January 28      1864.
Prof: M:B: Anderson L.L.D.
My dear friend              I am in receipt of your very kind and
valued letter of the 25      Inst   : and I scarcely know which most to
approve, your sensible views upon the propriety of opening the College
when the Building is finished or wait until our terrible national rebel-
lion is put down.   What we would gain on the one hand as you justly
observe we might loose on the other, but shall use my endeavours to
push forward the structure of the Building & appendages as fast as pos-
sible avoiding extraordinary outlays.    It is one thing to do these things
well looking to their future duribality and another thing doing them
imperfectly.   It is a massive structure of Masonry, all inside parti-
tions walls solid brick work, and will take at least one Summer to
season thoroughly the whole:    Thus far have allowed no fires inside the
building, the walls are drying gradually, but still there is a cold damp-
ness which it will take all of a Summer to remove.    If in case we should
open the College before it was thoroughly dry and extraordinary cases
of sickness happen to the inmates it would be at once ascribed to the
location especially by those who generally wish to look on the wrong
side of competitors doings.
It is true we could hasten the drying of the interior walls by our
Steam heaters apparatus which we have decided upon with the Gass works
195
33'
Jan. 28, 1864        - 2
to be placed in a Seperate building 200 feet from the main and 75 below
the foundation of the walls.    These buildings will be located on the rear
in line with the Astronomical Observatory now under construction.
I am glad to.: hear that your judgment indorses the wisdom of
my                                                           m                                    th
xaax5& course in the matter of completing the Structure &c      at once,
when that is done, we shall not be troubled with workmen & others on
the premises & thus avoid I think both expense and annoyances.   Our
Executive Committee are now making out a Schedule of Furnitures that
is wanted with other equipments &c, including the Professional houses
which by the bye the latter admits consideration whether the College had
better furnish those apartments or the Professors; some of them(: if we
have men:) may have furnitures & family  , and if Widow Ladies Teachers
some may be thus Situated, also they may not all be Single Women.    This
is a question (furniture) of some importance
1st The owner would allways take better care of their own property than
other peoples.
2      There might be some objection to the lugging of Furniture to and from
into the building in case of removal to say nothing of its fitness,
cleanliness &c.
3d    It (if furnished by the College) would somewhat reduce the annual pay
of the respective chairs.
You knew our first plan was to build seperate houses for the Pro-
fessors on the College ground, leaving the only Officers   President & family
Jan. 28,  1864       - 3
in the Building - but I will not enlarge as I hope to have the pleasure of
meeting you so very soon and at my own domicil.    I only add that in a
conversation with Prof. Jewett the other day I believe he is half persua-
ded to have all female Professorships & teacher if they are to be had of
a high order.       Let us all deliberate well upon this point.    I regard it
as a very important consideration.    I send you pr mail a Sheet contain-
ing an article from the Ladys Book January number, read it & let me
know what you think of it.
I remain*
Yours very truly
M. Vassar
P.S.    Call on your way on Monday
upon Docr Magoon and take a look at his
collections of Fine Arts, then you & him take the Cars at 3 P.M. and on
your arrival at 6 o'clock take a Hack at Depot and come directly to my
house
M.V#
1ST