[8953 The University of the United States 



While in Washington during the Christmas recess a national 

 of this year, I was asked for advice in a matter "«^"^"'^> 

 which had long interested me. This was the project 

 for a national university, a scheme more or less 

 under consideration ever since the death of George 

 Washington, who bequeathed most of his personal 

 fortune for that purpose. Every other capital of 

 importance except London has such an institution, 

 maintained at public expense and serving as a 

 center of scholarship and enlightenment. Neverthe- 

 less, whenever a concrete plan comes before Congress, 

 it is blocked for one reason or another. But during 

 several years previous to 1895, Hon. John Wesley 

 Hoyt, ex-governor of Wyoming, then resident in 

 Washington, had devoted his energies and fortune Uoyfs 

 to the establishment of the "University of the ''^"'"'^ 

 United States." Mr. Hoyt's efforts met with a 

 favorable response among scholars and teachers in 

 general, and he developed a strong following in 

 Congress. 



From my point of view the arguments In favor 

 of the proposed university were many and incon- 

 trovertible. 



At Washington are centered the means for ad- opponuni- 

 vanced studies in government, economics, and sci- '"'•'/'"' 

 ence, for the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, 

 the National Museum, the Army Medical Museum, 

 the Geological Survey, the Coast and Geodetic 

 Survey, the Department of Agriculture with its 

 various bureaus, the Fish Commission, and other 

 scientific establishments furnish material for ad- 

 vanced research without a parallel in the world. A 

 university faculty consists of a corps of men who 

 teach as well as investigate. Thus the only thing 



