New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-13
COLUMBIA ASKS
FOR S3O,000,000
Plea for Industrial Re-
search Laboratory in
DR.. Buffers Report

Columbia University is hampered in
its work by lack Of funds, according to
Nicholas Murray Butler, president,
whose annual report was given out
yesterday. Many important undertake
ings, which the university Is ready to
advance Immediately upon the receipts
OF funds, are described by Or, Butler.
He asks for an increase Of s30,00O,00O
to the endowment fund Of the uni
versity.
The report states there is great need
for medical, industrial, engineering
and educational research. In previous
reports and plans formulated at the
university DR.. Butler foresaw the great
Increase Of interest in research work.
The present report appeals to the in
dustries, whose outputs have been so
increased by the war. for funds to es-
tablish great laboratories in this city.
Following close upon the announce
ment last Saturday of the 81 100000
endowment for medical school at the
University OF Chicago, DR.. Butler in
his report makes an urgent plea for
the sl2,O00,000 endowment sought for
establishing in this city great medi-
cal centre, which will include the large
hospitals, clinics and medical schools
of the country.
Industrial Research Planned
Another important project calls for
industrial and engineering research
and for the articulation Of the work
Of research laboratories with the needs
and interest Of the nations industries.
Almost two years ago Dean Frederick
A. Goetze, of the Graduate Engineer
ing School, recently appointed treas
urer of the university, outlined in his
report a plan for a great industrial
research laboratory in this city where
industrial problems Of manufacturers
throughout the United States could be
sent for solution. 1t was proposed by
Dean Goetze to establish such a labora-
tory on the Hudson River at a site
close to Columbia University.
DR.. Butler says of this plan:
ut has now been heavily borne in
upon us that what some American in
dustries waste would support a prin-
cipality under wiser and keener adj
The future of American
industry is bound up with the future
of American science. The Schools of
ready distinguished in high degree
and now upon that advanced plane
which invites only the highest type of
student and releases time and energy
for genuine research, are anxious and
ready 10 undertake with great energy
some of those specific tasks which will
aid American industry to improve its
products, TO decrease its wastage, to
coordinate its processes, and to null
tply its resources for dealing salts
factorily with the many-sided human
problems which industrial relation
ships and industrial enterprise Of ne
cessity involve.
THE testing and experimental labora-
tories which are needed in such an
undertaking must be placed at the
point where transportation, both by
rail and by water, is easy and cheap,
and where there may be ready access
on the part not only of those who con-
duct the investigations and those who
are being trained in methods Of re-
search, but also on the part Of those
who represent or are engaged in the
industries whose problems are, at any
given moment, the subject of inquiry.
II is within the mark TO say that cap
ital sum Of $4,000, 900 for equipment and
endowment is needed in order 10 deal
promptly and satisfactorily with this
great group of problems.
Every dollar put into such an enter
prise would be returned to American
industry many times over in the course
of very few years"
Needs of Dental School
There is also room for research
under the jurisdiction Of the faculty OF
law in the general fields OF political
science. philosophy and pure science,
Dr.. Butler states. For this work he
seeks an endowment of 100000.
In connection with the research
plans DR.. Butler takes up the need Of
a university dental school, and de-
scribes the plans of the new Columbia
Dental School which was established at
the university this year.
Another reason for the larger en-
dowment asked is the desire Of the
university to increase the salaries not
only of the older and distinguished
members of the faculty, but also Of the
younger men, whom DR., Butler describes
az inst setting foot upOn the lower
rungs of the academic ladder. He
shows that TO increase the salaries OF
each professor by $1,000 would cost
$685., 900 annually, or the income OF the
endowment of about S7,000.000.
The gifts received during the year
amounted to 81, 1886, 205.13, Of which the
largest were $924.S20.SS from the es-
tate of Joseph Pulitzer, sl25,OOO from
the estate Of William Douglas Sloane
and from Mrs. William Douglas Sloane,
sI0O 600 from the estate Of Emil e..