The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-13
THE TRUE 1NwARpNEss
In Regard to the state Agricultural College
at Corvallis


of much Importance to the state at large;
vet to the people of Benton County it is of
much greater concern; more particularly in
regard TO his attitude toward the State Az,
ricultural College. The people Of the South
Methodist church attempted to raise money
over year ago to build an Agricultural
College bui ding. on the Agricultural Col
Iege farm, adjoining Corvallis, which was
donated for the use of the State Agricul-
tural College, by the citizens of the county.
The parties manipulating the South NJ etho-
dist College at Corvallis. (which was mainly
done by B. F. Burch) at the time the land
vas decided, had the legal title conveyed to
Il committee under the control of the South
Methodist church; instead of having the
title to the Agricultural farm made to thu
State, as the citizens intended, who sub
s:ribed their money to pay for it. So whI
the church people last year invited suhscril
tions t" build an Agricultural College bui d.
ing on said land, the money could not be
subscribed, because the people very just y
said that they would not subscribe money
to build State building on land the title IT,
which was held by church. The Sout
Methodist Conference Of 1884 and also tn.
Board of Regents of Corva lis (South Meth
odist) College against B. f. Burch's pro
test-voted to tender the Agricultural Col
lege back to the State. AMI also appointed :;
committee 70 deed said Agricultural farm,
to the State, to be used for State Agri-
cultural College purposes. In accnrdance
with such directions the Agricultural Col
lege was rendered to the Stare. through tn.
last egisltt,.re and accepted by thai body.
all If With was against the edict of B. F
Burch and agai $ his protest. A bill Wa
passed at that legislature to confirm the 10
cation of the \ Agricultural College at Cor
wallis, and to prnvid, for the erecting Ivy til.
citizens of a new brick building on S
Agricultural farm, which bill provided for
Board of Regents cousir ing of the Stat,
Board of E lucation, the NJ tster of the State
Grange and nine more who should le
pointed by the Governor and confirmed
by the Senate of the last L gisl ture.
The Governor delayed 50 long the appoint
ment of those members of tn B rd
that the last State Sente did not confirm
them This delay, to be sure, mnre than
pleased B. +. Bur,h This bin a so provided
that the B ard of Regents provided for b,
said biz, should be authorized to receir,
professionally the titl, to said A-ri, ultura
farm on behalf of the state. But us tF=
Board WAS not appointed, so as to receive it.
the t5le remained in the control of til.
church, and all this pleased the wiry ma
nipulator. B. F. Buruh. of the South Meth
mer, b f. Bur9h went hefor=, and against
the earnest protest of some honest. fair deal
ing members, succeeded in getting the COLI
ference to rescind its aci ion Of the previous
year, directing said Agricultural College to
be rendered to the State And it was there
arranged that sald Burrh should 60 tefore
the first Legislature to convene and do all in
his power to prevent the Board of Regents.
provided by said bill from heing appointed
or confirmed. This we have direct from
members of the conference, who were pres
ent when the action was taken. Thus the
farmers of Oregon can see how the Agricul-
tural School, the farmers school of Oregon
has been and is being manipulated by B. F
Burch, the political and Chris ian like
schemer of the. South Methodist conference
and how this institution is being crushed
down and overshalowed by B. F. Burch.
playing 1t as a seconl fiddle to his church,
and enable the States money to be thus ex
pended to advance the interests of his
church. This is not all The incorporators
of the Agricultural College Association, a
corporation composed of citizens Of Benton
County and recognized nnder said act OF the
Legislature ashavingifor It's object the raising
of money and experimenting the constrnc
tion of said building on the part of the citi-
zens of Benton County, at meeting held
last week, sore experience having demon
strated to them that money can not be raised
to l.ull sail building until the title to said
Agricultural farm can be transferred
from the church to the State; they
by a unanimous vote communicated
these difficulties to the Governor, informin.
him that in. not getting the Board of Re
gents appointed had delayed the raising the
money for nearly year, and ask him to APP
point said Board at an early day SO that II
might be confirmed by the Senate and also
askel him in his message to rec9mnend an
extension of time in which to compete the
building on account of the delay.
Instead, however, OF respecting the wish
es of the people of Benton county in this
matter, where the school is located the Gov
ernor says in his message, after referring to
said act, and stating that the short time
elapsing between the passage of said bill and
the adjournment of the Legislature and the
confusion attendant upon the closing hours
of the session, prevented the Board of Re-
gents from being appointed and confirmed
His message further states that as he Is
'.advised no detriment has resulted to the