Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 302]

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History University of lllino IS

of the twin cities in December, 1866, Champaign $300 and Urbana $200, making a total of $500; donated by the citizens of Champaign, April, 1867, $2,000 and of Urbana $1,000, making a total of $3,000, while the total amount spent was $239,378.39. The conclusion seems to be from the records found that Champaign county and citizens of same contributed $239,378.39 and that Champaign county paid in cash for property given the state $207,210 leaving the amount used for other purposes at $32,168.39. Of this latter amount the county paid out to local men for services rendered, for printing and other incidental expenses some $13,536, leaving about $16,789, spent for purposes not mentioned. Apparently it was this sum of $32,168.39 which the county had available to aid in securing the location of the university, that wan'called the "corruption" fund by the opponents of Champaign county.; They estimated it, as has been noted, at from $29,000 to $40,000. C. R. Griggs, Champaign's representative, who very likely knew more about this than any other man of the time, said they had $40,000 to use in securing the location of the university, for which amount they were n o t required to give account. It is possible more was used—seemed by subscription or otherwise—for these particular purposes that! the $32,168.39 that the records show. The records do not show that any of it was used in an illegal manner. Not in justification of any act, or methods of wrong doing, if any such were employed, but rather as an explanation it should be said that honesty at this period was largely a matter of personal not public conscience. Many honest citizens commended,

Gardner, loaned $12,500, D. Gardner, for interest on same $412, Shannon & Johnson, livery hire $10, Phillips, for livery hire $10, Ermentrout & Alexander per order of Somere $10, W. D. Somers, for services rendered $500, B. B. Morehouse, for services rendered $100, T. R. Webber for services rendered $300, J. O. Cunningham for services rendered $100, L. A. McLean for services rendered $100, G. W. Flynn for services rendered $100, O. O. Alexander for services rendered $50, O. O. Alexander paid for abstracts $40, F. G. Jacques, for services rendered $50, W. H. Somers for services rendered $50, Thomas J. Smith for services rendered $50, T. A. Cosgrove for services rendered $500, J. W. Scroggs for services rendered $500, M. L. Dnnlap for services rendered $500, G. W. Flynn, for printing $0.60, expenses negotiating bonds east $185, discount on bonds $900, retained for B. Burroughs, services rendered $100, retained for John S: Busey for services rendered $100, M. L. Dunlap for trees $2,000.