Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1894-1895 [PAGE 12]

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12

UNIVERSITY-OF ILLINOIS.

and of land is to be held inviolate as endowment, the income only being available for current expenditures. To secure the location of the University several counties entered into a sharp competition by proposing- to donate to its use named sums of money, or their equivalent. Champaign county offered a large brick building-, erected for a seminary and nearly Completed, about 1,000 acres of land for a campus and adjoiningfarms, and 8100,000 in county bonds. To this the Illinois Central railroad added $50,000 in freight. The state legislature has from time to time appropriated various sums for permanent improvements, as well as for maintenance. The present value of the entire property and assets is estimated at $1,400,000. The institution was incorporated under the name of the Illinois Industrial University the last day of February, 1867, and placed under the control of a board of trustees constituted of the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the president of the state board of agriculture, as ex-"ffido members, and twenty-eight citizens appointed by the governor. The chief executive officer, usually called president, was styled regent, and he was made, ex officio, a member of the board and presiding officer both of the board of trustees and of the faculty. In 1873 the board of trustees was reorganized by the reduction of the number of members by appointment to nine and ex officio to two, the governor and the president of the state board o.f agriculture. In 1887 a law was passed making membership elective at a general state election and restoring the superintendent of public instruction as an ex-officio member. There are, therefore, now three ex-officio members and nine by public suffrage. Since 1873 the president of the board has been chosen by the members thereof from among- their own number, for a term of one year. In consideration of the offer of Champaign county the institution was located, May 8, 1867, in the suburbs of Urbana, adjoining those of Champaign. For greater convenience most use has been made of the postoffice of the latter place. The University was open to students March 2, 1868, at which time there were present, beside the regent, three professors and about fifty students, mostly from the vicinity. During the first term another instructor was added, and there was a total enrollment of 77 students, all young men.