Page 15 - Howard University Medical Department A Historical Biographical

2 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,

came to Mr. Smith, before mentioned, who under the same laws and with like or­
received ns, his wife and some other mem­ ganization. At any rate, what came from
bers of the family being present, in his the land, from these funds and from dona­
sitting room. The old gentleman an­ tions straight from the people, enabled
swered ns as others had done. We tried our Treasurer, Gen. George W. Balloch,
to get the lower part of his ground where to meet the first payment when it became
the first building, the dance house, stood, due. The time given by Mr. Smith was,
but he shook his head and said it would if I remember rightly, one and two years
not do. We then tried for the upper for the other payments, all in equal
portion, nearer the Soldier’s Home, but amounts. In fact, these payments were
that proposition was very repugnant to anticipated and so paid that all interest
his feeling and judgment. We had a on deferred amounts was saved to the
similar experience regarding a central institution.
part. Then, after a little meditation I One thing more I may say, that nobody
said, " What, Mr. Smith, will you take ever saw a more earnest and faithful
for the whole of your estate ? How much Board of Trustees than that of our Uni­
is there of it?” He answered that there versity. For a while they labored night
were one hundred and fifty acres, and that and day as a Board or in committees, in­
he would take one thousand dollars an deed for all the years that I was with
acre, making an aggregate of one hun­ them in Washington, i. e., between six
dred and fifty thousand dollars. Though and seven, without compensation. They
we had not one dollar in the treasury, I did not always see alike; there were
said to Mr. Smith, “ We will take it, the contests and sometimes exciting and vex­
whole of your farm here, at your price, if atious debates, but there was honest deal­
you will secure to us a perfect title.” The ing and hard and unselfish work. The
proposition somewhat startled my com­ principle that those employed in any
panions, but affected Mr. and Mrs. Smith capacity and paid by the University
much more deeply. It almost took their should not have a seat in the Board of
breath away, the suddenness of it and the Managers, caused a hard contest, but it
largeness of the offer. That was the bar­ was settled at last for the benefit of the
gain, however, that was entered into and fi­ University itself, rather than for the bene­
nally consummated. We were not obliged fit of the good workers who had originally
to give quite as much, because Mr. Smith been both in the Board of Management
could not perfect the title precisely as he and in the Board of Instruction. I found
stipulated. All the land was very soon it wise for myself, who frequently became
platted and put on sale at a price averag­ a bone of contention in many matters, to
ing some four times the cost of purchase. sever my connection as President of the
The most was sold at about ten cents per Institution at an early period. I am glad
square foot, varying the price, however, I did so. Having watched its operation
according to locality. The park was re­ for many years and participated now and
served and the grounds, as they now exist, then as a trustee in its work, I rejoice
for the buildings. There was, however, greatly at the wonderful success of every
considerable more extension where the department, especially that of medicine.
reservoir now is. The sand pit was used
for manufacturing the brick, out of which A few days afterward the following
several of the buildings, Balloch’s house additional letter was received from Gen­
and mine, were constructed. eral Howard :
The above transaction, which I will
not explain more in detail in this paper, Having already written you, I will sub­
soon put into the University treasury all mit in addition a brief sketch of the early
the money that was required. In addi­ days of Howard University. It is my
tion to that money I was able soon to impression that I was present at the
secure as much more for Howard Uni­ second meeting of those who were medi­
versity in connection with several other tating a theological school— the second
institutions that had been established meeting at Mr. Brewster’s house.