The Washington herald., 1914-03-29

libraries, bureaus, museums. gardens, and
similar Institutions now existing and
| those hereafter established.
Ground Broken I'm 1896.
Bishop Hurst died in 1909. but his sue
cessor. Bishop Earl Crsnston, and others
who had worked with Hurst. carried on
the work The site for the university
was purchased during the Christmas hol-
idays OF 1899 and 1900. and for six years
Bishop Hurst held title to the land.
! Then the work OF building was started
and construction Of q college of history
at a cost of $4,000 and a college OF gov
ernment at a cost of SSooo00 was begun.
On February q, 1894, n woman in New
York made a gift to the university,
which had Deen named the American
University, of si00755. In January of
the following year s33.5oo was subscribed
on the condition that $4,000 be raised.
This $50 900 was raised. II was on March
9. 1896. that ground was broken for the
building for the college of history. The
breaking of the ground WAS signalized
by ceremonies in which the most emf
nent men in the United States partici-
pated. Thousands Of persons assembled
to witness the ceremonies.
In June of the same year a contract for
building the college of history was let
begun.
100000 Fund Raised.
The university site was laid out by
Frederick Law olmsted and proposes the
erection of Iwenty-six buildings. The col
lege of history was completed in 1895,
and four years later the college of gov
ernment building was started. The cor
ner stone was laid by former President
Theodore Roosevelt.
The college OF government has now
been completed and both buildings have
for some time been ready for occupancy.
During the years in which the buildings
for the college Of history and the college
Of government were being completed. an
endowment fund of $4,000 was raised.
The trustees of the American University
decided that II should not open its doors
TO students until an endowment OF 500. 900
had been subscribed.
The additional $4,000 needed for the
endowment is expected from the bequest
of Rev Dr. d. II. Carroll, of Baltimore.
who. shortly before his death was presi-
dent of the board of trustees OF the uni
versity.
Cabinet Members Trustees.
The university has been prevented from
securing the so. 900 left it by DIR. Carroll
for technical legal reasons. but trustees
expect to obtain this money within the
near future, and thus complete the en-
dowment OF $4,000 and make il possible
to open the doors OF the university to the
1,5Co students who have applied for ad
mission.
It is hoped that the endowment soon
will be increased to sl,5OO.OOO. The work
of raising the money is being directed
by DIR. Franklin Hamilton and a board
of forty trustees including eminent
clergymen. bankers. and men in all walks
of life.
At a recent meeting Secretary of State
Bryan. and Secretary OF the Navy Daniels
were elected to the board Of trustees. 1t
is expected that they will assist Presi-
dent Wilson on May q. when the uni
verslty will be formally opened
The university has offices in the kellogg
Building in + street. between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets northwest. where
final pleas for the formal opening OF
the university are being made with the
idea OF arranging such signal ceremonies
as will attract the attention of the en-
tire country.