Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-22
By George Kennedy

By George Kennedy
A development 20 gradual that
1t has excited little comment Ii
happening in Washington. Atten-
ton was called to 1t the other
night by q remark OF DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin, president Of George
Washington University. Address
ing alumni Of the law school. he
put a ruler on the recent growth
of the Washington institution for
which he is responsible.
when I came here ~ years
ago." he said, "the physical as
sets Of the university were worth
about 100000 and we were
81, 500 900 in debt. Today the uni
versity's land, buildings and equip
ment are worth about $27, 000, 600
and all the old debt has been
wiped out"
The lawyers present, mostly
members of the Washington bar
applauded vigorously and doubt
lessly wondered how it had been
done. They are soon going to find
out. In the same talk DR.. Marvin
had asked them for $4,750,00C
to build an eight-story law school
building covering an entire block
The lawyers will come to realize
the pressure DR.. Marvin can exert
to get money for his university.
To Stress Patent Law
Is DR.. Marvin has 1t all mapped
out. For one thing he is going to
inaugurate a foundation on patent
law. Patent law, a very lucrative
calling when ones inventor clients
are successful, has been without
honor in law schools. 1t will be
honored at George Washington o.
within rifle shot Of the Patent
Office, and DR.. Marvin expects the
patent lawyers to come through
with considerable funds.
DR.. Marvin's figure for his uni.
versity's physical assets is cost
of replacement one. 1t has the
benefit of the price rise OF infia'
ton. He did not raise thu
s2s, 900, 900 difference between thu
plant value on his arrival and thu
value today. The lands purchased
and the buildings constructed be-
fore the last war are worth mucf
more today. About 100000 Of
the figure is represented by TIT
George Washington University
Hospital which was built with
funds advanced by the Fedora
Works Agency. But even weight
ing the figures with these circum.
stances. it is q remarkable achiev'
ment in money raising in a periot
which includes depression years.
Asked how he had done it. tn.
smile Of the satisfied cat came
over DR.. Marvin's face and hi
brown eyes cleaned a little witt
the pleasure Of recollection.
The Story of Growth
"In tell you q little story abou
that" he said. "One afternoon il
1887 when thought the time wa
ripe, called for my car. I wen
hunting up on Massachusett
avenue. I stopped in on MI
Lisner in the 1900 block
"Mr. Lisner," I said, I'VE neet
a library"
He asked why we needed ,
library and I explained to hin
that library was the heart Of I
university.
II said. Mr.. Lisner. suppos'
you give me q library this after
noon on the condition that I rails,
an equal amount for the univer
sity.'
He chuckled and said, Al
right
II then told my chauffeur Il
drive me to the 2400 block.
called on Mrs. Hattie Strong.
Mrs. Strong said. w,
need q hall of government. I hav,
reason to believe that If you Civ,
us the money for that building
this afternoon. Mr.. Lisner vii
give us q library
"She said. AN right"
The hall Of government cos
$500 900 and the library $450. 600
Abraham Lisner. who owned tn,
Palais Royal Department Store
was q trustee of the universit.
when DR.. Marvin became its presi
dent. After the library gift. n
gave the university the LisneI
Auditorium costing more than
million. Mrs. Strong has a for
tune which stems from the East
man Kodak Co.
Five Year Plan
How had he interested Mrs
Strong In the university, DR.
Marvin was asked.
oh" he said, II liked her ans
she liked me-" a.
The new law school building
will take about i've years b
achieve. DR.. Marvin figures. 1t i
only one Of the big new building
on the drawing boards Of Faux