Montana State University - Sentinel Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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T H E UNIVERSITY T has been said that we know too little of the land we live in. We look elsewhere for scenery, for beaut.y. for rugged mountains and creeping glaciers, for deep canyons and beautiful va-lleys, when we have them all on a far grander scale, around us. The same may be said of our histories. The average student knows the story of Massachusetts better. perhaps, than that of Montana. Or he could give the kings of lunglantl more easily than the presidents of the United States. Among t.he large number who attend the University of Montana. there are probably not half a dozen who know the story, the life history of the school they attend. To give an insight into the strenuous early days as well as the more peaceful and prosperous later ones to those who do not know, is the object of this short sketch. It has always been the policy of the United States to have the best of educational facilities. regardless of labor or expense. In order to obtain this, Congress, in 1881 passed a law donating seventy-two sections of land in each of the Western territories. to provide funds for the establishment of Universities in these future states. We may truly say that it is at this time that the history of the University of Montana begins, for it is from this that the major portion of our money comes. Immediately after the passage of this bill in Congress, Mr. R. H. Howey, of Helena, was appointed to select the University land. Owing to the early date, we were able to get the best of all the excellent sections in the Bitter Root, Gallatin. Flathead and other valleys that belonged to the government, and in this way we obtained a great advantage over the other State Insti- tutions. It was not until eighteen-eighty-nine that the Enabling Act was passed and the land selections for them were not made until in eighteen- ninety-one or -two. ' For many years before the University was organized, there had been an expectation that when it was, it would be in Missoula. The source of this rumor is doubtful. but that it was prevalent is well known by all who resided here at that time. The tirst movement to secure the University was made during the meet- ing of the first Legislative Assembly in January of eighteen-ninety-one. A committee was appoint.ed to work in conjunction with members of the Leg- islature. Through the efforts of these, a bill passed the lower House, but it was lost in the Senate by the extremely narrow margin of two or three votes. At the meeting of the next Legislature in January of eighteen-ninety- three, the matter was taken up by the citizens of Missoula. A University Club was organized. Prof. J. M. Hamilton was elected president, E. E. Her- shey, secretary and treasurer. A committee consisting of Prof. Hamilton. Judge F. H. Woody and Mr. M. T. Crouch drafted the bill which went

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12 'l'IllC SENTINEI. through without amendment. Many citizens of Missoula we-nt to Helena to work for the passage of the hill. Systematic lahor was done. .l. l.. Sloane had cliarge of the work in Helena, while H. 0. Collins acted as Press Repre- sentative. With these active workers and the influence and persevt-ring energy ot' the late Hon, ld. D. Matts. member ot' the Senate from Missoula County, the hill finally succeeded in getting through. Too much credit can- not he given the men ot' that eonirnittett- and Senator Matts, for their work in the Senate. for without them the University would surely have been put oft' for all intlelitlite period. After the passage of the hill. the State Board of Education mel in Mis- soula, May twenty-fourth, eighteen-ninety-thrtfe and selected the present 40- .-. .X Sl',ti'l'ltbN til-' 'l'lll'1 .KRT lll'Il'.XR'l'MliN'l' acre Campus. The Higgins Estate donated the north twenty and the South Missoula Land Company the south twenty. Nothing more was done until the meeting of the Legislature in .lanuary of eighteen-ninety-tive, when a. bill was put through as recommended hy the State Board of Education, appropriating the funds accumulated from the Land Act of eighteen-eighty-one, to open the Institution in September of that year. At the June meeting of the State Board of Education, Dr. 0. .l. Craig was selected as President of the young University. Professors Merritt and Reiley were appointed at the same time. Later in the summer. Professors Aher and Scheueh were ohtained. ln order to facilitate the opening of the University, the citizens of