Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 214]

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184

History University of Illinois

education establishment, and set forth the peculiar merits and advantages of the institution over which he presided. He presented the following resolution and urged its adoption: "Resolved, That in our judgment it is expedient to establish in our state two agricultural colleges, one for the Northern part and one for the Southern part, in the immediate vicinity of well established literary institutions, so that by securing the advantages of their buildings, apparatus, libraries, and professors, we may thereby be able to employ the congressional fund for exclusively agricultural purposes." 12 The society referred the resolution to a committee appointed to meet with the state agricultural society and instructed to report at the next annual meeting. President Read asked for more time to present the claims of Knox and Shurtleff, but was politely refused. Instead 'the society passed resolutions pledging cooperation with the state agricultural society, recommending the establishment of one school, and appointing a committee of ten to meet with the agriculturists January 5, 1864, in Springfield. Action by other organizations followed closely upon that by the horticultural society. During the Christmas recess the state teachers9 association declared in favor of one institution thus placing itself squarely on the side of the agriculturists. 13 Extensive preparations for a convention in Springfield were made and articles by Secretary Reynolds of the agricultural society and by J. B. Turner appeared in the Prairie Farmer just previous to the meeting, in order to inform the public in regard to the situation. A severe snow storm and cold weather interfered materially with the attendance at this convention which met pursuant to the call on January 5, 1864, in Springfield, but many organizations were represented notwithstanding the difficulties of travel. Delegates from nineteen different county agricultural societies, besides committees from the state horticultural and agricultural societies and the congressional committee of the sixth convention, were on hand. Dr. William Kile of Edgar county was chosen president. Briefly stated the convention recommended the following in regard to the organ"IUinois State Horticultural Society, Transactions, 1863, p. 56. u Prabrie Farmer, January 9, 1864.