Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-01-21

is under instructions TO ask from the
Legislature encouragement for county
training schools to better qualify
teachers for district schools. and for
the extension of the existing system
of state aid to high schools, in order
to reach and improve the weak graded
schools in the country, and establish
others where they are so much need
ed l believe that legislative action
to meet this emergency in the life of
district schools cannot be too strongly
recommended.
University of Wisconsin.
''The reports of the board of univer-
| sity regents and of the president az
the university convey to you detailed
information respecting the growth
and needs of this institution. The
value to the state from it's continued
development, and it's reputation
| throughout the country, are so well
established and so generally appreci-
ated that its friends and supporter
can have no cause of apprehension for
the future. It's growth in influence
and usefulness within the last decade
has exceeded the anticipations and
hopes of it's most sanguine promoters.
State provision for the increasing ex-
penses inseparable from growth has
been generous and prompt The new
burdens have been carried by the PEG.
pie without complaint If the advo-
Gates of university expansion will
keep in mind their obligation to the
state, which can be done without less
ening the zeal for the cause in which
they have enlisted, am sure that they
will meet with few obstacles in legis-
latiye action or in public sentiment.
f.The plea sometimes made that
state universities cannot afford to
compete with institutions of learning
lavishly endowed by multi-millionaires
is not valid. It is not necessary to en-
gage in competition in extravagant ex-
penditure. In point of fact, our own
and certain other state universities in
the west are competing successfully in
work and growth with the oldest and
most richly endowed colleges in The
country, without expenditures whit n
would bear comparison. You will not
forget-indeed the friends of the uni
versity will not permit you to forged
that the University of Wisconsin has
it's rivals in universities of neighbor-
ing commonwealth. Few citizens of
Wisconsin will be found ready TO argue
that this state cannot afford to keep
pace with adjoining states III educa-
tional work and advancement.
During the last biennial period the
material improvements of the univer-
sity have included the enlargement of
main hail, the construction of suit
able building for the college of engi-
neering, and the completion of the IL
brary building for the. State Histori-
cal society and university. The first
provision for the last-named structure
was made under Gov. w. H. Uphams
administration, and largely through
the instrumentality of his influence.
AS permanent home for the invalu-
able historical records and volumes OF
| the state, as well as an important aux
iliary to all university work, this
splendid structure will stand an endur-
ing monument to the enterprise of is
distinguished projectors.
Additions to "the means of acquir-
GUS branches of learning" during the
ing thorough knowledge of the vaci-
last two years, include the reorganiza-
ton of the college of engineering and
the establishment of the school of his
/ nd (Sf ar0n
| The purpose of this last school is to
furnish a course of study especially
fitted for the training of young men
who wish to enter business careers or
branches of the public service in
which a knowledge of business is es-
sential. The practical utility of such
a school to meet the demands of a
commercial people requires no argu-
ment
Under the head of immediate and
special needs which will call for extra
appropriations, the university authori-
ties make most prominent new build
ing for the college of agriculture, suit
able equipment for the new building
of the college of engineering, and
provision for the school Of commerce.
have no hesitancy in commencing
each of these proposed improvements
as worthy your approval, but confess
some doubt as to whether you will be
able to honor all the worthy demands
upon the taxing power without impos-
ing an onerous burden upon
the tax-paying power of the
state. For reason somewhat
similar to those which prompt
recommendations of state aid to coun-
try schools, I am inclined especially
to favor every pracIlcal encourage
ment to the growth of the college of
agriculture without delay. Perhaps
it is as we'll to admit that the execu-
tive may be Influenced somewhat by
kindly prejudice in favor of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin. But / am con-
WINGED that it's friends will have no