The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-26
COLLEGE MEETING TONIGHT.

The promoters Of the proposed poly
technical institute to be established
in Billings have met with such success
in their efforts to secure subscriptions
to the college fund" that they have
called a meeting of all Billings peo.
pie, interested in higher education.
for tonight in the city council cham
Der, when the educators, interested In
the proposed college, and some Of the
leading citizens of Billings will ex-
plain what will be needed to have
the work on the buildings for the
proposed institute commence at once.
It is to be hoped that all Billings
boosters and every one interested in
seeing a higher educational institu-
ton located here will attend the meet
ing.
From a reliable source the Gazette
learns that several thousand dollars
have already been subscribed to
the college fund" by local people and
others interested in seeing the instl-
tute located here. It will take but a
small amount more to assure the 'es-
tablishment and the commencement
of work on the college buildings i'm
mediately, so that students may be
enrolled the coming fall.
The meeting tonight will be for the
purpose of explaining to the people
of Billings just the manner Of college
or institute it is intended to establish
here, to perfect a college corporation
and to devise ways and means for pro-
curing the additional funds which will
be required.
The proposition to establish
higher educational institution in Bill
ings should interest every resident OF
eastern Montana. Such an institu.
ton, if started now, would undoubted-
ly eventually develop into one Of the
great universities of the country.
There is no university, taking the
broader meaning of the word, in the
state Of Montana. Our lawyers, our
doctors, u dentists, professional
men OF all crafts, except pedagogy
and engineering, are now educated
outside of the state. It is time that
Montana developed a real university.
There is no place where one could
be. more rapidly developed than in
Billings.
The establishment of a higher edu-
cational institution in this city would
make this the only city between Boze-
man and the central Dakotas pos
sessing such a seat of learning. The
sons and daughters OF eastern Mon
tana residents are compelled to go at
least 200 miles to enter a higher edu.
.cational institution, after they COM
plete wi high school courses. This
should not be. If such an institution /
were established here, it would AFFORD
hundreds of young men and young
women, who cannot afford to go away
from home to school, an opportunity
to secure training in an institution
than the high school.
Aside from the educational advan-
tages to be derived there is the ad-
vertising such an institution would &c.
cure for Billings. It would call this
community to the attention of hun.
dreds who have never heard Of 1t, and
interest hudreds of others, whose chill
dren would come here to college.
It is important that q higher edu.
cational institution should be secured
here. The men, who desire to es-
1t, are educators Of the highest
standing and II they receive the
proper financial support success will
their efforts. It Is to be hoped
there will be q large attendance At
the public meeting tonight.
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