The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-19
GO SLOWLY

The statement, so positively made by the supporters Of
the consolidation proposition, that one OF the chief reasons
for the proposed Capitalization is to be found in the less
ened cost to the state of its work of higher education
Without admitting that the cash-per-capita should be the
controlling Influence in deciding the question, it is we'll to
consider this point in studying the proposition. 1t is one
of the chief points in the brief Of the petitioners.
AS we have said, before now, the Craighead plan for con.
oscillation defeats its own argument tor lessened
plants of the institutions; the cost of maintaining these in
situations would be as great as at present and the expense
of the consolidated school would be added to this. So,
really, the economy item may be checked off at the start.
But, admitting the contention into the discussion, let
us see if it is a fact that the greatest economy and the
greatest degree of efficiency are to be obtained by the con-
solidation of the states higher schools. The question of
cost is the one which appeals most strongly to the citizen
who regards the proposition, off hand. It seems to him a
reasonable proposition that it should be less expensive to
maintain a Consolidated institution than to carry on several
scattered schools. But the experts in matters of educa-
ton tell us that this is not so.
Yesterday morning, we referred to the tendency in col
leges and universities to reduce the number of students
The men who have given most time and thought to this
subject have reached the conclusion that the most effective
school work is not done in institutions whose students
number thousands. As we cited yesterday, the action al
ready taken by some of the prominent eastern colleges is
toward a lessened attendance and a positive limit has been
established by some of them. The question of economy
is as great an influence toward this decision as is the mat:
ter of efficiency.
There have been many sets Of figures published in this
connection. Some of them are authoritative; some of then
are speculative; some OF them are merely imaginary. 1t is
a difficult matter for the layman to decide when he is con.
fronted by the bewildering array, But the most disinter
ested statistics, the most impartial and the most accurate
are certainly those which come from the state officers. The
Bozeman Courier has compiled some Of these reports from
eastern states and has made this interesting comparison:
the sh s,a 's' of Montana S5 @' e: s1s sost;nd naS Pc: ps,n "noss' to The '1 u"iss's.y %; on
tana ~ou possess as + BY magic: immedjac1y POI aaopson . the
p nnips as Gss" of Wisconsin, noa 1s's sn 5s %inseso's as s e%o Of sSs1 best ts Examples sss
Of consultation, n taking Indiana and a1qo Michigan tn a $ two. Of rH the best est
s S5sSss r& 4 s WIZ PEE zT4P , \ 70 q + r. S1 = r z9sr c9 ASSET
1DATnD , TS7yTRS11lEs or TH 1S11 1T Gos zED IN M1d A5e THE sHoRH-
Jn the wear $780, according to he report of the commissioner of
saosation:. t h Wisconsin =" 4t,t expenses .s,s: s w's ss s1s5soo o., This ds, eo soso5; c%1
scnsoi i' ssnasnts wa a $751; SS:; H 1s c sS' s@eiu 'nae spssp s'% sppa s"@m su" sesr
va as . n%sSsSt' ana a's 'ssrs S:a% ss.t IN " s"s%asosse: g s?s s1s e. na :%; :?
s sss: S ss"s ssst s p9 actual 1e ee1 ss' : Ssrs tt' \: i ss7s' the" Ill., was
.cxss ' IN 151% Win a. an seesss'eto% q 's -: i@ss MAJ. &C es% nm
students The cost psr student os@s,, based tss1 , n the a total e,,n number mi sw wh nsn
" %tua1S college, "Ss student a%" na" WAS $685. S'"'S " i"'''"' va '-'-' nc '~' ''
ws sn s ss1sssss % fr 77 5ss st tsssots ore sf ~ sssf1 "s%p tns s :Hase ~sss IN ac 3aaS
college students. The cost per student "a ss72; pr actual college
summing VI in wisconsin and Minnesota, where HI state schools
Wisconsin, per- student, ssss; per actual college student $751;
In indiana and Michigan Where schools are segregated, tn cost per
%S1%",n Ds rs, st" s;.a.,; ss .:;,! per a.1 actual ssa,; so sssxs st. stsGs.' 'a ss.s.
c.1 1nsi IS scan; en,x tssafSs vs. ;HG R' A be enough aoa ts to o fsev mn a IN 's fs eo tsst ss:
ton mov "a CONSERVATION is cheaper it does lot necessarily .s 70
GATED G%4 T. " SCHOOLS tnc%1 thai N The HE coSsol1DA At aD1 UNIVERSITY NV
The people of Missoula have, in many instances, beer
asked to sign letters or petitions or statements, placing
themselves upon record as favoring the consolidation plan
Some of them have signed these papers, without knowing
what they we're doing. They have gone blindly into tn
matter, not realizing what a blow they were striking at tn,
University of Montana. The people Of Missoula and Of al
Montana should approach this question with caution. The,
should be careful; they should not jump at conclusions
they should hear both sides Of the question before they g
upon record. The folks who have signed these %ready-mad
letters, sent from the state university office, have acted to-
hastily. We do not say that these people may not, uti
mately, be in favor of consolidation. But We do assert, with
out fear of successful contradiction, that a great majorit
of these citizens have signed letters and petitions withou
having considered the question and without having givel
it honest thought.
There should be no hasty action in this important matter
,,erce on record. Not o. record lversty which is a vertable Castle
agdnst greater university but SPAIN We are all for a greater I'm
AGAINST the present visionary plan for versny and w ear get it if we W