Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/62

36 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO of the University of Chicago, to whom the correspondence will revert, can judge, as well as anyone now living, what weight to give to the influence of Dr. Strong's great scheme and his very able advocacy of it in that happy conjunction of influences which resulted in the founding of this University and its rapid expansion. The present historian has no doubt that the frequent and illuminat- ing expositions of Dr. Strong of what a university as distinguished from a college ought to be, and his multiplied appeals to his friend to found such an institution prepared Mr. Rockefeller as nothing else could have done for his immediate response when Dr. Harper appealed to him in September, 1890, for funds for developing the college being founded in Chicago into a university. Immediately following Mr. Goodspeed's appeal for a new Uni- versity of Chicago in January, 1887, however, Dr. Strong's scheme for a university in the city of New York began so to occupy Mr. Rockefeller's mind as to leave little room for the consideration of the project of founding another institution in another city. That appeal itself brought this about. It was sent to Dr. Strong, the proponent of the New York university scheme, and afforded him just the opportunity he wanted to bring his proposals once more to the front. It should be said, however, that when Mr. Rocke- feller sent the letters of Mr. Goodspeed and Dr. Harper to Dr. Strong and asked his opinion he made the following very favorable response, his letter being dated February 15, 1887: You know of course that I regard New York City as the great strategic point for us Baptists to capture and master. But next to New York is Chicago. I am happy to commend Dr. Goodspeed's plan. So far as the West is con- cerned I believe you could not do a better thing than to offer a hundred thou- sand dollars on condition of the raising of an equal sum from others To make this beginning effective it should be supplemented by large gifts in the future, as the institution showed itself worthy of them. I can but regard the present as furnishing a great opportunity I can hardly help envying you the chance of doing so good a thing for the denomination and for the cause of Christ. But it will .not do to put one's hand to the plough and then turn back This letter was followed by another two days later, very generous toward Mr. Goodspeed in its personal references, but questioning