Show I Munificent Gift to Texas University for Astro Atro Astronomical Research v By BYS y S. S RAYMOND BROOKS in Post OSt-DiS OSt t b. b I SURPRISE gift one of the most munificent ever received by bythe bythe bythe A the state school has lifted the University of Texas overnight from near the bottom of the ranks to pre-eminence pre among American universities in astronomical ical research The bequest of William m J. J McDonald of Paris has provided provided provided pro pro- vided for the finest and equipped best-equipped observatory in America easily outranking outranking outranking out out- ranking those noted government observatories among the snow-covered snow peaks of the where contributions of transcendent value to the science of astronomy have been made The William WilIiam J. J McDonald astronomical observatory in Texas will stand not only as an enduring memorial to the man who gave his w wealth for lor science and education but as a beacon luring scientists research workers and students not only from all Texas and d from every state in America Ameri a but fro from every civilized nation cf the globe It will open the way for thousands of students in the years to come to gain gaill here that higher education in a branch o of science for which they have heretofore had bad to go to the North or East It lifts the University of Texas whose advancement has been almost dazzlingly rapid in the past few years as the shackles of poverty are being cast off to another and higher niche among leading schools of the country I The University of T Texas had no previous intimation that it was was to bethe be bethe bethe the recipient of this bequest from Mr McDonald l Its too good to be bee betrue betrue true e was the astonished comment of university officials when first told of the gift told gift told by newspaper men who read the press dispatches to the university officials for their first information of the big donation This is is said to be perhaps the largest single gift gift made at one time for any anyone one specific branch of the university and ranks among the greatest ever given the school The gift adds another name to the distinguished list of pub pub- i lic benefactors lic-benefactors such as L Littlefield Brackenridge Stark and many others I The bequest provides funds not only fo for r the buildings and equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment which will include telescopes comparable with the inch lOO-inch scope in ill the most noted American observatory but for operating staffs maintenance maintenance maintenance main main- of the observatories and for travel allowance for the research w work rk to be done in west Texas The second observatory branch will be placed on some of the high peaks of the Davis mountains in west Texas Several of these th s peaks are more than a mile high two or more of them exceeding feet This will ill be the research branch manned and used by noted research workers t I |