The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-24
STILLFINDING FAVOR.
New Opinions in Reference 10
Moving the University.
The VOICE or THE FARMER.
eosnt<y Taxpayers object 20 Having he
seurthss.~ en the Hns-A Fr.e-
ticza Suxxcxtssa-

ssAnlzxzAo1srs. has so far made no rEstssSe
expression OF his opinion In regard to the
proposition 70 place county aad city BALD
i1gs On the present ste OF the university.
ne ID "a interested reader OF the opinions
o. leading citizens upon TIE proposition.
however, and Is anxious that 4 fszH siscss-
Sion OF the matter Ia ali its bearings be had.
nov the county i 20 secure the means for
purchasing the site and how the taxpayers
OF King county would view the exprndi-
ture oil the money, arc considered the lead
Ing questions hv Commissioner Gasch.
When he speaks o. taxpayers he means MOI
only those owning property IN Seattle. sub
lccs 10 appreciation or depreciation bv q
change IN site for the county buildings. BAT
men whose interests are in the country as
well.
FARMERS oPrxrox
NJ. David Graham. who owns a 4spacre
farm about eight miles south Of the city. on
the bluffs opposite Duxanlish river. was in
TIE city yesterday and expressed himself
IN references 10 the matter as follows The
farmers OF King county are watching this
question OF moving the university from the
center OF the city and locating the pah.sc
buildings IN their place with a great deal
more interest than city people suppose. I
hare heard many Of them express their
opinions upon the subject and I think
speak the sentiments Of q majority Of them
when say that il viii be very bad policy
Tor the county 10 locate its buildings on
the top o! that mountain. The farmers of
Ming county do not want 10 be
forced into paving tribute to street
railway lines every time they have
business al the courthouse. There is
hardly male citizen in King county above
the age OF u years but what has business
at the courthouse At least once year. and
many Of Us have 10 make frequent visits 10
the courthouse. The hill site is almost in
accessible except by the cable line, and the
tar that would be levied upon the citizens
OF King county in reaching the courthouse
after they arrive IN the city viii be heavier
than the tax levied by the commissioners
TO pay for the building itself. When a
farmer Is called to serve on a jury in the
superior court or when he comes 10 town
TO pay his taxes. file q deed or present a
petition TO the county commissioners. he
doesn't want 10 climb 3 mountain or be
forced into paying for transportation up Il.
Then the university is in a poor location
for an institution Of its kind. Farmers do
not want their sons and daughters exposed
10 all the temptations OF a busy city while
they are attending school Then the
grounds are altogether too small. viii
give the university 100 acres from my farm
il they viii locate the university upon it.
IL is easy, / know, TO make an offer that
there is small probability OF ever being ac-
cepted. but the title to the land is ready
for the university II my offer is accepted.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.
Rev ID. j. Pierce, of the university fac
ulty, is decidedly in favor of moving it
from the city. In speaking of the matter
last evening he said;
state university properly arranged is
simply the highest grade of the public
school system, and as such should share
in the public school donations and be open
to all in the state prepared to enter its
courses, pay matriculation fees and COM
ply with its regulations. The little terri
tory of Wyoming has already opened a
fonr-story building. 100 feet long, at Lara
ME city and appropriated $4,000 per year
for its expenses. The best compliment
that | ever received for my educational la
bors was the statement made TO me BIZ ex-
Delegate ). w. Downey. OF that place, in
1857. when he said. 1T was your work
and your educational enthusiasm in the
early days of our territory that planted
this university" Our territory has neg
leeted the university under the impression
that free higher education is special ad-
vantage TO the rich mans children. A
careful examination of our university roil
will show that a large majority OF the stu
dents are working to pay their way or saw
ing carefully the hard-earned money of
their own past labor. The large families
are among the poorer classes and the 500
tuition given 10 3 student during four
years course are hundred times repaid
in his increased ability 10 serve the state in
politics, in invention, ia rousing his peers
to higher ideas. The state could well al
ford Ia educate a thousand ounces, even.
for the sake of one Edison or faraday.
Besides. If the rich men 10 get al adyan-
tage, do they not pay for liz The poor man
has family without means. the rich has
means without children. Each helps the
other. When the Old World was signing
Tor wealth and room a poor, fatherless
young draughtsmsn was preparing TO give
to his sovereign new world.
Not till the quick intuition OF woman
offered her private jewels for the expedition
did Columbus get the ear OF Ferdinand.
That expedition gave America 10 the East,
Mexico. Florida, Central America and
Peru To Spain. We are today on the
frontier. The boy Is growing who is 10 link
japanese commerce with Puget sound and
realize the dream aroused in Columbus by
Marco Polo's "Cipango." one-ffth OF a
mill on our state assessment roll would
give the university 81. 600 per year. with q
continual increase. man worth $4,000
would pay s. per year. while millionaire
wouIa only pay for Ave students. 500
This would give university whose fame
would be worthy the name Of Washington.
The best site Is found In school section No.
l6. living on Union bay, containing, accord
ing 70 whitworth & Thompson's maps,
a5i "A acres. The northwest eighty of
this would make beautiful site. while the
whole section decided TO the university Of
Washington in trust coal6 he so leased on
long term as &c make an ever increasing
fund. 10 make this the leading university
OF the West. perhaps OF America
rHE BEsr rsGSs POSSIBLE.
Probate Judge Richard Osborn, when
asked for MS opinion upon the plan. said
There Is no question but that the plan 10
move the university IS a good one The
present ste u no place for an educational
institution IL would he Il good thing FOR
the university and for the health and
rsorals If the boys II il vas moved ont 10
lake Washington. or at least asay from
the central position IL now occupies And
the ground heing 50 valuable Is another
reason why il should be moved. As for
putting the county buildings on She present
grounds Of the university. ! think that i