| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Nevins)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
THE COMPETITORS INSPECTED 37 manner that they could be increased as the session wore on, Urbana-Champaign in especial making an effort to keep her pretensions, at least, ahead of those of other cities. Jacksonville was not second, however, in the seriousness with which it took the contest. An election held there on the question of covering by taxation the amount needed for a large offer failed of its object, but a committee of citizens thereupon, as in the other three counties, undertook to raise the money needed largely by subscription. Early in February a joint legislative committee was appointed to visit the competing cities, and determine the exact value of the property, bonds, and cash offered by each. The showing was more favorable to Jacksonville than any other. That community was estimated to have offered the equivalent of $491,000. The counties in which Bloomington and Lincoln were located were estimated to have set aside property and bonds valued respectively at $470,000 and $385,000, and at Bloomington the Normal University would have been merged with the new institution. Champaign County found herself at the foot of the list, for the estimating committee computed the total of her offer at $285,000. This investigating committee was thought to be prejudiced against Urbana-Champaign and in favor of Jacksonville, but its figures were doubtless roughly correct. When soon after the measures of the various counties were voted upon the alignment had not changed. Jacksonville's version of the eleventh section of the general bill offered 237 acres of land, the Berean College building, the Illinois College building, library, equipment, and $90,000 endowment, and $250,000 in bonds. Bloomington's version would have given that center the institution on condition that it was locally endowed with
| |
