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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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Illinois Considers Disposition of Donation 195 tion of members; but soon becoming aware that success was not possible, abandoned that movement as hopeless." In regard to the 11th section and the attempt to locate direct by law the report has the following: | Immediately upon the presentation of the bill by our friends in the House, a copy of it was obtained by those representing an interest in Champaign County, the eleventh section, which provided for a commission to locate, stricken out and a provision was inserted and introduced into the Senate locating the proposed university between the towns of Urbana and Champaign on condition of the transfer for use of the University of a certain edifice and grounds there situated. "For reasons at once apparent, our friends could not give this scheme their support. The point of location was not in itself objected to, but to locate direct by law without chance for competition would be a breach of faith to the remainder of the State and sacrifice if not the life, at least the usefulness of the Institution. This claim, was however, most persistently pressed, ajid, during nearly the whole session stood in the way of the passage of any other act upon the subject. "Near the close of the session, failing to bring the majority of both Houses or of either House to the support of their plan, a combination was formed and an amendment made to our bill in the House, providing for the location of the University proper in Champaign County, the creation of a school for the mechanic arts in Chicago, and a school for agriculture in Southern Illinois, dividing the fund among them in no very definite manner and thus practically dismembering the Institution itself. "Aside from the mere fact of division, this scheme was objectionable because it provided for two schools of practical art only, a thing as already stated, not contemplated by the act of Congress, and worse than useless anywhere. The bill, thus amended passed the House, and sent to the Senate, and there sleeps, we trust in death." 32 The Springfield papers, the Register and the Journal, had articles and editorials supporting the bill framed by the Decatur Thc complete reports of the Decatur committee is given in the report of 1867, appendix, p. 492. 'Al ' l ^ M ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ,2
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