Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-09-16
.S3O,0OO,OOO FOR
STATE UNIVERSITY
SUCH is PURPOSE coNTEM-
PLATED BY THE WILL OF
COLONEL w. r. Villas.
WIDOW AND HEIRS AMPLY PRO-
vDED FOR BUT ESTATE TO
BE KEPT INTACT.
Madison Sept. Z.

Madison sept. Z.
An eventual endowment of $30,000.-
900 for the University of Wisconsin
lis provided for by the will of the late
Colonel William F. Villas, former
United States senator and member OF
President Clevelands cabinet, who
died at his home August 27.
The will, filed yesterday in the
county court with a petition for pro-
bate, provides that the estate, valued
lat 100000 to $3,OOO,000, be placed
lin the hands Of four trustees to be
held in trust so long as Mrs. Villas
shall live. During her lifetime she
is to receive the entire net income
from the estate and upon her death
the whole property is to be turned
lover to the university, subject only
to the charge of 100000 year to
the daughter, Mrs. L. M. Hanks, and
some minor charges. The bequest to
Mrs. Hanks is to continue during her
life time.
Will Grow to $30,oo0,oo0.
After the property is turned over
" IllC uIl1f 01IS OLlAJ hStAA ~ 49, -~@
income is to be expended, until the
principal with the increment shall
reach S20,000,000 Then only one
fourth of the net income will be laid
aside and added to the principal, this
Ito continue until the property shall
reach the sum of $30,OO0,000. Then
the entire income is to be used by
the university as provided in the will.
No, Doubt of Acceptance.
The terms of the will are so liberal
to the university that of course there
is no doubt that the legislature will
enact the necessary statute of &C
ceptance as provided in the will.
Great and Permanent Foundation.
The purpose of Colonel Villas in
leaving his wealth to the university
in such manner that it will eventually
establish fund of $30,000,000, was to
accomplish a great and permanent
thing for the advancement of knoWl-
edge and to place the University of
Wisconsin in the first place among
the great educational institutions of
the world The will provides that a
building be erected to be known as
the Henry Villas Theater, a general
meeting place, provided with reading
rooms, lecture halls, baths, and other
accessories.
Ten Professorships.
1t is also provided that large num-
Der of scholarships be established,
and that as soon as the accumulation
of the fund may permit, there be es-
tablished ten professorships, each to
have salary of not less than $4,000
nor more than $4,000 a year. In
the deed of gift it is provided that
these professors be permitted to give
their entire time to the advancement
of learning, rather than that they be
hampered by much burden of teach
ing, but it is suggested that each pro-
.fessor will surround himself with the
most promising men in the field of
his professOrship. 1t is also provided
that these professors be eventually
retired on pension of not more than
$4,000 a year, to continue during
their lifetime
Will a Lengthy Document.
Much of the property is in large
tracts of land, the value of which is
constantly increasing. The will is a
great document, containing fully TO-
600 words. 1t carefully explains the
details of the trust under which all
the property is left.
Family Heartily Approves.
In the preparation of his will, Colo
mel Villas took all his heirs at law
into his confidence, and it appears
from the will that they are enthusiast
tic in agreement that the estate uItt-
mately shall go to the university.
The heirs at law are Mrs. Anna M.
Villas, the widow; Mrs. Mary Esther
Villas Hanks, the daughter. Bequests
are made ample to care for all the
needs of these, and also for Mrs
Henry Villas of Pittsburg, widow of
the deceased son of Colonel Villas;
and for the two children OF Mr. and
Mrs. L. M. Hanks of Madison, grand.
children of the testator. The will ia