The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-17
BIG FOUR RAILROADS.
GIFT TO THE PURDUE
MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM
President Ingalls, Telegraphs that
the Company Will Contribute
$4,000 to the Fund.
100000 TO BE RAISED
Citizens of Lafayette, Alumni, Stu
dents and Others Have Prom
ised Large Sums.
TO BE BUILT IN THE FALL
Most Complete and Modern Struc-
ture in the West Will Be
Constructed.
100000 TO BE RAISED
70 BE BUILT IN THE FALL
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Jan. 16.-In a tele-
gram to the citizens executive committee
of the Purdue Memorial Association, NJ L.
ingalls, wired from New York this after
noon the following self-explanatory mes
sage:
THE best news 1 have for you before
leaving for Europe is that our company
will give $4,000 toward the erection of the
proposed memorial gymnasium at Purdue
University"
Coupled with this announcement is the
news that the Alumni Association of Pur-
due will contribute $4,000, Lafayette citi-
zens will give like amount. and friends of
the university and the student body will
complete a fund of 100000 which will per-
petuate the memory of the seventeen stu
dents and football players who lost their
lives in the wreck of the football special
at Indianapolis on Oct 81, 1903.
Already over half of the fund is now as
sured. President Stone. in a statement
some weeks ago, said that it would be
next fall before the building of the gym
the Big Four's gift other gifts are expected
to follow from moneyed men in this city
and wealthy parents of students and friends
of Purdue.
The most modern gymnasium possible
will be constructed and Purdue is expected
TO have one of the best in the West.
Soon after the railway accident the propo-
sition was made 10 erect q memorial to the
victims. The project took the form of a
gymnasium, and before long almost s., ,OO(
had been voluntarily raised. Small con-
tributions poured into Purdue and into the
hands of citizens. An executive committee
was formed TO act with the faculty and
the Purdue Memorial Association was
formed Several visits were made to Gin
cinnati and President ingalls, was found &c
be contemplating giving a handsome sun
to the institution. President Stone and
members OF the citizens committee were
apprised that an announcement would be
made, which was done to-day in a message
from Mr.. ingalls,.
to-day and 1t created furor. 1t meant the
substantial nucleus of a fund which will
build a gymnasium far beyond the fondest
expectations of students and athletes II
will be in a conspicuous place on the cam
pus, will contain big gymnasium floor and
a running track, and Will be large enough
10 hold the State indoor meet. The gym
nasium will have at it's head Oliver Frost
Cults, a graduate of Harvard and director
OF athletics at Purdue, and II is expected
that the boiler makers will make the pages
ments as the result of their improved facili.
ties.
Wednesday morning at Fowler Hall Pur-
due will hold mass meeting of students
at which demonstration will be made In
honor of the Big Four's gift. President
Stone was much pleased with the amount
and expressed himself deeply grateful
tonight. He was speaking for himself and
for the university.