Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of Illinois Land Grant Endowment [PAGE 8]

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8

University of Illinois

of ideas and opinions by individuals, publications, and societies in regard to the plan and location of the University. As a means of making it possible for various communities to bid for the location of the University, an act was passed permitting any county, city, or township to raise a fund by taxation as well as by voluntary subscription. 7 Nine different bills concerning the location of the University were introduced in the State Legislature in 1867. Fifteen different communities and agencies tried to secure the benefits of the grant. In general these endeavors were by either the existing colleges or by the individual communities. The final contest was between four com8 munities, with Champaign County making the smallest financial otter. The act providing for the organization and maintenance of the Illinois Industrial University was passed by the State Assembly. February 28, 1867. Within ten days after the passage of the bill, the Governor of Illinois was required to appoint twenty-eight trustees to administer and govern the University. Upon completion of the organization of the Board, a treasurer (not a member of the Board) was to be elected. Neither the endowment, "or its income/' or the donation made for the location of the University could be used for the support of a branch of the University. The act for the locating of the University passed March 8, 1867. It stipulated that the legal authorities of the County of Champaign should convey to the Board of Trustees by June 1, 1867, the unencumbered title to 980 acres of land and deliver to the Board of Trustees all bonds and other property offered by the County as an inducement for the location of the University; then the Illinois Industrial University would be permanently located in Champaign County. If Champaign County failed to make the conveyance, the Board of Trustees should proceed to locate the University in McLean, Logan, or Morgan County, and the county selected should fulfill the conditions of its previous offer. After the approval of the bond of the Treasurer by the Board and the Governor, it was the duty of the Governor to deliver to the Treasurer the land scrip issued by the United States to the State of Illinois for the endowment of the University. In this way the title and interest of the State in the land scrip was vested in the Illinois Industrial University. It then became the duty of the Treasurer to sell and dispose of the scrip under the direction of the Board. It was the desire of the Board of Trustees to sell the greater por'The following is the reference to thr vtrioue Univcr»ity Hills tntrrrri in th Illinois Lejrtilature in IKr Illinois Semite Journal. 25th Aeecinhly .7. ni» 71. 79, §0 125, \2(,, 163. I '. 194. 324, 791. 806. 1051; Illinois House Journal, .»<th V nM £ r Vole. 1 unci 2, 110. 82, 91. 122, 158, 227, 451. 50 >. •Diinlap \inxry M.. A fljtfory Of lite ///in - />i./.M/rfa/ C'lfetrrfl* tfterwm* 'he University of Illinois, 1851 to 1939.