The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-26

Business men, citizens. and alumni Of
/ tho George Washington University gave
/ proof OF their interest in that institution
/ last night by subscribing $3.50 20 q fund
! 10 purchase site for its future home
Not more than 30 responded to the iuyj-
tation of the university authorities 30 the
meeting of citizens and alumni at tine
New Willard, but they proved to be Of
7 the right sort and within an hour Slime
the sum mentioned had been subscribed.
and assurances given Of the good viii of
Washington toward the institution which
bears the name of the first President Of
/ the United States
Commissioner II. B. F. Macfarland pre-
sided, and made a short address al the
/ opening Of the meeting. stating the pur-
pose for which it had been called and
/ referring to- soEae of the special ad-
vantages which the Capital possesses as
an educational center.
DR.. Needham Outlines Needs.
/ Dr. Charles ". Necdham made an ad-
dress lasting half an hour in which he
stated clearly the objects and aims Of
/ the university described the terms Of its
I charter. declared il to be without secta-
rianism, and founded upon the broadest
/ basis of intellectual development Dr.
| Needham spoke particularly Of the higher
university work 20 which the institution
/ had been called. He said il is situated
/ here at the capital Of the nation. where
/ the material which all educators must
/ have is 10 be- found in the libraries
museums. and departments Of the govern
ment. In speaking of a site for che uni
versity he said none had been selected
that three or four had been under con
sideratiOn, among them the Dean prop
erty.
/ DR.. Needham said that one object II
/ the meeting was TO hear the advice az
/ those present as To the site, as well as 10
raise Jthe money for its purchase
Question Capitals Attitude.
/ DIR. Needham stated that ia the ef-
( forts Of the university directors 90 raise
money outside of Washington for build
/ ings and general endowment, they had
/ frequently been met with the inquiry:
I What are the citizens Of Washington do
/ ing for the institution" He said it had
never been possible TO answer the ques-
/ tiOB satisfactorily. Dr. Needham said tie
! time had come in the history of-the in
stitution when it Is essential TO its growth
/ and success that the friends of the uni
versity in Washington should do some
/ thing definite that could be pointed so
as proof that IL believed in the institl-
I ton and had its interests at heart. To
/ this end it had seemed to the faculty
/ and directors that no better plan could
/ be devised than for the citizens OF Wash
b inSton and the alumni of the university
/ 70 raise $iO0.00o to buy a suitable site for
/ the buildings. He said this would silence
( the objection raised by outsiders that the
/ beginning should be made by those most
vitality concerned in the welfare Of the
university in Washington.
Demands Of University.
The aim of the university" continued
DR.. Needham, is 10 furnish for this
locality undergraduate work. supplying
| the local demand for such an institution.
and in addition to build up here a great
university, giving graduate courses of all
kinds making the professional schools
graduate schools. and establishing grad
uate courses for teachers and scientists
Of all kinds. Great emphasis has always
been laid upon this particular work at
the National Capital The facilities for
graduate work here in all departments
are very great, and I have no doubt that
the crowning work Of the university must
be in its graduate departments.
Not Strong Financially.
Financially. the institution is not
strong We have about a million and a
half dollars of property and investment,
with a considerable indebtedness, Il is
proposed 70 sell the properties which We
own, and which are incumbered. subject
TO the membranes, and use the equities
in new buildings upon a new site. The
value Of the free property and the cqui-
ties. ar fair valuation. amount 70 about
one million dollars.
THE matter Immediately under consid-
Grafton is that Of new site.
This question cannot be decided with
out keeping In mind the organization and
purposes of the university. 1t goes with
out saying that the farther out we go
from the center of the city the cheaper
the land and the more We should be able
to buy, but we cannot carry the depart
ments of the university very far from
the center without injuring much Of the
work now being carried on. and it would
make it impossible to develop graduate
work on a large scale.
'f'Thp graduate student must ha vylsg;v,