Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-04-07
Willamette rnirerstY.

EDITOR JoURLAL. The following
communication is from a representa-
tive of one of the founders of the
Willamette University, who has
lived in Salem and has seen the
growth and work of the school since
it was organized:
Half a century ago Willamette
university was unknown. Salem
was not in existence. There was a
school for indians located on the
Willamette river, some ten miles
north of the present site of Salem.
That was the first school in the Will.
mette valley. There was much dis
cussion about the removal Of that
school to another location, OH ac-
count of the constant Illness, result
ing from the malaria in the low
lands. The employees of the NJ. e
church, few in number at the time,
differed in their views ard the
speeches were fully as heated aud
exhaustive as any Of those of the
present administration bearing upon
its (the Willamette university's) re
moval down near the Indian "Che
mawa" school of today. Willamette
university has never been moved.
The zeal of the committee just al
this time is quite the thing for a real
estate boom. The great expectations
to result from change In locality
may materialize. Greater things
have been accomplished in quarter
of a century. Always, however,
consecrated by spirit of sublime
sacrifice not known in this project
of removal.
If Rev. DIR. Hines, d. D. in his re-
view of another Rev.-in the last
Portland Advocate, is right, one
does not see the necessity of the re-
moyal of Willamette university
from its present site. 1t is like the
man in the Bible who with barns
and storehouses bursting with full
ness said: II will pull down and
build greater" AS Rev. j. L. Par
rish has given name to the Indian
school, we suggest that he
being a pioneer we'll versed IN the
lore of early times Of which, he was
a part, it would be a kindly act, if
not a Christian duty for him to give
some facts relating to its founding
and growth. Some facts in regard
to the present building, how funds
were secured. and about the lands
the university once owned. 1t is
said he gave $4,000, which is well and
praiseworthy. Willamette univer-
sity cost something more than that
Many queries arise among those
not conversant with the early history
of this institution. Would it not be
a good time to speak of some of the
work Of old Oregonians and let the
new comers know some of the work
ings by which Willamette university
was given name and place, and
of the lands which once belonged to
the institution, to be used only for
the benefit of the school and it's
future growth. The time has come
when the lands are needed. Why
are they not available?
One thought more. If, after all
these years, located in the "heart of
Salem," its own land lying all about
the university building, lands donat-
ed by those who might be named,
other donations might come in an
other time. The lands were placed
IN the care of men who have made
"A success of whatever they under
took for themselves. If with all the
aid and gifts to the Willamette uni
versity it does not come up to the
high standard its friends claim for
it, how will it do any better in an
other place under the same manage
ment?
Questions might multiply, and for
today we will not say more.
ONE WHO WAS THERE.