Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 146]

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History University of Illinois

was bought and buildings, reasonably commodious, erected. But the institution has sunk to the bottom, entangled with political matters, financial embarrassements and difficulties of various kinds. The students became unwell, the season was unpropitious and crops failed. I t is now reorganized under Professor Fish, who filled the chair in chemistry; a great university was attempted to be built up, and the farmer's department has taken much greater prominence. " I n Iowa it was intended to found an agricultural college, but as yet the matter is merely in embryo. The State has gone so far as to buy, for the purpose, seven hundred acres located a day's ride from Des Moines, the capital. "The general result is that nothing has yet been substantially and effectively done for the cause of agricultural educationj yet, what has been done has had its good results in pointing the dangers to be avoided—and may be regarded as a kind of pioneer work in the enterprise. And it remains for the State of Illinois, ignoring all sectional and political jealousies, simply striving for the best manner and men, to carry forward this noble work to a successful and prosperous issue." After the reading of the report, C. B, Demo, a former representative in the legislature and a leading member of the state agricultural society, made an important claim before this large assembly of agriculturists which the Illinois Farmer of July, 1860 reported as follows: " C . B. Denio made one of his most characteristic speeches. He stated that when in the legislature, some years since, at the suggestion of Professor Turner, he presented resolutions asking a donation of half a million acres of land for the purpose of just such an institution. The East now claimed the honor of Morrill*s Land Bill; but such is not the case, and to Professor Turner is due the first starting of that ball/ 9 Turner was present at this convention and if what Denio claimed for him had not been true he would have been on his feet in a moment to make denial. McChesney of Springfield made a short address in which he told of the efforts being made by the University of Chicago to establish an agricultural department and of its plans for a farm and for professorships, adding that he did not wish to be under-