The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-03-18
THE UNIVERSITY.

ago, vetoed the appropriation to the
University of Deseret, and left that
institution in q sad plight, fifteen
or twenty patriotic and public
spirited gentlemen came to the
rescue and generously advanced
money from their private purses TO
the amount of $4,000. They did
this, first, to save to the University
the money that had already been
expended, and second, to furnish
the necessary accommodations fOr
the institution. Salt Lake City had
donated to the University valu
able ten.acre block, and with money
previously appropriated by the
Legislature, the foundation for
the building had been laid, and
much lumber and oth,r material
secured. It was fully rea! z that
the foundation would not only be
greatly damaged by exposure to the
storms of two years, but also
that the material Oh hand would
deteriorate In value, and much OF
it be ruined. Hence, lie gentle-
men referred to put their hands into
their pockets and took out the sum
necessary to protect the Ir perty
and advance the building to It's pie-
sent condition. By their thought
ful and generous action they have
placed the Territory under lasting
obligations. AS matter Of course
these gentlemen confidently looked |
for the return of their money. They |
regarded 1t as loan TO the
University, and it was accepted
as such by the Board OF Regents,
the understanding on the part
Of all being that the debt
would be cancelled by Le-
gislative appropriation. The $780,
900 for the University, which
the Governor refused to approve
was in ended to enforce the pay
ment of the debt that had been
incurred. The striking out of the
item from tie bill makes it i'm.
possible to recover the money be.
fore the next session Of the Assem-
bly, two years hence, when the
obligation will be met, provided, of
course. we have q Governor, as we
hope to have, who is not opposed to
learning, and who will not exercise
his too great power to the retarding
Of higher education in Utah. II we
should still be aft 'cted as now,
there would be another delay,
but the debt will eventually be paid,
and with interest, as certsinly as
Utah retains it's organization and
regains control of its government |
and finances. The debt may not !
be legal, but it Is one of honor, and
no Legislature that could be chosen
would refuse to vote the money for
its payment. /
1t would be unfair to ask tie men
who gave before to give agan
nor is 1t deemed necessary to
make another appeal to them; but
the University is sadly in need of
the building. With the exception
of two or three rooms that have been
partly finished the structure is USE
less in its present condition. while
the school is suffering for room and
accommodations. In its present
cramped and inconvenient quarters
it Is impossible for the institution to
do justice to itself or its patrons. It
is not known that an estimate has
been made Of the cost Of completing
the building, but it is believed that
for $4,000 or SIG. 900 enough of the
rooms might be finished to accom-. |,
modste the school, and satisfy the /
IGQusISIuClbo vi SuC ldStiDuIlg0 until
such time as the Territory can i
get control OF its own
money and complete the structure
inside and out. It strikes as that Il
the necessary money ought to be
raised as a loan, the security being h
the good faith and honor OF the
commonwealth. Utah is not blessed b
with many rich men, but unless We
are mistaken there are enough of t
hem who can. without serious in. il
to themselves, advance {
70 the Territory the sum indicated
above. It is suggested that the II
lew board at least make the effort II
% obtain the money, and II success. !
al, as we believe it viii be, another e
winter ought to zee the principal C