The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-10-21
MONEY FOR UNIVERSITY
Prominent Capitilist in Adjoining
State Offers University $4,000
for New Building.

state OnerS University $6O,OOO
for New Building.
President Kerfoot, of the Univer-
| sity, has carried around a secret for
some time concerning the good of the
institution, and which he let go of
Thursday evening at the banquet of
the Commercial Club. The secret is
this: A prominent capitalist, living
in an adjoining state, has agreed to
give DR.. Kerfoot $4,000 contingent
on the raising of 100000 by the
people of this city and the supporters
Of the college throughout the state.
There was a splendid attendance at
the banquet of the Commercial Club,
which was held in Odd Fellows hall,
the guests numbering about so. The
refreshments were served by the
Daughters of Rebekah, and when
President Upton called the assembl-
age to order after the refreshments
had been served he complimented the
iod1Co VII u VS4y SASS11SAt AACo oAA
the manner in which it was served.
Mr.. Upton introduced three Or
four different matters of an import
ant character concerning big enter
prises which were on the string for
Mitchell, and committees were APP
pointed to further the projects. There
are several very good propositions
that look very much like they will be
landed for the city.
A request was presented to the
club asking its moral support for the
organization of a militia company for
Mitchell. In support of the idea M.
L.. Shea resd a lengthy statement
about militia companies and the bene-
fits accruing from the organization
in a town. George A. Silsby gave
it his hearty endorsement, knowing
from his own experience that 1t would
be a good thing to have. A motion
prevailed that the club would give
its moral support to the enterprise,
and steps will be taken at one to-
ward getting the militia company
started to become a member Of the
South Dakota National Guard.
DIR. Kerfoot's Statement.
The committee which had been ap-
pointed to confer with President Ker-
foot with reference to furthering the
interests of that institution, requested
the college president to present the
important matter to the assembled
business men.
Presiden Kerfoot went into some
details covering the past history Of
the college, of its growth and devel-
opment until it has come to be recog-
nized as n o fthe strongest bust
ness institutions in the city. To show
something of the value in money
placed on the college, he stated that
the entire equipment up there was
worth at a conservative estimate
$345,000. 1t has an endowment of
500, 600. There are about 500 stu
dents in the college and in the course
of a year these students expend on
an average of $4,000 in the city,
so it is thus demonstrated just what
money influence the students and
faculty body has in the business af-
fairs of the city. The college is alb
solutely out of debt, not a dollar CT
paper is held against the institution,
and the deck is cleared for action.
The time has come, DR.. Kerfoot
said, for the enlargement. At pre-
sent they are limited to space for the
accommodation of students, and he
assured the listeners that If they had
the room that within five years they
would have 1000 students, and be-
lieved that was a goal worth work
ing for.
DR.. Kerfoot said that what was an
ticipated in the way Of more build
ings was a gymnasium and a science
hall, the latter to have an auditorium
with seating capacity of 1000 people.
Both are necessities. The time has
come when the University must go
forward, and it would be a very APP
propriate matter to raise the $780,
900 to be in sympathy with the quar-
ter centennial movement which oc-
urs next summer in this city. He adj
mitted this was a big thing, but
Mitchell and the state we're capable
of big things, and recognizing this
there was help coming from a man
of national reputation, who lives in
an adjoining state who is ready to
give $4,000 for the erection of a
science hall. This is contingent upon
conn nnn ho3r. r,;.a T. s..