Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 284]

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252

History University of Illinois

severest scrutiny- With no desire to disparage or undervalue in any degree the bids made by other localities who are so nobly competing for the prize which you hold in your hands, we feel conscious of having made an offer not only creditable to the communities by which they are made, but in some degree corresponding in its magnitude with the noble State of whose interests you are the appointed guardians; and we respectfully ask at your hands, that such action be taken as may seem to you most appropriate, to examine thoroughly not only what we have thus offered, but what has been proposed at other points. If after a fair and impartial examination of all the claims that probably attach to each locality, taking everything into account, affecting the future well-being of the institution, you shall decide that the interests of the State will be best subserved by locating it elsewhere, we shall cheerfully acquiesce in that decision, but to secure that hearty acquiescence on our part, as well as other competing points, we invoke on your deliberations on this subject that fairness and rectitude of action, which we are fully assured you will bring to bear in the settlement of this important question. "To our advantages, geographically, situated as we are at the center of population of the State and near to the geographical center also, at a point where two of the most important railroads of the State intersect, and to which other roads are speedily to be built, thus making it a place of easy access to the people of the whole State; to our advantages on the score of health, pleasant and attractive surroundings, high moral tone of society, the absolute and unqualified prohibition of the liquor traffic at that point—Normal—near which its location is invited; we say, to these and other advantages of our position it is scarcely necessary even thus briefly to allude, as they are extensively known and appreciated throughout the State. • It may not be improper to state that in close proximity to • the Normal University, the State owns one hundred acres of land, covering a beautiful site for the proposed Institution, and that this land was donated with the distinct understanding of being used for this purpose. " I t is proper to say, however, that in our above estimate of values no account is taken of this tract of land, and should