The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-23
THE UNIVERSITY BILL.

The bill introduced in the House by
Mr.. Nebeker on Monday fairly places
before the legislature the question of
the union of the University and the
Agricultural College. about which so
much has been said and published.
1t boldly proposes to blend the two
institutions as one, and to make the
Agricultural College buildings at Logan
the site of the institution.
The University is to be what its
name implies--the highest branch of
the educational system of Utah. It
is to include schools of art, of letters,
Of general science. of agriculture, of
mining engineering, civil engineering,
mechanical engineering. electrical engi-
neering, normal school, etc. The whole
institution to be under a board of nine
regents to be appointed or elected, as
may be provided by law, and to hold
their offices six years. A number of
minor provisions are made and the bill
appears to have been we'll considered.
We believe the preponderance of pub
lie sentiment is in favor of uniting the
two establishments. The promoters of
union certainly have made the better
showing in the arguments that, have
been presented. Experience in other
parts of the country also favor it.
Greater efficiency can be had at much
less cost than by maintaining separate
institutions
That there are difficulties in the way
of uniting them no one seems to dis
pute But these are likely to increase
the longer the union is postponed. The
University should embrace a congress
of schools or colleges and a school of
agriculture be one of them. But if
the union is effected the questions arise,
where shall the University be located?
If in either place-Logan or Salt Lake
what shall be done with the vacated
site and buildings? Also, if the tract
of land asked for from the Fort Doug
las reservation should be obtained,
would the location of the University on
that spot be a condition?
There appears to be some very good
reasons why Logan should be the place
for the University. The Agricultural
College grounds comprise los acres and
the buildings have cost about $780, 600.
They are much better adapted than
are the University grounds and build
ing for the entire purpose. The latter
are inadequate even for. present re-
auirenents There must be some ap-
preparations for each institution in
order to carry them on separately, and
if the amount was expended for the
united institution, less would need to
be spent on the Logan establishment
than if the present Salt Lake site were
chosen.
The University buildings and
grounds would revert to this city.
They could be well utilized for a high
school The Fort Douglas ground. if
obtained. could be sold for a good
figure and applied to the University
interests wherever located, unless the
cession carried with it an obligation to
build on that ground.
But Salt Lake city and county
would no doubt interpose objections to
the removal of the institution, which
received its birth here and has grown
up as one of the adjuncts to this city.
People naturally take pride in the
capital and desire the chief educa-
tional institution of the state to be
reared there. The proposal to move it
to Logan will meet with much oppo-
sition, but that will proceed more from
the standpoint of local interests than
the question of the general good.
The subject must be studied in all its
bearings, and mere sectional desires
ought not to prevail on this important
matter. Were it not for the fact that
appropriations will have to be made
for immediate expenses in each of these
educational establishments, we would
have preferred to see the whole ques-
ton postponed until statehood is
achieved. when the new state could
decide on something permanent, for
the general welfare.
AS it is, the question will have to be
considered at the present session of
the legislature and something practical
ought to come from the plans that
have been proposed. the visit to the
Agricultural college. and the discus
sion that has taken place between the
advocates of the respective theories
and claims.