St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-11
WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
The Norwegian Luther College
May Be Removed From DEBORAH
to st. Paul.

Inc norwegian Luther COllegc
May Be Removed From DEBORAH
to st. Paul.
There is some probability Of the Nor
wegian Luther college being removed
10 st. Paul or Minneapolis. Assistant
Secretary A. T. Tiesberg, of the railroad
commission, is greatly interested in this
college, having graduated therefrom.
He yesterday gave out the following
statement:
Luther College, DEBORAH, To-, that was de-
stroyed by fire May 10 last, was built twenty
five years ago by voluntary contributions by
the members Of the Norwegian Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of America and has been
maintained in like manner by voluntary con-
tributions. At the time the college was built
the synod had only about so ministers: now
it has over $50. Its congregations are found
chiefly in the following states: Wisconsin,
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota, but
they are also found in less numbers in Maine,
New York. Massachusetts, Ohio Michigan,
Nebraska, Kansas, California, Oregon and
twenty-five years ago DEBORAH was about
the western boundary of Scandinavian settle
ment, and it was thought that In the future
it would be the center. Now the center is
more nearly at the Twin Cities. Luther Col
lege ranks high as an educational
institution and its regular course is seven
years of ten months each. 1t has nine profess
sors, and from $50 to $50 students year.
Up to June 80 1883. 204 of its students had
graduated, and the total number of students
who had attended the college was $3.50.
Those Of its graduates who desire to study
theology pursue the course at Luther SEM
mary, now located at Parker station, suburb
of Minneapolis. The value of the property
of the college at DEBORAH, consisting of thirty
acres of land, three residences, q smaller
building used as dormitory, barn and the
foundation of the main building, which was
destroyed. is estimated to be worth $4,000,
if the college is rebuilt at DEBORAH. The
original cost Of the building destroyed was
100000. A strong desire exists. particu
larly in Minnesota and Dakota, and also
Northern Wisconsin, to remove the college to
some more central and accessible locality,
and location between st, Paul and Mime
apolis would be most desirable. But, unless
a substantial bonus in both land and money
is offered, the society. will necessarily have
to rebuild at DEBORAH, where they already
have SO much available land and other prop
erty. On the other hand, it is thought that
if the college was located at the Twin Cities
its attendance would soon increase to 200 or
more, and thus also necessitate an increase
in the number of professors. The location
of the college is lett IN the hands of COM
mittee of thirty men chosen at the annual
meetings of the three districts of the synod,
and this committee will meet on the 18th
inst. at Decorah AZ which time it will prob
Kittleson, of st. Paul, is a member OF this
committee. 1t is understood that La Crosse,
Wis, will come before this committee with
an offer of sufficient land and bonus of
S30,OOO. DEBORAH. of course, will also make
strenuous efforts to have the college rebuilt
there. II ST. Paul and Minneapolis desire to
make any efforts to secure the location of
this institution in their midst, the matter
must at once be taken hold of.
The project to secure the college in
oil of yIy Twin
when. at meeting of the leading Scan
dinavians of St. Paul and Minneapolis,
held in st. Paul, Messrs. A. c. Hodgson,
S. E. Olson. o. E. Bre Ok, of Minneapo-
lis; 81. Sahlgaard. G.. Kittelson, A. L.
Alness, of st. Paul, were appointed a
committee to receive bids in land and
money to secure the location Of Luther
college in this district.