The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-09
HELP THE UNIVERSITY.

The special order in the senate today
will be the bill providing for the es-
tablishment OF the state university on
the new site east of the city, the same
being the sixty-acre tract cut from the
military reservation and conveyed by
congressional grant to the state for this
express purpose.
1t is a good measure and it ought to
become a law.
The time is rapidly approaching when
something will have to be done, not
only to show appreciation of the gen
crosby Of the government, but to take
advantage of a liberal offer that may
be lost entirely through neglect.
one Of the conditions of the grant
was that, within a certain fixed period,
permanent occupation of the site for
university purposes should be shown.
The time has been extended once.
Owing to the storm of distrust which
certain busy-bOdies are creating in the
east for the purpose of injuring the
credit and standing OF Utah, it may not
be so easy to have the time limit post
poned again.
The value of this new site to the
state is variously estimated at from
$200,0 600 to $500, 900. 1t is q gift worthy
of acceptance.
But, aside from these pecuniary in
ducemeHts, the needs of the university
are crying for legislative attention. 1t
has outgrown its present quarters. It
must have room if it would expand,
and the demands upon it are constantly
increasing.
The requirements of a great educa-
tional institution like this deserve seri-
Gus and ever favorable consideration.
OF course, its removal from the old
to the new site win necessitate an ex-
penditure Of money. This is unavoid-
able. But the object is desirable, the
emergency pressing and the means
available.
Any further outlay on the old site is,
in the opinion of many business men,
money wasted. Yet there will have to
be an appropriation for increased ac-
commodatiOns, whether a removal is
decided upon or not.
It may require some 100000 to pre-
pare the reservation site and to erect
sufficient buildings for the use of the
university at the beginning of the COM
ing college year. There are ways to
realize almost every dollar Of the sum
needed without any serious inconYen-
fence to the state.
The state board of land commission
ers reports that the proceeds from the
sale of university lands to date amount
to SIPS, 440, and from those of the school
of mines $443. Interest to the amount of
$40, 1880 has accumulated on investments
made for the benefit of the institution.
OF this total of $145, S63 the sum of
S94, OPS has been invested in govern
ment, city and school bonds, while $24,-
O10 is held in mortgage loans.
There is a. cash balance on hand of
S27.S2S. To this may be added United
States bonds and accumulated premi-
ums thereon, $37, 800, showing an avail
able fund on hand of 500, 62S. The old
buildings and site ought to be worth
something to the city for high school
purposes, and there should be some
way to dispose of them to the interest
of the university.
Il really seems that the land COM
missioners might easily convert lands
and assets TO the amount of 100000
within the next three months. This
would equal one-half the loan contem-
plated in the bill-one-half the amount
actually needed TO permanently locate
the university on the new site.
It is hoped that the legislature win
take a favorable view of this matter