Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-05-29

ness of General Brookes, who was
taken to st. Mary's hospital on We'd
nesday afternoon, where an operation
Tor appendicitis was performed, thus
making it impossible for him to at
tend the commencement on the night
of that day. | think the most re-
markable thing, perhaps, about Ros-
Well is the public spirit manifested in
every matter tending towards the inn
provement and progress of the town.
of the schools, and especially of the
military institute, although hat is q
territorial, and not a purely local, in
stitution. An instance of this may
be worthy of special consideration by
the people of Albuquerque at the
present time. 1t is not long since one
of the buildings of the military insti-
tute was destroyed by fire, and the
board of regents had 10 money avail
able for rebuilding, nor any lawful
authority under the statutes to bor-
row money or to incur a debt. In
this emergency, citizens of the town
borrowed the money upon a note or
notes signed by them, sufficient to
furnish funds for the necessary new
building, which is not yet quite COM
pleted. / am not informed as to the
amount of money raised in this way,
but believe it cannot have been less
than $25. 600, and was probably a
great deal more.
"Of course, it is hoped that the leg
islature will appropriate the honey
to pay for this building, and thus save
the individuals who made themselves
personally responsible for any loss.
Here in Albuquerque the university
is confronted with the same situation.
We have had a building burn within
the last week which cost about $17,-
900 to build, but which has never been
entirely satisfactory for the purposes
for which it has been used, while the
equipment, apparatus, etc, in the
building will probably cause the loss
to reach $40, 900. The insurance is
only about $14, 000. Even before this
fire, the board of regents vas strug-
Cling with the question of additional
dormitory accommodations which are
absolutely imperative, and had been
seeking some way to find the money
for this purpose, but so far without
success. The board is hampered eX-
actly in the same way as was the
board of the military institute, the
provisions of law being substantially
the same for both institutions. The
university ought to have not less than
$500 for an additional dormitory
and not less than the same amount
for a properly constructed science
building, which should be so built as
to be as nearly as possible proof
against fire. Without these build
ings, the progress of the university
will be stopped almost entirely, and
any check in the development of such
an institution will probably w in
furious effects extending over many
years. To meet the $4,000 needed,
there is practically only the amount
of the insurance. There is on hand
a very small amount of money avail
able for permanent improvements,
the most of which, however, must be
devoted to another purpose, for which
it has been reserved.
Il hope that you win call to the at
of the public-spirited citizens
Albuquerque that there is need of
not less than $4,000 for the purpose
whether it may not be possible that
Albuquerque a do as well in such a
as its smaller sister, Ros-
well, has done.
with the development of our prin-
cipal higher educational institutions, |
they are receiving a greater degree
of attention and appreciation from
the public tina ever before, and there
is no reason to doubt that any proper
necessary expenditure of money
will meet the approval of Il next
legislature, when proper provision will
made to save individuals from any
loss upon their obligations. The
institutions of Albuquerque
would promptly respond and advance
he money which may be needed, upon
proper security, even though it may
be for a somewhat longer time than
loans are usually made"
Regents in Brief Session.
The board of regents of the uni
,ersity held a brief session yesterday
l%fternoon. No action was taken aside
rom the formal procedure in regard
o the insurance on the burned build
ny. The matter of rebuilding was
lot discussed and the whole PROPOSE
will be acted on at another meet
ng to be announced later.