The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-01-17
THE STATE UNIVERSITY

THE STATE UNIVERSITY
The Legislature will in all probability dispose
Of this question at its present session.
This being the fact, We feel it our duty to say
few words again in reference to its location
1t is proper and best that it should be located at
once, not only to take it from the halls of legis
lation, bnt because the whole educational inter
ests of the State demand it. We do hope the
western practice Of allowing one generation of
our youth to grow up under incompetent teach
ng will not be permitted in this State NotliDga
gained by delay, and very much is lost.
Without some well devised educational system,
;hich will furnish the State with competent
achers at home, hundreds will be employed to
'struct our youth vino are themselves not well
structed in'the common rudiments of an Eng
fish education. Thus must the State suffer all
the bghting effects Of such neglect till too late
she discovers her blunder, and like many of the
Western States begins to remedy the evil after
defective system has filled the land with ten
thousand influences, which constantly and I'M
perceptibly mould the rising generation
Begin, then, as quick possible, and it will
take years to be fully ready to meet the necessi-
ties of a fast people. With little legislative
fostering care, may very soon shielded from
its evils Sf incompetent teachers, bad physicians,
and a non paying system of agriculture.
The State of Kansas must provide within four
years from this time an Agricultural College, or
Department in order to secure the ninety thousand
acres of land granted to the State in the recent
act of Congress, approved July ID, 1862
Jap,op6 fka ipp,na1t ota
settlement Of this question, and presents to the
Legislature the question of location. At what
point shall it be located We answer at that
point in the State where it will ten years hence,
all things considered, best subserve the conve-
nience of the mass Of the people of the State.
The Constitution requires it to be located at some
"central and eligible place" The State of Kan
sas is more than four hundred miles in length,
and about two hundred in breadth. The geo.
graphical centre of which would be point some
sixty miles west Of the town Of Salina. This
would he an improper place for the State Uni
versity for the obvious reason that the south
east, north east and northwest portions of the
State must from the nature Of the country, and
timber be the densely settled parts Of the State.
The extreme south west portion Of the State Will
be but sparsely settled for years to come, aence
the central and eligible" place will be found
ut q point north and east Of the geographical
centre, where the focus is formed between the
three grand divisions Of the State, viz: the
south east, north east, and northwest portions.
This will make the centre near Fort Riley, on
the Kansas. Two years hence the broad valley
of the Republican and Solomon will be filled
with an entsrprising population, for more than
one hundred and fifty miles west of Riley,
while the Saline and Smoky Hill will TEEN with
busy lfe 1t will be found that there is more
good land west of Fort Riley than east of it, and
the projection Of the Pacific Railroad Will soon
show the real centre Of the State as far west as
this place.
But we cannot ask the Legislature to locate
the University here, as We cannot offer the State
as great inducements our neighboring town of
Manhattan. But q, this point We feel it should
be located.
lst Because it is not only the central but the
eligible place. one which will be in easy com
rnunication with all the densely settled portions
Of the State.
Cd Because the State can this at point secure,
modious and substantial edifce, already erected
and located in the midst of scenery unsurpassed
in beauty having with it a most valuable libra
ry of carefully selected books, and philosophical
chemical. and astronomical apparatus. which in
the aggregate would cost the State, if purchased,
more than Fifty Thousand Dollars.
Sd. We think that the central and western
portions of the State justly entitled to some
share of the public benefits. especially when the
public interests be best subserved. Wei
think the University should be located at Man
haitian because the people Of the State, through
their representatives, have virtually twice located
il there already.
Hithertoo, Northern and Southern Kansas have
seemsd to almost entirely overlook the middle |
and vestern portions of the State, but We feel
that the members of this Legislature will show
their wisdom by locating the University at once
.t Manhattan, and thus settle this vexed ques
t;on and take it from the balls Of legislation
and at the same time secure o most valuable
property to the State, well as make most
iudicious location.
No ParER Next WEEx.-Just one-half the corp
editorial and typographical Of the USlcs having
.,ore To Leayenwo.th to attend the Printers
F..t;v.l make show of Western style and &C
.omn,;.hments in our Metropolitan city. and