Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1893-05-26
THE COLLEGE AGAIN.
The Tacoma Ledger says the Regents
will Recommend Removal.
Regents Think They are Location
Commission.

Following the meeting OF the regents
of the agricultural college, in Tacoma,
last Tuesday the article below appeared
in the Tacoma Ledger:
The regents are considering the ques-
ton of refusing to spend any more money
at Pullman on account OF the many un-
satisfactory conditions existing at that
place. For the four acres on which the
$27 900 mechanical engineering building
stands, the state has never received q
deed, but simply holds a bond for it.
From the 10 acres on which the build
ings stand, to the farm OF 1872 acres, Is a
distance OF 900 feet, and the state owns
but a strip 2S5 feet wide connecting these
tracts, and on each side OF the strip the
citizens of Pullman have plated the
land into town lots and are selling them
to any and all classes OF purchasers, who
may, if they like, start saloons, billiard
halls, or any other class OF amusement
places, without any law to close them up.
The reservoir, which is also on narrow
strip, belongs to the state, and although
it. costs the Pullman people but $l25 to
run the pumps, yet the state pays $50 OF
this and furnishes the reservoir. Many
other drawbacks exist which are serious
enough to convince the board that the
college should be removed. They say
that the climate at Pullman is very un-
favorable for several months in the year,
the thermometer registers from 10 to 20
degrees lower than at Yakima, and the
fruits of all kinds are at least two months
behind other portions OF the state. They
are convinced that the climate is such
that great experimental station could
never be realized on the Pullman farm
and that the state could never make a
showing with Oregon on small fruits and
vegetables under the present conditions.
The board has an appropriation OF $780,
600 for an academic building and repairs,
and before proceeding with the work
they will visit Seattle and Olympia, and,
if the sentiment is strong enough, will
attempt to have the removal authorized
by the state legislature. The board left
at noon for Sumner to inspect the land
which has been offered it for an expert
mental station, and to-day will confer
with Governor McGraw at olympia.
1t is evident from the above that Ia
coma sill has it in for Pullman. The
regents themselves have taken position
entirely foreign to their legitimate call
ing and look upon themselves in the
light of locating commission when
their only duty is to run the college as
located to the best of their ability; but
the Ledger has certainly distorted and
distended their ideas.
The work of location and OF inves-
tigation since location, has been COM
pleted and accepted by the state legis-
lature, and the governor appointed five
new regents that the college might be
run successfully, and prove a credit to
Washington. But now, instead OF going
about their work where duty calls them,
they take up the matter OF location, with
which question they have no dealing.
They are paid by the state to run the
college, and not to pick flaws through
personal grievances, with the location.
The regents, through the Ledger, raise
the question OF title to the college prop
erty. That the title is all straight is
proven by the fact that Attorney-Gen-
eral Jones passed favorably upon it.
What better approval is wanted? The
regents will do well to get down to their
duty, and leave things in which they
have no legal right to meddle alone.
The citizens have to-day held an indig-
nation meeting, at which resolutions
refuting the false reports purported to
have been made by the regents were
adopted. 1t was held too late to pub
lish the resolutions this week.