| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
216 History University of Illinois of its soil, interspersed with groves of fine timber, and streams of pure water. The 'big grove' containing thirteen thousand acres of fine timber, is within half a mile of the college building." In regard to Champaign's offer of an institute building and one hundred and forty acres of land the writer was equally optimistic. It will add he said, to the federal grant • • in buildings, lands, and money, what could not now be furnished for five hundred thousand dollars," T Inasmuch as the items of the offer as then proposed actually cost the county a few months later only fifty-five thousand dollars, one can judge of the extravagant statements then floating about The Union and Gazette copied the entire article from the Journal —perhaps with the purpose of spreading the good news abroad and to furnish some amusement to the citizens in the quiet of their homes. During the autumn of 1866 preparations of another kind were entered upon that were to prove most decisive for Champaign's interests. A movement had been started for a railroad from Danville through Urbana and Bloomington to Pekin, and during the summer of 1866 a committee of citizens was formed for each of the two cities to push the matter. The members of the committees were Judge J. 0. Cunningham, Colonel Sheldon, Henry Miller, Dr. J, W. Scroggs, M. L. Dunlap, Colonel Busey, Dr. Parks, Judge Sims, Messrs. Cosgrove, Gardiner, Shirfy, and Helberstadt. They needed an executive agent and on looking over the field they chose one of their own citizens, Clark Robinson Griggs. In the fall of 1866 the district republican convention was held in Urbana, and through-the influence of this joint committee Mr. Griggs was nominated for state representative, to which office he was elected in November. Thus connection was made between Mr. Griggs, the railway and the legislature, the importance of which will appear later. According to Mr. Griggs• own statement, confirmed by Judge Cunningham, shortly after his election he set out on a quiet tour of the state, interviewing members of the lower house in an effort to pledge votes to Champaign county. He avoided Jacksonville, Lincoln, and Bloomington, not wishing to put these cities on their guard. In the 'Copied in ibid., December 7, 1866.
| |
