The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-08

bly, at Portland, To which was q commits
sioner from the presbytery of Philsdel-
phia, that, as a guest at the Rainier hotel,
was impressed by the view from its ele-
CANT veranda that West Seattle was just
the site for fully developed university.
an institution of learning which
should be TO the Pacific seaboard
what Princeton is to the Atlantic.
/ was so charmed with the idea that I
crossed one evening with the ferry boat and
was soon whisked to the summit by the
cable line. As stood on that magnificent
elevation and beheld the inspiring view
which nature has provided | gould not
help exciaim!ng to my friend who accom-
panied me: What . glorious spot for a
great university / was 80 fascinated
that crossed three or four different even
ings afterwards. But had no idea then
that it would ever be more than q fancy,
for / returned to the East not knowing of
the Providence that was directing my
pathway to this region of the setting sun.
In few weeks the First Presbyterian
church, as you know. expressed its desire
IN most enthusiastic fashion, the only
way that the Western people have OF do
ing things. that ] should leave the Quaker
City and cast in my lot with the people of
this coming metropolis. It took me some
time to decide what / should do. A great
many things came into my thinking dur.
ing those days and weeks of meditation
among them this vision of great Chris
tan university was by no means least. If
l might be in some way instrumental in
laying the foundation of such an institu-
lion which might be q benefit to humanity
for generations to come after / had fin
ished my earthly work vas a thought that
gave me great impetus toward decision.
But need not 90 into details. Suffice 10
TO say that had no sooner been settled in
your midst that laid my thoughts before
DR. Calvin w. Stewart. the president of
orr present college az Sumner. and before
DIR. George +. Whitworth. the honored
founder of the institution which bears his
name, "a also the organizer of the First
Presbyterian church of Seattle. / did 30
In some hesitation. What was my pleasure.
however, when learned that both of these
gentlemen with that broadness which has
ever characterized them were more than
pleased with the suggestion. The whole
question was. Can We get sufficient land
endowment given rs hy the owners of real
estate 10 make il possible for us to remove
from our present location at Sumner and
develop the college into q full university 2
| set TO work at once to find out But We
had not proceeded far when an offer was
made by two gentlemen representing large
land interests an Tacoma. Our plans had
been noised abroad, although We had
done What we could 10 avoid publicity.
That offer was OF 501 acres of land on
Pacific avenue. seven miles from the post
oihce at Tacoma The board O! trustees
met, received the offer in writing and sp-
pointed a committee Of i've of the trustees,
at which | was made the chairman. TO
visit the proposed site. look into the mat
ter fu ly. with power TO consider any other
ffsF that might be formally made. Ii as
not long before Seattle was IN the field
With It's offer of West Seattle subsidy as an
{nducement 70 the board 70 come this way.
The board subsequently met in October
last and unanimously decided that Seattle
had the more desirable location and offer.
The Boston tract was the spot we laid
our eyes upon. Mr. Herman Chaplin,
president the Boston National bank,
with largeness of vision which IA. en-
a. ed him 10 BE a friend of Seattle enter
prlses ia more ways than one and to COM
maud the respect OF our citizens. kindly
notified Us thar he you i recommend 10
the Vest Seattle Land Company the
deciding OF a ien-aere plat. of which we
we're allowed 10 be the ehoosers. Mr. L.
Il. Aiesx agreed to give as the adjein-
ing ten acres. thus providing Us with
ii fSenty-acTe tract for a campus Of
The most ideal kind. the site selected
being the highest elevation in West Seat
tie. These offers were made. OF course,
upon conditions We are under the ne
eessiGy OF erecting buildings aud i'm
Ist Of January, fsSn. Al the same time
shal We secured tais campus We had,
largely through the fundamentally Of
Nj. Lieweiyn tof Eshelman & LieEeilynl
whose zeal IN this matter has been xoEthy
Of ali praise secured other gafAs OF land
endowment TO a grand iofal, As Mr..
LeseiIyn has assured Us, Of al least 10
acres. We brought these facts before our
Presbyterian SYNOD at Spokane on DC
tober last This synod comprises WASH
ington and Idaho. TIE - hole PROPOSE
aan vas received By tbs synod with the
utmost enthusiasm. and DR.. Stewart, the
president and myself. were appointed 10
repair 10 the East .. committee 10 So
+. tlels subscriptions towards the $4,000 con-
6stion made by The donors o. the real es-
tate endoxm ens.
AS you are aware, have igst returned
from that journey. Dr.. Stewart wiil re-
main East from two 10 three months
/ longer. Sotwithssaudin. the terrible
times we had 10 fsoe. l am CAD to De able
10 report that we had q most encouraging
/ trip | do not feeG at liberty until the
president returns 10 iaform yoar readers
as 20 the resal. OF Our ishnrs- Suffice is 20
say that ve net with s hearty reception
from our Elsn and women Of iarresi
weslth in the East principally in Mes
York City, and EhE. We have been success.
fgI IN arousing the desnezt interest IN oar
whole project / shall De pleased 10 make
public details 81 later psEioa. Il saea -