Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/207

FIRST STEPS IN EXPANSION 177 In the summer and autumn of 1891 President Harper spent three months abroad. He returned in October with two important things calling for attention. It had been determined that the University should begin the work of instruction October i, 1892. Up to November 16, 1891, only one man had been appointed on the faculty. The entire work of gathering a faculty was to be done in ten and a half months. At that time the erection of buildings had not begun. Not only must the necessary buildings be made ready, but a large sum of money must be raised for their construction and equipment. When in September, 1890, Mr. Rockefeller gave a million dollars to make the college a university he had been assured that Chicago would quickly respond to his liberal gifts for the endowment of instruction by large contributions for build- ings and equipment. More than eight months passed and very little was done in Chicago in the way of raising the additional funds which the Founder had been assured would be contributed. Toward the end of April, 1891, Mr. Gates visited Mr. Rockefeller and found him greatly depressed over the University outlook. Some private letters from Chicago, written by people quite out of touch with the University, had led him to fear that Chicago was "lying down" on him and would leave him to carry the whole burden alone. A dozen encouraging considerations were laid before him by Mr. Gates, among them the recent contribution by Mr. Ryerson, Mr. Walker's purpose to secure the erection of a building, the recent resolution of the Board to raise half a million for buildings as speedily as possible, the editorial encouragement of gifts by the newspapers, the prospect of the great Ogden be- quest, the Trustees' profound sense of responsibility, the assurance of a large attendance of students, the pride and real interest of Chicago in the University. These and other representations of Mr. Gates relieved Mr. Rockefeller's mind of the fear that Chicago would take no interest and he would be left to do unassisted what- ever was done. The interview, however, led Mr. Gates to ask from President Harper two things : Now I want you to take a day, I know how busy you are, and yet I speak my mature judgment, not rashly; take a day and get up for me two schedules, and send them to me, if possible, as early as Friday morning. These schedules