The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-06
SUPPORT WILL BE HEARTY
PLAN FOR A MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM
To PURDUE'S DEAD.
President stone Endorses 1t and Presi-
lent Ingalls, Says N Big Four
Company Will Contribute.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Nov. Endorsed by
President Stone and other members of the
faculty as well as by prominent alumni, 1t
is probable that the project to erect a $780,
600 gymnasium at Purdue University as a
memorial to the men who lost their lives in
the Indianapolis wreck, will eventually be
successful. The movement, started only a
few days ago, already has met with popular
favor and seems to solve the problem of
how to best honor the memory of those who
died in the Big Four Railway catastrophe.
President Stone has announced that he will
do everything in his power to further the
plan. He said he was confident that the
university authorities could find a way to
raise an amount equal to any fund that
could be secured by citizens subscription.
After his return to Lafayette President
Stone will take steps toward etfecting an
organization which will adopt plans to carry
out the project. Citizens Of Lafayette are
showing great interest In the plan and the
money raised by subscription for the
athletic association probably will furnish a
nucleus for the fund. The promoters of the
plan to-day received a letter from President
Ingalls,, of the Big Four Railway, in which
it was stated that the railroad was willing
to make a subscription to the athletic asso-
citation of Purdue. The letter read as fol-
lows: =.
1--WE are anxious to do whatever Is right
and proper In reference to the horrible Gala
nifty or the people injured in the same. If
we could call back the dead or heal the
wounded no expense would be spared. Ii
the memorial which you propose is the best
thing, we are willing to assist. we had
thought that a donation to the athletic as,
ISOLATION was the best thing to do. We Will
keep your letter and in the end we will do
whatever we think, after conference with
you and other friends, is proper
Substantial subscriptions are being added
to the list every day and there is not a
merchant in the city who will not make
some gift. 1t is planned to erect a stone
building on the site of the present made
uuate gymnasium at Purdue. The new
structure will contain a bronze tablet sacred
to the memory of every man, whether stu
dent or not, killed on last Saturday. Purdue
has needed a gymnasium for years and re-
peated attempts have been made to persuade
the Legislature to make an appropriation
for the purpose. Each of the four classes at
Purdue Is able to raise a substantial sum to
aid the gymnasium project The senior
class leaders say they are certain the class
could raise 5000. The Purdue alumni num-
Der 1,4OO and they could be depended on for
several thousand dollars. The alumni asso-
Citations of Chicago, Pittsburg. Cleveland
and Indianapolis could each give substan-
tial amounts. The eight fraternlties at
To-day the following notice was sent out
by officers of the alumni: Attention, Pur-
due Alumni! Purdue graduates OF Lafayette
and vicinity are requested TO meet at the
Purdue experiment station Friday evening.
Nov. s. at 7:30 for the purpose of perfectins
an organization to further the plan for the
erection of a memorial gymnasium. All
alumni are earnestly requested TO attend