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Page 11 text:
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, ,, W -..,. ., . . . . .... ..,. ,,. ....,., . . .......-.-- sg-vm... ..--r.--1 1 0 , ,. A ,U :,:.., 1 , . , 'o - I. .- l , V ' ' - 3--l 4 i nto . solution he established a private school on the east ridge of Skinner's Butte, where the stone ruins of the old building still serve as a rendezvous for col- lege piggers. After a few years Henderson abandoned his venture, but the school was later reopened on the same site by john C. Arnold and Robert Veatch. Some interest attaches to these two forbears of our present faculty on account of the fact that they were graduates, respectively, of institutions with which we are still more or less familiar,-Xalillamette University and the Oregon Agricultural College. So successful was Arnold as a teacher, that he was offered the principal- ship of the Eugene district school. He accepted on condition that provision be made whereby he might carry on more advanced courses of study than were then deemed necessary for a liberal education hereabouts. In other words, the nucleus of a high school was formed. Now took place an event from which the beginning of the project for the University of Oregon may be dated. A meeting was held in the district school house to consider ways and means to maintain the infant high school. lly the flickering light of a single tallow dip, the pioneer citizens of Eugene conceived the idea of expanding their original purpose and striving for an infinitely great-er prize. The Act of Congress of February 14, 1859, admitting Oregon to the Un- ion, had already provided for a State Unniversity by the grant of 72 sections of la.nd for that purpose. On account of the mcagern-ess of the population, which was concentrated in the VVillamette valley and about Portland, the in- stitution had n-ot yet been established, although sev-eral sectarian schools then existing had coveted the appropriation as an addition to their endowments. The leaders in the district school house meeting, among whom ll, li. Dor- ris and I. P. Thompson were prominent, suggested that Eugene advance its claims as a location for the proposed State University. Accordingly, a general meeting of the citizens of Lane County was called August 26, 1872. At this time the Union University Association was organized with the deli- nite object of bringing the University to Eugene. The Association was cap- italized at fifty thousand dollars, which was estimated to be the sum rc- quired as Lane County's contribution toward the founding of the University. Other towns were spurred by Eugene's initiative to seek the same ob- ject, and when the state legislature convened n the fall of 1872, bills were brought forward for the establishment of the University in Corvallis, Mon- mouth, Albany, Salem, Forest Grove and Eugene. The central location of Eugene, and the fact that it was not the seat of a sectarian college, appealed to the solons, and they accepted the proposition Elvwn
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Page 12 text:
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G , .V . . 0 V., .,., ,,..,. , , .. . ,. , ...,.4.. ,. ., . . , . .. ... , my A -:I W 4 yung.,-,P .F . X- zz, ..,:::l,- A offered by the Union University Association. The bill creating the University passed October 19,1872 lts main provisions were that a board of nine di- rectors was to be appointed, six by the Governor and three by the Associa- tiong the University was to be supported at first by the interest from the sale of the 72 sections granted by Congress, and the Association was to pro- vide a site and construct a building for the University, to be turned over to the state January l, 1874. lt was further provided that the value of the prop- erty thus conferred by the Association should be not less than Sy'350,000.00, and that it must be accepted by the State lloard of Land Commissioners. The part of the old homestead clainr of llilyard Shaw on' which the trad- er's cabin had stood was selected as the most available site by the Association. The eighteen acres which were purchased had been obtained from their orig-- inal owner by J. H. D. Henderson, from whom the deed was received. Now began a campaign of enterprise and sacrifice which reflects endur- ing credit on the fathers of the University. The legislature had authorized the Lane County court to appropriate thirty thousand dollars toward meet- ing the terms of the bill. However, strenuous objections were rtised in some quarters over the proposed taxation. Accordingly the menilbers of the Union University Association decided to ask no aid from the county, but to rely on their own public spirit and that of their neighbors to raise the amount. The response showed the patriotism of the pioneers. They contributed not only money, but household articles, farm produce, live stock,-anything which could be turned into cash. In collecting these contributions, Hon. ll. F. Dorris and Hon. T. G. Hendricks, the only two living members of the first Board of Regents, were mainly active. Theirs was the difficult task of sat- isfying the demands, of the contractors for mloney with which to pay the workmen and continue the work of construction. An incident showing the way in which these demands were often met is told by Mr. Hendricks. One morning Mr. Dorris an-di myself arrived at the building to find that the men employed in its construction had refused to go to work unless they were paid their over-due wages. Finally we persuaded them to go to work that day by promising to have sufficient funds to pay their wages in the hands of the contractors before night. Accordingly, Mr. Dorris and I set out in opposite directions, each with a horse and buggy, Before evening T had col- lected a load of farm produce, and when we met at the building at the ap- pointed time, f found Mr. Dorris leading a cow behind his vehicle. Wfith the proceeds we were able to tide over the pay-day and keep the work moving. Mr. Dorris says: Many farmers willing to help us, but having no money to give, turned over eggs, chickens, vegetables, hogs, sheep, beef cattle, horses Twelve
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