The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-14
NOLANDSQUANDERED
Mr.. A. A. Denny on the State
University Endowment.
HISTORY OF LEGISLATION.
Land Could Only Be Selected on Con-
dition That It Be Sold for
Settlement.

The discussion over the location Of new site
for the state university has revived interest in
the history OF the institution, and has resulted
in a renewal of the charge that the lands granted
the university by congress have been squan-
dcred when they should, instead, have been
held until the present time. Mr. A. A. Denny,
who is probably more familiar than anyone liv-
Ing with the facts OF the case, has prepared the
statement touching this matter printed below.
In the course OF q talk on the subject he said
yesterday: "When the commissioners were ap.
pointed to locate university lands we were scat
tered about the wilderness, aud we needed
neignbors to help US develop the country more
than we needed q university. Commissioners
who would have selected our choicest lands to
be withheld from settlement would have done
us great injury. Accordingly the only way was
to take lands under conditions which allowed
sale and settlement"
Mr.. Denny's history OF the matter follows:
SEATTLE, Feb. IL, 1891.
ITO THE EDITOR: Now that the question of
relocation of the State University il being con-
sidered we may, with propriety, look back over
the early history Of the institution and facts
may now be stated without fear of exciting i'll
feeling or jealousy In any quarters thing
which, during portion OF our territorial his
tory, was not possible
sWhen the territory was organized all were
willing to admit that the grant Of land for uni
versity purposes was liberal in its way, but to
Tic titiSeDb vi tue UrTtOTT@ at tnaL time, IL WAS
very much like giving them stone instead of
bread, upon the theory that these lands were to
be selected and reserved for an indefinite per-
iod or for the sole benefit OF those in the distant
future.
AT the second session OF the legislature an
act was passed ON January %, 1885, locating the
university at Seattle, but dividing 1t and plac
ing branch ut Boisfort PLAINS, Lewis county;
and ut the same session, ON January 81, 1855, an
act was passed providing for the selection OF the
land by board OF commissioners, composed OF
board failed to accomplish anything, for reasons
which are easily explained, and which will be
readily comprehended at the present day.
"Imagine commissioner calling on the
lonely settler, perhaps miles from any peighbor,
and asking him to show the best land in his
vicinity in order that il might be reserved from
sale and settlement for long years to come, for
his children must fight the battle as best they
could without support or hope of help What
answer would he give? Come to my table:
night will, if need be, spread my blankets on
the hoor in order to give you bed And do
not ask me to show you where you can best rob
me OF the possibilities OF neighbors for long
"Tfis was the feeling throughout the terri
tory, and 1t was natural; it was right.
January 50, 1858, at tho fifth session of the
legislature, the act OF January 90, 1855, was re-
peaed as might reasonably have been expected,
and the university located on cowIitz prairie,
with a proviso that deed to l60 acres Of land
was first obtained.
"Down to the seventh session of the legisla-
tnre the commission had utterly failed to make
any selections Of land, aud OH January 20, 1860,
an act was passed appointing A. 3. Diiinhaugh,
missiouers to select and locate the lands. This
act repealed the former act of January 81, 1866.
SAT the eighth session of the legislature it was
found that for the reasons heretofore given no
selections had yet been made by the commits
sioners last appointed, and an act was passed re-
locating the university at Seattle, and also an
act appointing Daniel Bagley, John Webster aud
Edmond Carr a board OF commissioners to Sc
lect and locate ten acre site in the vicinity of
Seattle for the territorial university, and to Sc
lect and locate the lands donated by congress to
the territory OF Washington for university pur-
poses. This act was passed January II, 1891, and
not only authorized the selection of the land,
but the sale at a price not less than so per
acre, and the expenditure OF the same by the
the ten-acre site hereinbcfore mentioned. This
was new departure; and new
policy was adopted in regard to university
lands, which, at the time, was popular
with the people OF the territory. Prior TO this
time no lands were obtainable in the territory
except by pre-emption, and, believe, shortly
having already. expired Parties were now
enabled to acquire title to land by direct pur-
chase from the university land commissioners
at $150 per acre, which removed the old
objection to the selection OF the lands. Under
this arrangement ii was not uncommon for
settlers to report land TO the commissioners. and
accompanying the report would DC an appllca-
alt must appear plain to those who now look
over the history OF the case, that the univer-
sity, though mere name or shadow,
had simply been stock in trade
for politicians. But the energy with which the
new board took hold of 1t soon established in on
basis which effeetuaiiy closed the market in
that line, But during most OF this time i has re-
ceiyed very meager support from the legislature,
some sessions nothing at all; while a committee
would perhaps be appointed to visit the institu-
ton, examine accounts, etc.. and the expense
would be charged to the funds arising from the
sale OF the lands. This was done apparently to
punish the friends of the university for blocking
the wheels SO that it could not be rolled around
of old.
''Grave charges were brought against Daniel
Bagley in regard to Encouragement and i'm
proper handling of the funds arising from the
sale of lands; and while he may have been so
far wanting in skill aud business methods as to
have given grounds for dissatisfaction am con-
fdent that there was never any dishonesty in
handling the funds OF the institution, aud am
OF the opinion that there was greater loss 10 the
funds through the expense caused by the
examinations already referred to than by any
act of his.
who were fighting the battles or dong the work
in those early times, but who are now either
dead or on the retired list, in severest terms for
squandering the gift of congress, which 1t is
said ought 10 have been kept until the present
time, in order 10 endow magnificent lnstitu-
ton; but viii venture to say that think those
wise persons who make this charge are, in the
light OF the past, mistaken. 1t is very true that
il one of those townships of land could have
been planted on or even alongside of Seattle,
and the other OF Tacoma, and kept until now,
and we could still have Seattle aud Tacoma, it
would have made a grand endowment fund: or,
to put the matter little more mildly, II the
lands could have been located in the best rural
districts and retained for the benefit OF future
generations without bighting and retardng
the growth OF the country, the value would now
be great. But, eandidly, what policy could have
been reasonably adopted that would have made
the endowment very greatly exceed the value OF
the university property at the present time'
s.let the Pathfinder remember that We sat
down in the wilderness and built, not only one
school, but many. A. A. DENNY"