The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25
The State University.


Strangers, who know little of the edu-
cational condition of our State, except
from our statute books, and those of the
Nation, imagine that the University of
Minnesota is one of the most muniicently
endowed institutions of the kind west OF
the mountains. And so we find that
almost every person of intelligence from
abroad, on his first arrival, inquiries for the
University, and how it is progressing9
He is pointed, in reply, to stately build
ing, equal, perhaps, to any of its class in
the west; located on grounds abundantly
ample, and charming beyond description;
and overlooking scene of such extent,
interest, and variety of beauty and gran
deur, as has not its counterpart within the
limits of our State. He finds, however,
that the air of quiet which first appears to
him as in grateful unison with the spirit Of
such place, chills him at last, and that
what impresses him is the sad stiffness OF
desolation, and not the thoughtful repose
which makes even the environs of the hall
of learning solacing satisfaction. BE is
surprised to learn that, though Congress,
dozen years ago, endowed the institution
with grant ample for all its purposes on
the largest scale, and though the greater
part of that grant has been in the hands of
the Territory and State for half that time,
there is little to show for it except build
ing going to ruins, lands mortgaged,
resources crippled, if not destroyed; and
that, in fact, our State University is one
without funds or faculty, students or
academical organization. And when, in
his establishment at such condition of
things, he inquiries into the causes which
have produced results so meagre, or SO
disastrous, our State University, which, as
he at first imagined it, would have been
our chiefest glory, becomes in his eye
shame and reproach.
And we cannot gainsay the justice ofsuoh
judgment. The recklessness with which
the property and affairs of the State Uni
vers;ty have been officially managed, is
public shame; and the Indifference with
which such Encouragement has been
treated, is a reproach to every intelligent
citizen of Minnesota. The popular i'm
preston seems to be that the University
is in wretched way that if it's endow-
ment has not been utterly wasted, it has
been covered over with liens, @nd bound
up with difficult complicationef Shat it is
doubtful if its affairs can ever be so shaped
as to answer its original purpose; and
that, on the whole, it might as well be
given up as failure,-let creditors take
whatever property may exist count the
State University as dead at is birth-and
SO end it.
We wish to do our part in rouEng the
people from the lethargy into which they
have fallen on this subject. In spite of all
that has been criminally done, or reck-
lessly left undone, we believe there is
enough Of vitality left in the State Univer-
sity for all necessary growth and expan-
sion to meet the higher educational wants
Of our people.
The grant originally made by Congress
for University purposes, was in 1851, and
comprised two townships Of land, or 49,
$50 acres. In the same year the Univer-
sity of Minnesota was established by act
of the Territorial Legislature, and its man
agemeut committed to Board of Regents.
1t was some years before the lands grant,
ed were selected and confirmed; up to
1856 less than two-thirds had been thus
secured, and we believe the whole amount
Of the grant was made good by the Gov
eminent only as late as during the pres
ent year. In 1856, the Legislature au-
thorized the Board of Regents to issue
bonds in the name of the University to
the extent of $15,OO0-of which sum
$4,000 was to be applied in liquidation of
debt incurred for the purchase of site,
and $4,000 to be expended in erecting
suitable buildings and to secure the pay
ment of such bonds by mortgage on any
lands then belonging, and thereafter to
belong, to the University. Shortly after
tue passage of this act, and without any
intervening or other legislation, the Board
of Regents entered into building con-
tract in the sum of $4,000, which con
tract, partially fulfilled, has given the
University the building now on its grounds
at St. Anthony. Probably to meet the
increased expense of the building over the
amount contemplated by the act of 1856
though such design is not revealed in the
act,-the Legislature in 1858 authorized
further issue of bonds to the amount o
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