The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-19
TO STUDY ITS NEEDS.
Legislative Committee Visits
the State University.
HOPE FOR THE NEW BUILDINGS.
Overcrowded Condition Of the school
Apprseiatsd-Status Of the Uai.
versity Lands Explained.

The joint legislative committee to visit
the state university arrived in the city
Friday evening and put in the whole day
yesterday visiting the old site and the
buildings. All the rooms in the old build
ings were found to be very much over
crowded and the legislators very soon be-
came unanimous in the opinion that new
buildings were absolutely necessary, and
there will undoubtedly be q determined
effort made to start at once the erection Of
buildings adequate to the needs OF this i'm
portant educational institution.
After visiting the old site, the buildings,
the interesting natural history collection
OF the Young Naturalists' Association,
the committee proceeded to the Office Of
the architect, w. f. Boone. who was en-
pioyed by the university land and build
ing commission to draw plans for the new
university, and very carefully inspected
those designs and took testimony from the
architect. President Catch, Prof Taylor,
Maj. Hayden, who il president pro tenn
pore OF the board of regents, as we'll as
secretary of the university land and build
ing commission: Fred G. Plummer, the
commissioner engineer. John Arthur,
who Is president pro tempore OF the
building commission; Regents w. ID.
Wood and David Kellogg and others.
Then tho COMMITTEES proceeded to the
office Of the building commission in the
Peoples Savings bank and while there
they secured some valuable testimony
about the old and vexed question Of the
titles Of the old university land grant.
This entire question, though it has puzzled
legislative committees for the past twenty
years. now bids fair to be settled as salts
factorily as Is possible with the records
that have been preserved religiously all
these years by Rev. Daniel Bagley. who
was first in charge of these matters from
1861 to 1867. Mr.. Bagiey has agreed to
throw all the light possible on all these
matters and hundreds of people through
out the state will rejoice to learn that soon
many of the questions pertaining to this
old grant will be cleared up satisfactorily
This morning the committee will meet
at the Chamber of Commerce at 10 O'Clock
and proceed to the new site selected tor
the ersity and give it q careful in
spection.
The people Of Seattle will be glad to
learn that the committee is we'll pleased
and will do all in ito power to give to the
University of Washington an impetus that
will start it on the high road towards ac-
quiring the position it is entitled to-the
apex of all the states educational institu-
tons.
The joint legislative committee ap-
pointed to visit the university consists of
Senator Charles E. Claypool. of Tacoma,
who has been elected chairman: Senator
Trusten +. Dyer. of Seattle, and Repre-
sentatives Frank B. Turpin. of Port
Townsend; J. s. Smithson. Of Ellensburg.
and Edmond S. Meany, of Seattle. Mr.
Meany is chairman Of the university and
normal school committee, and he expresses
himself as very confident that the univer-
sity, of which he and his wife were
both graduates in the class of 1885, has
now an excellent chance of being
made great educational institution. Il
will feel" said he last evening, 'if can
help do some good for that good old
school, that will have something to look
back to with pride all the balance of my
life."
Representative Smithson, when he had
passed through the crowded rooms of the
university, said: "Well. have never seen
this old university before and know We
have public school building in Ellensburg
that can double discount this and l am
willing now to help you in any way to get
better accommodations"
The other members of the committee
were equally enthusiastic in their express
sions Of Willingness to aid in re -establish-
ing the University Of Washington in a
way that will reflect credit to upon the en-
tire state.
The members of the committee are very
anxious to finish their duties here, in order
to return to Olympia to take up their
labors at the capital.