| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
212 History University of Illinois of college men, composed mostly of the presidents of the col* leges, had striven for years to get the state to appropriate the college and seminary funds to their needy institutions. They had zealously opposed the plan of the industrial league for an industrial university in Illinois and for each of the states, and to them it had seemed an absurd dream, as undesirable as impracticable. But the dream realized, the funds available, they had no objections to have a portion appropriated to the institutions over which they presided. Then, too, they had an abiding faith in their own ability to carry on educational affairs, but none in the state. Other groups organized later for the chief purpose of making bids for the location of the university. With the renewal of activity by the various factions in the contest, feeling became more intense and the expression of resentment very vigorous. In declaring the attitude of Champaign county the Gazette said: "The enemies of Champaign county may perhaps think that the failure of our county to secure the location of the Industrial University is in effect their final triumph and the sharks who had hung like vultures upon the flanks of the legislature for years, under the various guises of agricultural and educational committees, may likewise think the fund sacredly dedicated to industrial advancement will, like well ripened fruit fall into their basket "They will however, observe in due time, that their fancied security is but an illusion. The beautiful structure offered by our county is rapidly approaching completion and will, in a finished condition, lose none of its claim upon the attention of the State. It will commend itself to our law-makers as just the place to rock the great enterprise in its infancy. The contest during the past winter in which the friends of our county have been engaged, has been but the school of preparation for the final contest; and while our enemies have been putting forth their best efforts to secure the temporary success which accrued to them finally by default, our friends have not exhausted their preliminary tactics."1 From the above and from later statements in local papers it was quite evident that Champaign county was so certain of winning the location, that she determined to % Centrai IIKnofe Ga&ette, Urbana, March 31, 1865.
| |
