ago Mr.. Carnegie Iunched
with President Roosevelt at the White
House The subject of national univer-
sity was broached and Mr.. Carnegie dis
closed his desire to forward the enterprise
by an endowment donation. 1t is probable
that il was on that occasion that the mat
ter took definite shape. Mr.. Carnegie has
now. as stated, submitted his plan in the
letter to the President. According to one
who is closely identified with the project
of establishing higher educational inst-
tuition here, the subject has not until now
been laid in a business-like manner before
business man with the means Of MIR. Car
Eegle to put IL upon a practical ba sis for
execution His letter. it is underst ood con-
tains the precise proposition of how the
fund is to be managed and expended for
the establishment of the university
Carroll ID. Wright. commissioner of labor
who has been associated with the work of
the Academy of Sciences in this direction
stated today to Star reporter that the
subject was as yet vague, far as the
publications are concerned. He added:
The Original Plan.
The general discussion which has been
carried on during the last twenty-five years
in relation to the establishment of a ma
tional university in Washington has culmi-
mated In magnificent plan and endow-
ment by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie For a num-
Der OF years the university idea held sway.
but about two years ago the matter was
taken up by the Washington Academy of
Sciences, and this body. in cooperation
with the George Washington Memorial AS
sociation, formulated a definite plan which
differed radically from the university plan
contemplated in the earlier years This re-
suited last spring, as was then published in
The Star, In the organization OF the Wash
ington Memorial Institution. The plan was
In brief, as follows:
The organization of a private foundation
independent OF government support or con-
troI 10 facilitate the of the scientific.
and other resources OF the government for
Sl-
ties, colleges and individuals in securing To
properly qualified persons opportunities for
advanced study and research. Dr. Daniel
G. Gilman. until lately president of Johus
Hopkins University, was elected director
of the institution. When Mr. Carnegie
came to consider the question of endowing
a national university at Washington he
investigated the whole subject with his
usual thoroughness, and found that an in
stigHtion devoted to research and the train
ing of capable persons was more in accord
with his conceptions than the establish
ment OF a university that would be a rival
OF the already existing universities of the
country How far he was led to this con-
ciusion Dy the work that had been done
by the organizations in Washington is un-
known, but his action Indicates that he had
faith in'the general plan that had been de-
veloped and crystallized In this city 1t
may be that the Washington memorial in
stitution will suspend its operations for il
Is understood that Mr.. Carllegie's plan not
only embraces all the proposed activities of
the institution, but goes far beyond these
But until the full scope and plan of the