The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-12
NOT FOR FLOUR CITY
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE NOT
LIKELY TO BE REMOVED TO
MINNEAPOLIS
STATEMENT BY A DIRECTOR
Is Doing Well at st. Peter, and
Would Cost Too Much to Re-
establish 1t in Big
City.

Minneapolis papers yesterday published
statements to the effect that Gustavus
AdOlphus college, the thriving Swedish
Lutheran educational institution at ST.
Peter, was to be moved to Minneapolis
in the immediate future; that the mem
berS of the Augustana Swedish Lutheran
synod were in favor of locating it in
larger city, where it would have a great
er influence and greater opportunity to
grow. 1t was argued that the proposed
movement was just and popular because
St Peter is quite without the center of
the Swedish population of the state. It
was stated that the movement was well
under way, and that large fund was
being subscribed to secure the college for
the Flour City.
While it is undoubtedly true that many
influential Swedish citizens of Mime
apolis would like to see the change and
are willing to put up money for it, it is
not true that the change is likely to be
made. There is at the present time prac-
tically no probability of such a move
ever being made. The authority for TINS
is a member of the board Of directors,
whose influence in the college affairs is
second to none, and who knows whereof
he speaks. He said yesterday concerning
the proposed change:
This agitation is nothing new; it is
IlldlIeI WHICH we nave considered III enc
way or another many times. Naturally
there are some very good people who de-
sire the change, but there is no great
demand among the patrons of the col
le ge for the change. Indeed, it is largely
impossible. In the first place we are
under moral obligations to maintain the
college in st. Peter. When the college
was established there in 1875, the CITIZENS
raised a bonus Of $4,000, in consideration
,S,.I,
been loyalty supported by the citizens of
st. Peter and the surrounding country
In the first place it would not be right
to move the institution from St. Peter
without returning to the citizens the
money they raised to secure the location
Of the college
''Tn the second place we have an in
vestment of about $4,000 in buildings at
st. Peter, and if we were to move the
college we could not realize over $5,0je
for these same buildings.
I'm order to properly equip the COL
lege and start it off properly in Mime
apois we would need a subscrip,-on Of
at least $250,000 1t is out of the question
to secure such an amount for this pur-
pose.
Then again the college is prospecting
where it is, and there is no guarantee
that its influence or it's prosperity would
NC materially increase us removal to
Minneapolis. Indeed, it would at least
for a time, labor under DISADVANTAGE.
1t would practically have to begin it's life
all over again.
1T is not true that a college has great
er opportunities for growth and ex-
pansion in large city than in a small
one. On the other hand there are many
disadvantages to be met with in large
city. In a small city the college is more
III the nature of a solidified community
1t is easier to maintain discipline, to
maintain personal supervision over the
students, to exert an influence over them.
In a large city there is a certain indie
pendence among students which in a wav
destroys the personal relation between
the school and the student. The students
are practically outside of the school in
fuence except when they are at school.
1 think it has been proved again and
again that the small college in the small
town produces better results. 1t is pos
slble to keep the students more entirely
within the school atmosphere
or course 1T is a move of civic enter
prise on the part of Minneapolis to at
tempt to secure the college bv offerin O
large bonus for its removal to that city.
They undoubtedly figure than an invest
ment Of many thousands of dollars would
mean permanent location of the COL
lege in the city. But there is no imme-
date need for change; the college is
doing well as it is; there is no. determined
sentiment among the directors favorfng
the removal, and the sentiment of the
patrons and alumni of the college is very
largely in favor of maintaining it where
1t Is. Its removal to minneapolis if nos
sfble at all, is still very far in the
future