Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/208

 178 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO are to be estimates of the absolutely minimum expenses. The first should be an itemized statement of the necessary expenses .... chargeable to endow- ment for the year beginning July i, 1891 Then send me another schedule, carefully itemized, covering the year beginning July i, 1892. You once presented one to Dr. Goodspeed, if I remember aright, amounting to about one hundred thousand dollars all told. But I do not know what modi- fications you now would make Mr. Rockefeller wishes me to guard you against relying on him to make up deficits in current expenses or adding to present gifts I have promised to send him the schedules. On the day this was written to President Harper Mr. Gates wrote a full letter to Mr. Rockefeller recapitulating the points made in the recent interview and saying: While Dr. Harper undoubtedly expects that you will give more to the University, I feel confident that he will be equally active and eager with every- one else from whom there is the least hope of funds. He will by no means confine his importunities to yourself, and I feel confident that you can dismiss, with a light heart, the anxieties of last Saturday. Replying to this admirable letter three days later, Mr. Rocke- feller said, "It is an added indication to me that we can work together to help the world" When the estimates of expenses came from President Harper it appeared that they were to be carried, not by the income alone, but for at least three years by appeals for special contributions for current expenses. To this latter suggestion Mr. Gates strongly objected. Matters of income and expenditure remained in this confused condition for the ensuing four or five months. The Presi- dent then began to find that the smallness of the assured income was paralyzing his efforts to secure professors. On December 26 he wrote to Mr. Gates: Am afraid the situation, so far as professors are concerned, grows darker and darker every day. Am completely discouraged. We have not a head professor after nine months of constant work. Not one of the men that we want can be moved from a good position at the salary of six thousand dollars. I am in despair. An interview a few days later convinced Mr. Gates that the condition of affairs was indeed serious. There was a general feeling among the professors of the better universities of the country that the financial condition of the new institution was unsatis-