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like promontories into the ocean; with wooded slopes
stretching down into the cultivated lands and mingling
the wildness of nature with the improvements of man;
with fat valleys rich in the bounties of Providence;
with an almost boundless horizon spreading away to-
ward the far West. And these views vary at a hundred
points of the University lands, for it is the peculiarity of
this sandstone formation to break into gorges and to
open up new scenery at every turn."

The elevation of this mountain is about one thousand
nine hundred feet above the level of the ocean, and it
possesses a mild and genial climate in summer, which is
but little colder in the winter than that of the surround-
ing lowlands, and certainly not so cold as that of the
more Northern and Eastern States. As the Trustees
say, the salubrity of the climate is beyond all question.
With its pure water and bracing atmosphere, " this
Cumberland plateau," as the Trustees remark in the
address already alluded to, "seems to have been formed
by God for the benefit and blessing of the Valley of the
Mississippi and the cotton growing regions of the South-
ern States. Forming the Eastern limit of that immense
Valley, stretching, with its peculiar formation of sand-
stone table-land, for one hundred miles across the State
of Tennessee, easy of access at many points, it must be
the summer resort of those wealthy planters who desire
to recruit their families during the summer months, and
are yet unwilling to be far separated from their planting
interests."

While the mountain is thickly covered with the best
varieties of timber, either for building purposes or fuel,
it also abounds in a most excellent variety of stone coal,
which can be delivered to the University at reasonable
rates. There is also any quantity of building stone easy
of access, a variety of sandstone which is susceptible of
a very fine polish, the surface of which becomes very
hard after being dressed. Specimens of this stone,
which is to be used in the construction of the University
building, may be seen in the office of the trustees. It is
much cheaper and more durable than brick, the cost,
when put in the building, being equal to brick at nine
dollars per thousand.

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These facts, collated mainly from the address of the
Trustees, will show that the site possesses many and
peculiar advantages. The selection was not made
without the maturest deliberation. Every locality sug-
gested as the site of the proposed University was per-
sonally examined by a committee appointed for the pur-
pose, accompanied by a corps of engineers under the
superintendence of Col. Walter Gwynn, and the advan-
tages of each as to healthfulness, aceessibility, climate,
water, building materials, and centrality, fully and fairly
set forth. The result was the selection of Sewanee as
combining more advantages than any locality which had
been examined.

As to its centrality and accessibility to the ten Dioceses
interested in its establishment, the University of the
South is within eighty hours* of the remotest portions of
the Union penetrated by railroads.

The following paragraphs will give the reader some
idea of the aims of the projectors of this great central
institution of learning:

"It is designed to give the South a seat of learning,
which shall compete in its appliances and facilities with
the world-renowned Universitites of Europe, and far sur-
pass any rival on the western continent. This is no
mere dream of benevolent enthusiasts; events so far
have shown that the project rests on the broadest and
safest basis, and that its feasibility is beyond a doubt.
The University of the South will be no slavish imitation
of any model however illustrious. In its organization it
will be guided by a generous eclecticism and take for
its rule of conduct the advice of St. Paul: "Prove all
things, hold fast that which is good." Those inveterate
defects which a past age has engrafted on older institu-
tions and which have become vital portions of them,
will be carefully avoided, and a system adopted which
shall be proper to our age, our necessities, our genius;
a thriving plant of our own soil, and not an artificially
transplanted exotic. Having a wider and higher range
than our State Colleges, the University will not trench
on their interests, but will be their most valuable

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*1887. Now within 48 hours.--ED.

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