The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-12
UNIVERSITY LANDS.
The Old Charge of Fraud Ex-
amined.
LETTER FROM Mr.. sAGLes
ne Details the History of the Land Grant
Prom the beginning and Defends
Its Administrative.
SEATTLE. Jan. 10 lSN

nary 3. an artic.e in regard 80 university
matters appeared, aud in the concluding
paragraph Senator Thompson, OF Pierce
eoGnty, IS quoted as saying, Unfortunate-
" the grant of university lands has been
sq,iandered so there is but a small pit
tanee left y etc. In another issue Rev. ID.
J. Pierce. one OF the university professors,
Is made to say about the same.
From the time OF completion of the uni
yersiEy buildings this talk of '.sQnaHder-
Ing. coupled with charges OF fraud, cor
rupsIon, dishonesty and theft, - in connec-
sion with university matters, have been
made In the legislature. on the platform
and in the public press. Inspired origi-
naliy by political partisanship and tie
rivalry OF other communities who desired
10 have the university located III their own
towns, the changes have been rung in these
words, By those who know nothing of the
facts, from that day to this.
That the university grant has been
sqaandered is here emphatically disputed.
In this connection short historical re-
view will be ia place.
Washington territory was separated from
Oregon IN lisa. and in the organic act two
townships of land were set apart for uni
yersity purposes. Including the capital,
the penitentiary and the asylum for The
insane. the university at once became the
subject of legislative barter and sale, and
ali Of these institutions were kept on
wheels for several years, each legislature
locating and relocating them at different
places from year 10 year. The university
was located at Seattle and branch at
Beisport, Lewis county, January %. 1875.
each institution to nave one of the town
ships OF land for its support and endow
msnt. January %. 1865, that law was re-
peaied and the university located "on the
Cowlitz Farm Trairie in the county OF
Lewis, and the two townships we're al
lotted 10 it. University commissioners
were appointed several shines TO select
these lands. but they failed, from some
cause. to use the powers conferred upon
them. There seems TO have been no Ques-
ton in those days as TO the power Of terri
torial legislature TO control not only the Sc
lection, but disposal of these granted lands.
Hon. A. A. Denny was the member from
King county III the legislative council OF
lsHo-6l, and to his efforts in that body are
largely due the location of the university
at Seattle. and the consequent selection
and sale OF lands and erection of the uni
versity buildings here.
In the act of location Messrs Daniel
Bagley, John Webster and Edmund Carr
were named as commissioners. Messrs.
Bagley and Webster are still living in
Seattle, and their lives aud regulations
have been known to their neighbors here
for thirty years. Mr.. Carr died here about
three years ago, widely known and uni
yersaliy respected at the first meeting OF
said board Mr.. Bagley was chosen chair
man and most OF the active work OF that
body was performed by him. with the fun
knowledge, counsel and consent of the
others. Hon. Arthur Denny. vino became
early in 1851 register of the land Office at
Olympia Governor William Pickering. APP
pointed executive OF the territory about the
same time; Rev. George Whitworth, then
OF Olympia, now of Seattle; Charles G..
Terry. esq, and Franklin Matthias, esq,
then leading citizens of Seattle, ali were
| firm friends of the institution and of the
commissioners. and gave frequent and
valuable sid and counsel in the manage
| ment OF affairs.
The commissioners and those favorable
! to location Of the university at Seattle, de-
/ teFmined 10 lose no time in selling lands
and putting up buildings. SO that it should
/ be Impossible 10 again put it ION wheel"
as hsd SO often been done.
| After consultation with Arthur Denny
/ and Charles Terry, the present site of ten
acres was selected and decided for univers-
/ ity purposcs-M Mr.. Denny giving about
eight and one-third acres and Mr. Terry, for
/ Terry & Lander, giving the remainder.
/ The dividing line between the two tracts
/ runs west from near the southeast corner
/ Of the grounds and passes under the uni
/ veFsity building. From this Is will be seen
/ that in case this tract should be sold for the
| purpose OF occupying another, larger and
/ further from the city deeds would have TO
/ be obtained from A. A. Denny and wife.
the heirs Of Charles Terry and from Ed
/ ward Lander, nov of Washington City, Ii
! is understood The city of Seattle has =
/ reversionaTy interest in the tract but, for
the purposes named above. IL would Ger
I sainly join in The deed This would be a
/ matter of equity on the part Of the city.
I as il has had the benefits Of the Institution
I for nearly thirty years, and only the older
residents can realize the magnitude OF
! these
The tract vas then covered with a dense
/ and uRbrokea forest that reached down
toward the bay across what Is nov laird
4 street: 10 the south toward the village
i down 20 the north side Of Columbia street.
aud toward the east and north 90 Lakes
/ Union and Washington. The clearing OF
7 this site WAS allotted in aere tracts e in.
f diyldaais, who were paid from S77s % s3I7
per acre and who received from SIS 10 81
per day for their work, thus showing the
/ heavy nsture OF the clearing. Of those en-.
gagged IN this work. HilloTy Butler. I. B.
Andrews, samuel J Holgste and e. r.
Basley Of Seattle, James J. Crow. OF Kent
aud lrs Wooden. ol Woodenville, are stii
residents OF tais county. This work was
began early Is March issii, and was com
( pleted IN about two months
OF she furty-eiEht persons who names
appear on the pay r0sis IS carpenters, ma
seas, plastereFs, painters, seansseFS and
& mechanics and lahorers. @. e. shorey, o.
! J. Carr thomas Mercer, David Graham
y Il Ward A1si A. = FinkaSm, sui Ifvine
here and ire SIX named IN the paragraph
+ ahsoYe, are all that are lefE. 81 tue Others
: eiehtsen are knowh 70 Re dead Aaa The
Z remainder are scattered 81 ever The wofid
1hs mast frequent objections made ia
sAoSe days 80 TIE site chosen we've ia /.
tao fsf cas- ia tie Woesis. Too Tar from
taaR etc. Tie town~ tAen incluaed
iast orr score married couples snd per
aaqz. az tclsl. 10 wh5se inhabitants.
TIE xoveTnment pgice 81 lands IN ihoss
( DAYS MAs 81 = Al aere. and great gaAns
thousand acres weFe then and fos ten wears
Ns.er open 20 purchase As tssag price Th-
vtsc~ * university aaaas w&s axed Is -,
, legislature 81 sIsa per acre, bat i being z
I ysus.sar8as cases e&saer ~ bsv fgsssn sbs