The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-02-21

Report of the Board of Regents of the Universit,
OF Minnesota.

u 4
port of the Board of Regents of the University
| OF Minnesota.
To the Hon., the Legislature of the
Territory Of Minnesota:
In accordance with chapter 20, Sec
ton 16, Of the Revised Statutes of
Minnesota, the undersigned has the
honor Of presenting to your honorable
bodies, the first annual Report of the
Board of Regents Of the University Of
Minnesota.
The first meeting Of the Board Of
Regents was held, pursuant to notice,
! at the St. Charles Hotel, in St. Antho-
ny, May 31st, 1852. The Board Or
ganized by the choice of the following
persons as officers, viz:
FRANKLIN STEELE, President.
ISAAC ATWATER, Secretary.
J.W. NORTH, Treasurer.
VIM. r. MARSHALL, Librarian.
A committee was appointed to draft
rules for the government of the Board,
and of the Preparatory Department Of
the University.
At this meeting it was unanimously
RESOLVED, That the Board Of Re-
gents deem it expedient to take steps
for the immediate erection Of build
ing for Preparatory Department,
connected with the University, and that
subscriptions be circulated for that pur-
pose.
At a subsequent meeting Of the
Board, held at the same place, on the
18th day Of June last, rules for the
government of the Board Of Regents,
and the Preparatory Department, were
reported and adopted. A committee
was also appointed, consisting of his
Excellency, Governor Ramsey, Hon. H.
H. Sibley and A. Van Vorhees, ESQ.,,
to correspond with the Secretary of the
Interior, on the subject of the grant Of
lands, made by Congress, at its last
session, to the university Of Mime
sofa, and to adopt measures to bring
about, without unnecessary delay, the
location of the townships granted, in
order that the same might be brought
under the control, and inure to the ben
eft and advantage of the University of
Minnesota. The Board Of Regents
then proceeded, personally, to examine
the different pieces of ground which
had been offered as sites for the erec-
ton Of University buildings. Several
liberal offers of land had been made
for this purpose, by landholders in the
immediate vicinity of the village Of St.
Anthony. After a careful survey of
the different locations, and compari-
son of their advantages, the Board de-
cided upon the ground offered by
Franklin Steele, Esq, situated near
the centre of the village of St. Antho-
nv, and consisting Of the ground re-
served for public square, and six lots
adjacant thereto, comprising an area
Of near four acres Of ground. It is
most eligible situation on the bluff,
Just above the mills, fronting Main
street and the river, and commanding
one Of the most beautiful prospects in
the Territory.
In pursuance of a resolution passed
by the Board Of Regents, for the ereo-
ton of Preparatory Department, con-
nected with the University, VIM. r.
Marshall and I. Atwater were appoint
ed committee on behalf the Board, to
proceed with the erection Of such build
ing. By resolution of the Board, the
committee were limited in the cost of
the building to an amount not exceed
ing $4,000. The amount of the cost
was also required to be raised by pri-
vate subscription only, and no part of
the property belonging to the University
proper was to be applied to the erection
Of this Academy.
The committee have erected an Acad-
emy building on the grounds selected
for the University. lis thirty by fifty
feet, of wood, and three stories in
height, or two stories with basement,
sufficiently high and commodious to be
used as recitation rooms. No part Of
the building is yet entirely finished, but
two rooms are in a condition to be
conveniently used. A comparatively
small additional expense will finish
these two rooms, with two others, in
cluding the large hall, which will be
sufficient to meet the wants Of the In
stitution for the present.
The costs Of the building, in its
present condition, has been about $2,-
200. OF this amount, between three
and four hundred is still due. To
meet this, and finish the remainder Of
the building, a second subscription is
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