Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Engineering Hall (1894) (and Inauguration of President Draper) [PAGE 50]

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INAUGURATION OF PRl

IDENT DRAPER.

49

her, and she certainly gave the two at the north a gr< it I id. Otherwise, her history has more than been abreast of theirs. But what intluences their universities have exerted! If she had founded her university as early as they did, if she had listened to the words of her literary and scientific men, tl re would have been other imposing buildings upon our g r o u n d s , other d e p a r t m e n t s in our work, t h o u s a n d s of s t u d e n t s in our classes and laboratories, and the influence of the U n i v e r s i t y would be doubly felt in every part and every institution of our magnificent territory. L a t e in making a start, giving the University but a lame support for twenty years, she has at last seen the excellence of its work and felt t h e influence of its alumni, and begun a more generous, a broader, and a wiser policy. W i l l she see clearly, and act p r o m p t l y and adequately now? She is a great, rich state, out of debt, and growing richer and stronger every year. Money is, and will be, of of small account, and university influence is, and will be. everything to her in the coming years. She can afford to do r r whatever it is w ell to do. She is not to w ait for exigencies. S h e is bound to take all precautions and p u t up all t h e safeguards she can. She is going to do so. S h e will not c h a n g e her policy. H e r policy is right. She is going ahead. Why not do it swiftly and effectually? W h y should she take r another tw enty-five years to accomplish beneficent action which might as well be c o m p l e t e d in five years? One mill on a dollar of her assessable valuation, which the census authorities say r e p r e s e n t s but twenty per cent, of her real wealth, for three years, for buildings and equipment, and then one-fifth of one mill annually for operating expenses, would put the University in the position it should occupy, and would be an investment which would yield larger returns to the state than any other she can mak . W i l l she do it? W e will turn our faces to t h e east. W e will w ir our h e a r t s upon our si jves. W e will chvell together in harmony. W e will not simply tolerate, we will sympathize with the stu-