Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-04
HENRY co. MUST
RAISE 100000.
IOWA WESLEYAN COLLEGE 10.
q CATION 70 BE DECIDED
BEFORE JAN. q.

Mt Pleasant Jan. 3-The fate OF
Iowa Wesleyan, the Oldest college
west Of the Mississippi, will be settled
in three weeks Beginning today the
citizens OF this county will launch
whirlwind campaign to raise 100000
here before January 81. Iowa Wes-
leyan must have this money to meet
the demands of the North Central AS
ISOLATION Of colleges and the univer-
sity senate, which require that all
schools must have a minimum endow-
ment OF 100000 above all debts and
money on annuities, to remain as
standard institution. The endowment
of Iowa Wesleyan is more than this
amount but does not all come under
the head of productive endowment.
In December negotiations were open
ed with the board of trustees tending
to the removal of the school, or con-
solidation with another school. These
negotiations were suspended and the
proposal was made to Henry county
that II 100000 were raised here by
January 20 that the college would be
permanently located here and in addi-
ton would raise in three years $780,
900 outside of the county. The pro-
was Immediately perfected. Adam
Weir was elected chairman and H. N.
Jeffrey, secretary. In the past two
weeks an advertising campaign has
been carried on. In which several
thousand letters have been written to
the citizens of the county explaining
the situation. Saturday George
Holcombe Of Burlington was secured
to head the campaign. Mr. Holcombe
has had wide experience IN this work
and is confident of the ability of Henry
county to meet the issue. If this
community does not secure the mon
ey, Iowa Wesleyan will without doubt
be moved despite the fact that it has
been located here for three-quarters
of century. One hundred thousand
dollars is large sum to secure from
here, yet when the loss of the college
Is considered the amount dwindles.
Henry county is fully alive to the
value Of Iowa Wesleyan as business
asset. Conservative figures show that
the college has brought over five mil
lions of dollars to this community
One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is expended annually. It's loss
will mean an immediate decrease OF
five hundred in the normal population
and most serious depreciation In
property and farm values. The door
of opportunity will be closed to hun
dreds Of young people who have not
the means to attend school elsewhere.
Success means that Iowa Wesleyan
will be one Of the strongest denomina.
tional schools tn the state. 1t will
mean greatly increased enrolment,
new departments, buildings and equip
ment. The completion Of this sum
will give in three years an endow-
ment of one-half million dollars.
When the support of the Iowa confer
ence is considered it will raise the
actual productive resources of the
school to quarter of million dol
lars. A large thermometer has been
built which will be placed in prom.
inent part of the business section OF
the town. 1t will be graduated in
sums ranging from five to one hun
dred thousand dollars. AS the money
Is procured the temperature will rise
accordingly
Seven teams will be in the field
constantly for twenty days or until
the money is procured.