El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-27
PLAN PURCHASE Of
MINES SCHOOL SITE
Chamber Of Commerce May
Arrange to Buy Grounds
to Give to State.

Rather than see FL Paso lose the
state school of mines, which it is es-
timated will in a few years mean the
investment of thousands of dollars here
by the state, the local chamber Of com
merce may purchase the Fl PaSO Mill
tary school site a necessary requisite
towards the acquisition OF the mining
school. and donate it to the state This
was the proposition discussed TUESDAY
night between Claiborne Adams, acting
president of the chamber of commerce.
a Schwartz, one OF the directors, ana
c. NJ. Newman and Felix Martinez as
trustees for the Military institute site
Also, this is the proposition that
viii be placed before IuII heeIlnS, OF
the board OF directors Of the chamber
of commerce, and indications are that
if satisfactory arrangements can be
made, the chamber OF commerce VIII
But approximateIy $4,000 stands in
the way of FL Paso securing the school
OF mines, the acquisition of which IN
10 years to come will make the city
one of the greatest mining centers IN
the United States Tentative plans for
its purchase by the board of trade con-
sist of handling the proposition
through an appOrtiOnment Of the budget
fund, or setting aside 2 certain per
cent of the annual dues These details
will be arranged when the board OF dl-
rectOrs holds its meeting and the pur-
chase is definitely agreed upon.
Congressional Aid Probable.
As one OF the inducements held out
for the purchase of the site, which
must be done before the school is 10
Gated here Richard Burgess one OF the
authors of the bill which created it,
stated that a bill was pending in con-
gresS which provided for federal aid
for all state school Of mines. The ap-
preparations for the first year would
be $4,000; the second, $4,000; the third,
$4,000 with further increases until a
specified amount had been reached,
which would constitute a regular an
nual appropriation to such schools.
As far as the state school OF mines
is concerned the law has established it
In the bill FL PasC was specified as the
place at which it is to be located But
before that is done FL PasO must pur-
chase and donate a site and buildings
to the state. Unless that is done, the
school, it is believed, will never be es-
tablished here.
Other Towns set Example.
Towns of One-tenth the size of FL
PaSO, Mr. Burgess stated, have given
| the state twice as much as was asked
of FL Paso in this instance. How those
towns had profited, he cited as an ex-
ample the case of San Marcos Tex.
In consideration of the Southwestern
Texas normal being established at San
Marcos. the citizens donated the finest
site in the city and the buildings to
/ the state. After the first appropri-
alton by the legislature, another Of
$4,000 was made. Where the original
| buildings, Mr.. Burgess said, and all built
| by the state. This, it is predicted
would be the result when FL PasO gets
| the mining school.
Would Make FL PasO Mining Center.
Next to agriculture, Felix Martinez
J stated that the school of mines was
one OF the most important branches of
the university FL PaSO he said was
the greatest mining center in the south
west, being located in the center of a
great mining belt. He predicted that it
would in 10 years be known as the
greatest mining center in the United
! States. To lose the opportunity of hav-
ing the school of mines located here
Mr.. Martinez said, would be a business
suicide.
A Schwartz felt that it was the duty
of every citizen to use his best efforts
to secure the school He did not be-
lieve that the chamber of commerce
should let the opportunity go by with
out taking advantage of it. His SEN
timents were those of Claiborne Adams
the only other director present In
| this wise the plans for its purchase Will
be presented at the meeting of the
| board of directors when the meeting
is held.
While the FL Paso Military institute
as a corporation has an outstanding
note of $4,000, it is stated that ar
rangements could be made whereby the
purchase of the site could be made nv
to be paid in annual instalIments of
specified amounts. The tentative Dlan
as proposed, would mean a more or less
personal responsibility. yet the state
would be guaranteed in the absolute
title to the land