The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-04

like that, increasing in wealth at the
rate of % millions of dollars a year
should not be willing to do anything
decent and desirable is to deny all his
tory, un-Kansan and not as we are
most pleased to think
But for all that we do not make that
proposition. We do not propose an ad
ditional college.
IF the future should demand it, If
any great number of the parents of the
state not able to be accommodated iii
colleges already established should very
much desire 1t, II some future DrODOSI-
ton should be made to centraHze and
unity existing educational agencies now
doing college work, then at that time we
would feel free to examine carefully and
possibly to act upon the broader lines
but for the present we are candid when
we say that we recognize the work done
by existing institutions and refuse to in
terfere with that work by dividing it.
We do propose the establishment OF
a university upon the broadcast possible
lines and of the most practical advant.
age. The reasons which move US in this
may be of interest.
Some years ago a charter was OBJ
tanned, and is still in effect. authorizing
the establishment of the University OF
Topeka Some land was bought and
some work was done, which was stopped
by period of financial distress. Among
the friends of that movement was i
woman who earned, in a very literal
sense, worldwide gratitude for her
benevolence and universal respect for
her saintliness of character. She, rea-
lizing that the financial distress was but
passing cloud and that her life WaS
drawing to a close. took counsel of all
those men within reach whose broad
mindedness and financial skill madr
their advise valuable. upon two DroDo-
sitions: Can the University Of Topeka
be built. and if SO where should it be
InRQTRH he affx or III 81 1fcir4
of zt2 These men counseled her with
out exception to the effect that a large
beQuest from her available at some fu
ture time. would doubtless secure the
within the city, both for the profit of
its merchants and the convenience Of
those who attend it. Her will was mads
as suggested.
within a year after her death that
executor, who was more es2sciallv
charged with the founding Of the insI-
tuition contemplated, learned by confer
ence with the proper parties represent
that another college added to the list
would divide the field and add to the
embarrassment. two of these represen-
tatives in particular were earnest in the
attempt to show that their burdena
were already great enough FeelinS
that there was reason in this and in the
interest of a complete understanding our
purpose with reference to a university
! ~-@'-
interview in the State Journal nearly
two years ago, and from that time I'M
til now has been the subject Of investi-
cation and oreoara ton.
But there were other reasons for this
action A university is not only a need
ed expansion of our educational facili~
ties but it is more nearly within the
means at hand. Colleges are expensive.
always expensive. Larger endowments
are an absolute essential to college sue
cess. Tuition fees cannot be made high
enough to cover the cost without be
coming orOhibitive. But with profess
ing and art education the reverse is
more nearly true.
The New York Law. college, as I ain
informed, is a piece of private property
with princely profits. The jefferson
Medical college is another. The den
tistry department is a money maker in
the Northwestern university. The las
named institution paid three Quarters of
q million dollars for building in Chi
cago IN which it has installed its law
medical and dental schools, and expects
as I am told, reasonable return on tbs
/ inVeSt nent We have good town a
good people, railways touching every
\ part of the state, libraries professional
and general, to whose support the state
/ IS pledged; courts. conventions. hos
/ pitalS. aSylumS, which already cOnSti-
tute a plant more valuable than that
/ Of the state university at Lawrence,
| advantages which no other town in a
/ very DrOaQ region can nave even Win
unlimited money; shops open to the
mechanical student of every grade. and
last but not least enough money in
prOspect to house all these schools and
unlimited employment for students VINO
must work their way through. and rec
/ Ognizing what is ours by way of natural
advantage and the benevolence of Mrs.
( Chrisman, we ask your endorsement and
good viii as we address ourselves to the
Undertaking.
rs it feasible? Some months since !
started out to find the answer to that
question. I felt that it was one of the
many things that I did not know; that II
was q matter for expert testimony and 10
guess work visited many experts
/ as could be reasonably found The first
was Dr. Goblin. for some years president
of De PAW university, man who knows
! karsans and Kansas churches and Kan
sas institutions like book. I saw the
| plant over which ne presides. took plenty
Of time to see and hear. ask and answer
of the subject, and sum up the result OF
/ the visit by quoting. with his permission
this sentence. I am very sanguine about
the organization of university in To
9c-a-
From him went to DIT. Bashford. who
presides over the Ohio Wesleyan universe
ty, a rich and we'll grounded institution
/ I will not weary you with the details %
which no doubt viii be of value farther
on and encouragement was received. Dr.
Bashford I may say. is also intimate with
Kansas conditions From there I went Il
DR. James of the Northwestern university
That IS an old a very wealthy and infuen-
thorough. I fancied he would not thlnA
Verv highly Of our two hundred or two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars as
beginning but his reply was oh, YOU car
M