Printed January 1899
THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY
There should be the closest sympathy between the city and the University located within its borders. While the University and its students owe something to the city, those obligations are usually liquidated in hard cash. In other words, the student or the professor pays for what he gets. But, it must be admitted, that often the city does not seem to appreciate the advantages which accrue to it because of the University located here.
Let us consider some reasons why the people of this city should be interested in our University. Let us begin with the money consideration as the least worthy, but the one which the Western American, especially, is apt to appreciate the most. Taking into consideration the students, professors and the families, there can be even at the present time, no fewer than one hundred people who would not be here were it not for the University. Each one of these spends on an average not less than $50 per month (these figures are under the actual ones), making a total of $50,000 for the ten months of the school year. Surely that is a snug sum which ought to be the means of interesting the most sordid business man of Albuquerque. We must not forget that the University is in its infancy, and that with the development of our vast resources these figures will be increased many fold.
Then look at the addition to our intellectual and moral forces by the addition to our citizenship of such a corps of professors. Probably no two of them would be living in the city now were it not for the University. Remember they are not simply professors, but citizens, actively interested and engaged in every work which is for the good of the city.
Then there is the prestige of being the University city of this territory. We do not realize the value of this now as we will when this now sparsely settled territory become a populous and wealthy state, and when our University shall have added to its present departments those of law, medicine, dentistry and the various graduate courses.
These words are written by one who never has been and never will be connected with the University in any capacity whatever, but who is interested in everything that is or is to be in Albuquerque. He wishes to be known simply as
