Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-03-14
Where Must Willamette Uni
verSity Haye her Future.
NEW SITES COMPARED.
The Advantages of the Two LO-
cations Given--Their De-
merits Exposed.


her present site. The friends of the
two proposed sites speak in high |
praise of the one most favored by |
them. When friends are mentioned, |
it is understood to mean those who
have interest at stake in where the
school shall be located. Those who
have no pecuniary interest involved
only look to the condition in which
the school will be placed by being
removed. The location of school
in Fairmount park would have
many advantages unknown to any
other site near Salem. 1t is over
looking the city, all the public build
ings can be easily seen, the big
bridge is in plain view and the lay
of the land is all that could be asked.
From Commercial street rise modi-
fed after short distance to Il gentle
slope to the top of the hill, then
gradual decline to the west, which
euds with an abrupt hill covered
with second growth of tall fir.
This grove would make an excellent
breastwork to break the force of the
southwest rains and winds. Its To-
cation would be out of the city
proper, vet near enough to have all
the privileges of water, lights and
the other benefits of city life. The
large stones which stud the hill
could be brought into use in the
foundations of any building which
NAV be erected. The place would
doubtless be healthful one, which
is to be considered in selecting site.
The same can be said of the other
twosites which have been mentioned
in South Salem as has been said of
Fairmount, except in regard to being
slightly. 1t surpasses either of the
others in that respect.
The disadvantages of any of the
the proposed sites on the south is
they are too near the cemetery, the
lands bordering on two sides of it.
While the school could be placed at
a convenient distance from it they
would have lands for sale much
nearer. Few people desire to buy
home adjoining graveyard. The
land in South Salem offered the |
school does not lie in body. This
would be serious objection; it
would not give the school an oppor-
tunity to handle its property to
good advantage. The school would
be too far from the railroad, making
il q mile from the Southern Pacific
depot. These are few of the things
which may be said for and against
the proposed locations on the south.
The north proposition has its adj
vantages also. The body of land is
larger and could be handled advan- !
tageously to the school. A pOstoffice I
and depot could be had near at hand.
The trains running by the very
door of the school would be great
advertisement, if it was kept in
proper repair. The land is rich and
productive. The suburban town
could be incorporated with special
privileges for the benefit of the
school. Here, as on the south, it
would be out of the business part of
the city aid the students would
have less to attract their attention
from the pursuit of their studies.
The demerits of this location are
probably fewer than either of the
others and less can be said in its ia
vor, 1t is too far from the city. Sa
lem is not large enough to compel a
school to go out three miles or more
to find room. The students from the
city would find it too far to attend, 4,
and the college vicinity could not af-
ford accommodation for all those who
should attend. Some have even
doubted it being as healthful loca- ,
ton as the others. 1t would be years
before the lots could be sold for resi- !
dence purposes, and ii is too high for
garden lands. While there is large
tract of land it is possible 1t could
not be turned into money as readily
as that on the south.
In moving the school to a new
site the interest of the school, not only
for the present, but for all time to ,
come should not be lost sight of amid ,
he personal interests which may ac-
crue. Portland endeavoring to start
a great Methodist school, only makes G
a greater caution necessary that the q
be put on a firm basis, G
not Only to compete with that school =
but to lead ,as she has in the past, the
educational interests Of the noFth7
west. There is ROOM for the confer
evce 10 study whether the Methodist
church is prepared to maiutain two I
schools and make them both first
Dlass. Some people think it ia giving 4
room for some other denomination .
TO step in and lead in establishing a
great school.
The board of trustees meet next
"Wednesday evening to settle this
matter. 1t has been under consider v
alton for nearly year and the board s
should be familiar by this time ~ te
the needs Of lhe Seheal sna nov
they nsy be remedled. Should it
he decided IN rrltaatte The sChUOl two