Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 608]

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568

History University of Illinois

tual fund} the capital of which shall remain forever undiminished (except so far as may be provided in section fifth of this act), and the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated by each State which may take and claim the benefit of this act, to the endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college, where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such manner as the legislatures of the States may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. The grant of land and land scrip hereby authorized shall be made on the following conditions, to which as well as to the provisions hereinbefore contained, the previous assent of the several States shall be signified by legislative acts. If any portion of the fund invested, as provided by the foregding sections, or any portion of the interest thereon shall by any action or contingency be diminished or lost, it shall be replaced by the State to which it belongs, so that the capital of the fund shall remain forever undiminished, and the annual interest shall be regularly applied without diminution to the purposes mentioned in the fourth section of this act, except, that a sum not exceeding ten per centum upon the amount received by any State under the provisions of this act, may be expended for the purchase of lands for sites or experimental farms, wherever authorized by the respective legislatures of said States. No portion of said fund, nor the interest thereon shall be applied, directly or indirectly, under any pretence whatever, to the purchase, erection, preservation or repair of any building or buildings. Any State which may take and claim the benefit of the provisions of this act, shall provide, within five years, at least not less than one college, as described in the fourth section of this act, or the grant to such State shall cease, and said State shall be bound to pay the United States the amount received of any lands previously sold, and the title to purchasers under the State, shall bo valid.