The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-12
CIHCORA COLLEGE.
A Statement From the GrecnyiIIe
Point OF View Concerning The Ef-
fort to Remove College from Green.
Villc.

nearly quarter of century Chicora
College has existed in Grccnville. Born
and reared here, it has been nurtured
and maintained through the interest
time and money which Greenville has
given. The history OF this institution
through these years is known to the
citizens generally of Greenville and to
those interested in education through
out the State. From the original lit
tie frame structure worth q few thou
sand dollars it today possesses a
property worth upwards of 100000
in city noted for it's interest in edu-
cation and with many natural advan-
for a college location.
The history Of this institution is
similar in many phases to that of
similar institutions. Those connected
with it have had their anxieties and
it has required their constant efforts
to operate, maintain and encourage
the growth of the college.
President S. c. Byrd stated very re-
Gently before the Chamber of Com
merce that the college in Greenville
was a success. The people here and
many good Presbyterians throughout
the State, loyal to education and ap-
preciative of the good will which
Greenville people have always felt for
the institution, wonder from what
source emanates the troublesome agi-
tation which has gone on for the past
two years and which has estranged
many local friends and supporters
from the management of the institu-
ton, but not from the institution it
self.
Only two years ago a splendid site
was offered Chicora absolutely free,
which based on present prices, was
worth more than $4,000. This offer
has since been renewed, but for some
unknown and viled reason the offer
was not accepted. Illustrative of this
friendly feeling to the institution, one
of its local trustees and loyal support
ers unofticially suggested a few weeks
ago that if $4,000 were raised for
an addition to the present dormitories,
that he believed that this would be a
definite solution of the problem for
years to come. At meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce it was decided
to proceed to raise the money. This
work was under way and only needed
the endorsement of the college author
tiles to have made it a success, when
the latest action of the trustees be-
came known. And this loyalty con-
tinues despite a persistent disposition
from some source to move the college
from where it has friends to zone OF
general feeling of indifference" and
newly acquired, and probably fatal
financial burdens. From a Columbia
dispatch in the newspapers we have
the following regarding the attitude OF
that place to Chicora:
THE local public is lukewarm over
the proposition and there is very
general feeling of Indifference. One
point appears certain-Columbia will
not subscribe very much money to
such an institution. That has been
demonstrated by one canvass begun
and abandoned owing to the poor re-
sponse. Columbia has in view Col
lege for Women non-denominational
and it is believed that such an institu-
ton would be enabled to get all the
money necessary"
After much backing and filing, ask
ing and refusing, agitation and con-
sequent restlessness, the last proposal
Is that the trustees will recommend
the removal of the college to Colum-
bia. Despite the belief that the pres
ent management has impaired much
of the friendship which the people
mere bore for the institution, and the
further fact that while Columbia has
endeavored to get the school, her
representatives plainly expressed their
opinion that the management would
be persons non grata. Despite these
we'll known facts. there is a deeply an
chored belief that the Presbyterians of
South Carolina will remove q success
to the site Of wreck, nor will they use
the values that Greenville has given
and built up to pay the liabilities of
the defunct organization at the capital
city.
! Dr. Byrd values the Chicora prop
erty at $150,000, there is an indebted
ness Of about $4,000 which deducted
leaves 500, 900; deduct $4,000 which
4, IL