Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1889-11-16
THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
The Independent says:

The Independent says: Nv.
The Great Falls TRIBUNE returns to /
the question of the location of the state
university. and very good subject for
discussion it is. Referring to our COM G
ment on its previous article it says:
The Independent quotes the TRIBUNE I
and says:
We do not think the TRlBuNE's objec.
tion IS valid While it is true the new
university will have a munificent land
endowment from the general govern
ment, it will be many years before 1t can
get a sufficient income from that source.
The lands set apart for school purposes
should be sold sparlngly. As far as prac-
ticable the best lands should be leased SO
as to bring in steady and permanent
revenue. This cannot be done IN day
or a year.
The question of ways and means for
founding university merits considerable
consideration. 1t might be done by the
sale of lands, by the issue of bonds based
on such lands-a kind Of mortgage-or
by an appropriation from the state treas
ury. All these means are dependent in
measure upon the general condition OF
the state finances and resources. The |
new legislature should appoint special
committee on the university fund that
would report on the methods adopted to
raise money for such purposes elsewhere.
But the new university should he es-
tablished at once 1t is q pity that the boys
and girls Of Montana, after completing the
| preparatory course, must go to other ana
| distant states to secure the advantages
thew ought to have here free of tuition.
in the nature of things it will be several
years before any considerable university
| fund can be accumulated. Inc ma
chinery OF the new state will call for
large appropriations, for other purposes,
which means increased taxation, for the
next few years. 1t cannot afford to vote
$4,000 to $150,OO0 for a university now.
Yet one should be started now. Some
wealthy and philosophical man, or the
citizens of some enterprising town should
come forward and advance to the state
sum sufficient to give the university a
liberal cash endowment, the land tor
site and in whole or in part, provide the
necessary buildings.
We answer, we agree with the INDIE
pendent that the university should be
, established at once. We are convinced,
, however, that no adequate fund is to be
: expected from private benevolence or
city subscriptions 1t will be as easy for
; the state to provide liberal appropria-
l ton at the start for the buildings and en-
s dowment as to rely in part on city gifts
y The assessed valuation of Montana is
$ about $67,OOO,OOO. The actual value Of
j. real and personal property, including
It mines exceeds $1OO,O0O,OOO. Most of this
+, property is productive. A levy of only
n two mills on the hundred millions would
g produce 100000, In a town, worth say
e 81, OOO,O 900, a levy Of 20 cents on the dol
is lar would be needed to raise like
e amount. While the state tax would
hardly be felt, the 20 cent levy would be
II so high as to be impracticable.
II This ought to be done wherever the
n university goes. We assume that Local
is pride would induce whoever offered to
d endow the university in this way to slip
II ulate the place at which it should be To-
g Gated, and if the place were we'll chosen
e say Great Falls, for instance-we
s. should offer no objection to the institu
d ton going there.
N The university will confer great and
e lasting benefits on the town that gets it.
d 1t will make it q literary centre, the
n home of refined and cultivated people,
1t and it will bring money, population and
s. other material advantages as well. Any
10 community that does not contain pop
d uation with sufficient enterprise and
d public spirit to be willing to contribute
a something in return for the establishment
n of such an institution within its borders
re ought not to have it. And we certainly
m see no improperly in such an offer as we
ID have suggested. Wide awake towns IN
Ii other states have secured the location Of
capitals and other public buildings in this
Of way and have benefited themselves and
ly relieved the state of tax burdens at the
e same time
ID We are alive to the benefits which {
ID university confers, but we hold that the
Ne state is still more concerned in securing
re the proper location for such institution
v and for all other state institutions, includ
y. ing the capital. We say so in the inter
a est of all Montana towns, for, excep
al Helena and Butte, there Is no town ii
le Montana that has more than 5000 people
4 4 which implies proportionate resources
is We repeat that Great Falls is disposed t
y. act literally, even generously, by tn
Il state university, and will not be outdon
i. by any town in Montana. But let tn
he state board act in a broad, gel erous mar
Il ner as we'll. z
ct. =-.-:--.---
J.. Take 1t in Time.