Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-09-11
Villas SPLENDID
GIFT TO STATE
WILL BEQUEATHES FUND TO UNI
vERSITY WHICH IN TIME WILL
AMOUNT TO sso,ooo,ooo.
TO PENSION PROFESSORS.
Ten New Chairs to Be Established with
Salaries Ranging from $4,000
to $4,000 Per Year.


MADISON, Wis, Sept. 7.-[Special. ]
The will of the late Col. William f.
Villas, admitted to probate Saturday,
creates trust estate which will eventu-
ate in the establishment of a fund of
100000 for the University of Wis
consin. The death f Mrs. Villas must
intervene before IT, : university begins
to enjoy any of the income provided for,
and it may be 100 years before the full
S3O,OOO,OOO are accumulated. But the
beQuest of the former senator will have
an immediate beneficial effect upon the
university, for one of the principal pro
visions in the will is the establishment
Of the trust fund for ten professorships
at salaries ranging from $4,000 to $1O,-
900 per year with a $500 annual pen
sion after the incumbent has served in a
Villas professorship fifteen years.
May Enjoy Income at Once.
The effect that this provision of the
will will have upon the university will
be to attract to the faculty men of prom
inence in the educational world who will
feel that at Wisconsin they will be ade-
quately compensated for the services
which they may render.
1t is estimated that the university will
! Immediately come into the enjoyment Of
an income of about 100000, although
w
Mrs. Villas. According to the provisions
of the will the widow may, during her
lifetime, dispose of the income as she
sees fit, without any limitations, but it
| is understood to have been the wish of
Col. Villas, and also that it is the wish
Of Mrs. Villas that the university begin
to enjoy the benefaction Immediately.
Children Provided for.
Mrs. Mary Esther Villas Hanks, a
daughter, is given $4,000 during her
| lifetime, and $4,000 is set aside for each
of her two children. When these be-
quests have been paid half the net in
versity and half is to go to augment the
principal. When the principal has
reached $2O,O0O,OOO, three-fourhts of the
net income will go to the university, the
remaining fourth being added to the
principal, until the completed fund of
$3O,OO0,OOO is reached.
Negroes Are Remembered.
Ten scholarships of $500 a year for
worthy Undergraduate students, and ten
| fellowships of $500 a year are provided
| for as soon as the money becomes avail
able for use by the university. These
! fellowships may be adjusted SO that not
more than five of them will provide for
$500 per year for travelling purposes.
In the clause establishing ten profess
| SorshipS at salaries ranging from SoOOO
to $4,000 per year, it is expressly pro-
| vided that the men occupying these
chairs shall carry on research work,
and adequate provision is made for spe-
cial expenses. When the ten professor
ships have been provided for it is or
dered that fifty more undergraduate
scholarships of $500 a year shall be es-
tablished and after that fifty more fell
lowships at from $500 to $500 per year.
The will provides that for at least one
| fifth of the scholarships and fellowships
the regents shall give preference to stu
dents of negro blood if any present
| themselves.
After all the provisions of the will
have been complied with, if funds war
rant it. more professorships for the adj
vancemeut of knowledge may be estab-
| lished.
The regents are to have control Of all
appointments of scholars, fellows and
professors.