The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-12
SCHEME TO aid
FARGO COLLEGE
Hinges ON STUDY
BY BUSINESS MEN
Measure of Support From
City Dependent Upon
Thorough Inquiry.
FUTURE CONTROL
ISSUE INJECTED
Sentiment Favors Hand
ling of Affairs by Men
Who Give Their Money

The measure Of support that the
business interests Of the city OF
Fargo will extend to Fargo college,
will be gauged by the result OF an
investigation of college affairs, now
being made by a committee Of five
representative Fargo citizens, ap-
pointed at the recent conference OF
local leaders in business circles, as a
result of the threatened closing of
the institution because of the failure
Of the city to back the recently an
nounced $4,000 campaign.
Taking the position that the board
of trustees of Fargo college could
not, or should not, close the college
until such time as Fargo's business
interests had had an opportunity OF
making known their attitude,
sponsors of the plan now being
worked out insisted that the closing
of the college was a matter Of too
great moment to be decided by the
board without permitting the citizens
of Fargo, most vitality affected, an
opportunity OF studying the problem.
Business Men Take Hold.
When the business men OF Fargo
failed to enthuse over the proposed
campaign for 100000 for the college,
the board of trustees of the college
WdS virtually GNduy W pEOGCSu Win
its announced plan of closing the
institution. 1t was then that Fargo
business interests stepped into the
situation, and obtained the creation
of the committee OF five. now work
ing, upon the recommendations OF
which probably will hinge the city's
sELIres attitude toward the college
and the financing OF its activities.
The committee making the study is
made UP of NJ. A. Baldwin, C.. r..
Stone, George Hollister. Mai. M. F.
Steele, and z. A. Kicker.
This committee was appointed at
meeting attended by z. j. Weiser, A.
L. Moody, Morton Page, M. A. Bald
win, c. o. Follett, M. L. Hibbard,
e. A. Kicker, w. z. Boyd, II. w.
Steele, Gil Haggart and b. @. Tenne-
son. Mr.. Tenneson was chairman OF
the meeting.
Thresh Out Whole Issue.
At that conference, the college
problem was fairly and squarely dis
cussed. 1t was the general sentt-
ment that every possible step should
be taken to retain Fargo college, and
it was recoznized that the closing OF
the institution would be a severe loss
to the city.
To bring about action. the COM
mittee of five members was appoint
ed, and that committee has the
thorough cooperation of college offi-
cials, to the end that its investiga-
ton may be thorough and far-reach-
ing enough to place the business men
in complete touch with all the coll
lege problems directly involved in the
working out of plan that would re-
tain fha rdTtapa fOr the city.
Paramount among the issues to be
determined. is that of thaannual cost OF
financing the institution. The COM
mittee is getting down to bed rock
with respect to that angle.
Want Definite Plan.
In Studying the financial problems
OF the college, the committee Is TAX
ing into consideration the cost OF
over a period of years.
IL the committee recommends to the
general body of business men that
the city take over the task
of financing the college, IL is expected
to submit. at the same time, a gem
eral plan Of operation, not for a short
period. but for such time as will be
required to place the college on q
thoroughly sound basis.
There appears among those
college affairs, a gen.
eraI sentiment that the city of Fargo
can i'll afford to lose the college, III
the institution can be maintained on
q basis whereby the annual cost Of
the people Of the city is not
exorbitant.
future Control Important.
Sentiment, too, among the investi-
gators, seems crystallized on the
question of future college control. IL
the business men of Fargo undertake
10 finance the institution, they prob
ably also will advise that no scheme
Of finance be approved unless control
OF the college lies with those who
The sentiment with respect to con-
troll does not reflect in any manner
upon the work OF the board Of trus-
tees in the past, but is based,
sponsors of that theory maintain,
on the proposition that the average
business man Is much more ready TO
give OF his time and money IL he
feels that ne, himself, is more or less
Of a factor in the expenditure Of the
funds.
II Il generally recognized that the
establishment of an endowment fund
sufficient TO permit the maintenance
OF Fargo college without having to
make up q deficit, is a long time
problem. II is not 70 be solved in
a year, or FIVE years, but will re-
quire many years work As the city
grows, as the state population gains,
demands upon the college increase,
RESERVATION FLAX YIELD.
Van Hook, N. D., Oct H.
fax, according TO the
best information obtainable. Is rum
ming four to six bushels to the acre.