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Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
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218 History University of Illinois won little sympathy and comfort from these associations, they were kept well informed as to what was going on. In these various ways the county made preparations for the contest. During the early summer of 1865 the agriculturists were resting on their oars. A letter from Turner to John P. Reynolds, secretary of the state agricultural society, July 23, reveals his disgust at the proceedings of the last legislature. In a jesting manner he said that he had stood for principles long enough he was now going in wholly for profit, adding: ' i But more seriously my dear friend, let us thank God and take courage, and still 'Keep our powder dry,' in that the great state of New York has accepted the magnificent offer of Mr. (Ezra) Cornell, of Ithaca, of $500,000, and has thus located its University there with a fair start of a million and half of dollars.'' He then asks Reynolds to send Mr. Cornell the last agricultural society report and any others that would throw light upon these industrial matters, and urged Reynolds also to include in the forthcoming report of the society an article on the real origin and general history of the industrial education movement in Illinois. He reiterated what he had said a number of times: J' This whole matter was really begun and urged on to its present position by citizens in our own State." 9 Later he himself wrote the suggested article in the form of a letter which was published in the transactions of the society and is invaluable for a true understanding of the early work of the Illinois men. In a letter to Reynolds a few weeks later Turner declared that they must work together to bring Illinois " u p to her duty before God and man" and that he hoped the state would do even better than New York.10 In August George W. Minier wrote Turner "We must remodel our Legislature or we will all go to the mischief," u The next month these men were in action. On September 8, 1865, the executive board of the state agricultural society met in Chicago and on motion of G. W. Minier it was resolved that the board recommend that a convention of agriculturists, mechanics, and manufacturers of the state be •Turner to Beynolds, July 23, 1865, Turner manuscripts. "AuguBt S, 1865, Turner manuscripts. "August 4, 1865, Turner manuscripts, Springfield.
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