The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-05
Ian FOR H CREATION OF A GREATER UNIVERSITY

not in the sitting air of a narrow and
provincial school. For example, the
advantages to be gained by the teach
er in a great school like that of teach
ers' college, a department of Columbia
university, are UNNECESSARILY greater
than can be had in any isolated normal
school, however able it's faculty. 1t is
almost a liberal education to live for
four years in the atmosphere of a..
great university such as Columbia. In
the new University of Montana there
should be established not only a coll
lege for lawyers, for engineers, for
architects, for musicians, but also a
college with equipment and teaching.
staff adequate to train teachers for
any and all positions in the education-
al work of the state and of the nation.
If it is important to train tn lhysi-
clan, the lawyer, the engineer IN the
atmosphere of the university, it is
equally important to give the teacher
opportunities as good as are offered
to persons preparing for the other
professions.
In one other respect the new Uni
versity of Montana would have adj
vantage over nearly all state or in
dependent universities in this coun-
try, namely, in the development of a
great summer session. A summer
school at Missoula, at Helena, at Boze-
man, at Great Falls or at any other
city kelly to be recommended as q
seat for the university, would furnish
an ideal climate for a summer school
In the vast area from Minneapolis to-
New York, from New York to Florida,
from Florida to Texas, from Texas to
Missoula-in all this vast area there
are no university centers that could
offer a summer linate so delightful
as that bracing, invigorating summer
Climate found in its perfection only
in Montana, a climate known to all
persons who have visited the Glacier
park and the Yellowstone. Summer
students would find here in Mlssoula
a region as grand and inspiring as
that of SWitzerland-lofty and forest
J covered mountains, unriValed scenery,
beautiful waterfalls, noble rivers and
valleys as fertile as the valley of the
Nile. Taking advantage Of the cheap
summer rates offered by great railway
lines to the Yellowstone and Glacier
parks, students would come from
every section Of the republic to find
rest and recreation and opportunity
for study at the great summer school
of the university. Great professors
from other universities, not SO for
~tunatcly situated-the big men of the
nation as Well, cN-presidcnts, and
members Of the supreme court-Wouid
welcome the opportunity to rest and to
teach in this so~ul-inspiring region.
Such a university would ave in 10
years after its opening at least 1000 or
5000 students. 1t would thus be placed
among the foremost universities of the
world. If Montana is able to escape
the mistakes of the older and greater
universities, and this she may do if l'er
citizens la foresight and wisdom,
there are persons now living who shall
see upon M%ontana's soil the largest, the
greatest, the most splendidly endowed
and equipped university of America, if
not of the World-a university such as
Francis Bacon, painting pictures upon
the curtains of the future, saw upon
an island in the far west, a university
which would 'have for the object of its
foundation a study Of the causes ana
the secret notions of things Il the en-
largcmcnt of the boundaries of the
human empire to the attainment of all
things possible" AS a mere money
propOsition-and this we consider the
lowest of all considerations for its es-
tablishment-such a university would
be worth many millions to Montana.
We believe that all the progressive
! alumni of each of our state institu-
J tions-We venture to hope that all pro-
g~ressive citizens-will favor the pro-
posed consolidation, because the alum
nj themselves will lose nothing-but,
on the contrary. will greatly gain
should such a plan be effected. We
think it just for the new university
to consider as it's alumni all graduates
of each of the four state institutions
the degrees and honors that We're con-
ferred by these institutions should be
recognized forever. by the board and
faculty of the new. UNNECESSARILY
will be the gain even to the present
generation. But a university is not
for the present generation done. 1t
is a foundation for all time. 1t looks
to the generations to come. It should
be as enduring as the republic itself.
Future generations for perhaps thou
sands of years will bless the men and
women whose wisdom and foresight
have made it possible for Montana
youth to enjoy educational advantages
as good as may be obtained anywhere
on this earth. The contamination of
the plan herein outlined will shed
splendor upon the whole state of
Montana and contribute to the COM
monWealth glory enough to satisfy
the ambition of whole generations of
men. This mountain empire now oc-
cupies geographically the top of this
continent Nh, rraatiny IF c,,rt, n uni
versity as we propose will place it
intellectually at the top of the great
est republic of the world.