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POLK Letters: January 8, 1860
1860, Jan. 8
Bishop Polk, Montgomery, Alabama, to his daughter, Mrs. K.P. Gale, re: stating that they have drawn up one of the most complete systems of University education that has ever been produced; Bishop Hopkins and the plans in detail; hoping to lay the cornerstone for the University in the summer; success that he and Bishop Elliott are having in the collection of fund {sic} for the University. 1 p. ( typed copy -portion of one letter missing).
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Montgomery Ala Jany 8, 1860
My beloved daughter,
I have been for several days thinking a good deal of you and intending to write you. This is Sunday night. The work of the day is over and I feel as if I should like to talk a little with you before going to bed. You will be curious to know something of my movements. Since you left us in Pha I have wandered over New England and New York, and come by Pha to Savannah where I met the Committee on the Constitution and plan of organization of the University. I was there three weeks. The guest of Bp Elliott is very busily employed all the time. But we completed our work entirely to my satisfaction, and I think posterity will say we have drawn up one of the most complete systems of University education that has ever been produced. It is in all respects just what I desired and I feel as if another and most material point had been gained in the general movement. The Committee was unanimous, which fixes the acceptance of our report by the Board at its contemplated meeting in New Orleans on the 15th Feb. next. After completing our work in Savh Bp Elliott and I went to Sewanee to meet Bp Hopkins who in my rambles in the North I had induced to go out to the mountain to lay out the grounds for our future purposes. We met him there and remained with him for ten days. It was during Christmas, before and after; we had an opportunity to test the cold and were agreeably disappointed in finding it far less cold and uncomfortable than we imagined. Indeed the cold was so dry we were very much pleased, and Bp Hopkins perfectly delighted. He is especially pleased with the location and thinks it could not be bettered. He has Col Burney to help him and is making a delightful plan of it. We shall yet have a grand community there. He will fix on the high ground near Rowes, now Polks Spring for the University buildings. He then runs a grand Corso or drive around the edge of the whole plateau, then a grand avenue right through the center of the grounds equidistant from the Corso. This will be five miles in length called University Avenue, then he will run cross avenues from one side to the other, across the grand avenue and from one cove to the other, the ends of these avenues resting on the opposite sides of the Corso. These will be called after our Dioceses Louisiana Avenue, Alabama Avenue, Mississippi etc. The lands will then be cut up on lots fronting on the Corso and the avenues, for the purpose of being let to such families as may make their residences there. All these roads we shall have well made, and fine for driving and riding and we shall have on the ground landscape gardeners for their tasteful arrangement and improvement. At some central place we shall have a Central Park as a place of special improvement and resort. We shall have a large Hotel for the reception of visitors on the point that overlooks Winchester and the Rroad, and a town laid off on either side of the RR on top of the mountain.
Such are our plans and they are in the way of accomplishment. If possible we want to lay the corner stone next summer, and when that occurs I shall hope to meet you all once more together.
We came from the mountains here, where we have been a few days. We have been preparing to canvas Alabama, Bp E and I. We have as yet only asked two gentlemen and each gave us $5,000. Bp Cobbs is perfectly reconciled to the sight and indeed delighted with the whole movement. He says he thinks Alabama will give $400,000. and I should not wonder if it did.
So you see we are working steadily at our task. Our dependence is on God whose honor and glory we are seeking to advance and upon our own firm purpose to leave no stone unturned…...(catera desunt)