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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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Activity Illinois Industrial League 89 jeeta of the League the more thoroughly I am convinced of its importance not only to your state but the Great West." At this same time Turner was corresponding also with President Henry P. Tappan of the University of Michigan. In a reply Tappan agreed to enter into a league to secure federal support for universities: !' I have not replied to your favor before because I wished to lay the documents you sent me before our Board of Regents who met here a few days since. Unfortunately, owing to the sickness of one and the absence of two others we had no quorum, and so I was compelled to delay until another meeting which will take place within a month. I am fully of your opinion, that Congress ought to give liberally to the educational institutions of our country and I am willing to effter into a league to bring this about." After criticising Turner's plan in a friendly way he added, "let me know of the happenings of your league and how and when you propose to bring the matter before Congress." 55 This is definite information that Turner was organizing influence in other states to bear upon congress to get it to grant lands for industrial universities. Requests have been previously noted from men occupying official positions, from Oregon and Iowa asking information and aid in establishing agricultural colleges or universities in their states. Similar letters were received by Turner from other sources. Early in 1855 E. C. Bidwell of Iowa, a member of the board of trustees of the University of Iowa, asked him to send the report of the league to members of the board in the hope of influencing them to the establishment of a "People's Institution. " w From a citizen of Oregon, Mr. Ahio Watt—a request of Eepresentative Henry of the year 1854 has been mentioned—there came a request in June, 1856, for information in regard to the work in Illinois. Turner sent the desired information and Watt, who was university land commissioner of Oregon territory, applied on December 18, 1856, sending a copy of joint resolutions introduced into the Oregon assembly by !Mr. Bayley? of "•Tappan to Turner, April 6, 1854, Turner manuscripts, Springfield. "•Bidwell to Turner, February 16, April 13, 1855, Turner manuscripts.
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