Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-30

the state board of education carefully
investigated the work OF these lnstitu-
lions and the conditions relating there
to, ana by unanimous vote declared
that II was not feasible to attempt con-
solidation." The governor In his mes
sage to the legislature in 1908 express
ed the belief that a further agitation
OF the question would accomplish no
good, and would "be altogether harmful
to the state and detrimental to the
cause Of higher education.'
SITUATION IN IDAHO,
on the other hand In Idaho. where
the land grant college and the state
university are united, q strong effort
was made to secure the passage of a
bill separating these institutions, While
no definite action was taken at the last
session OF che legislature. there is still
strong feeling among a large num-
Der Of the people of Idaho In favor OF
separation
In Wyoming, also. there Is talk Of d.
vldlng the state university. and main
tanning the Immigrant college as sep
arate institution,
In California. $4,000 was appropriate
ed by the last legislature for the pur-
chase of a farm to be used In connec-
college. Suitable land. It Is said. can
be secured in sufficiently large quanti-
ties IN the immediate vicinity OF the
university, and advantage Is taken OF
this TO agltate the question as to wheth-
er the Immigrant college should not
be separated from the university.
IN OTHER STATES.
In some states. whore the Immigrant
colleges are associated with the state
universities. difiiculties have arisen
over questions relating to the rank OF
the colleges or departments of agricul-
ture and mechanic arts with the other
colleges or departments OF the univer-
sity. This was particularly true dur
ing the earlier history OF these lnstitu-
tons.
The conditions affecting the work OF
the state universities and the land
grant colleges are so diverse, and de-
pend so largely upon local environment.
that IL seems impossible 10 work out a
general plan that shall be applicable
throughout the country. But II should
not be impraCtiCable 10 reach an
agreement upon a number of the most
important matters bearing upon this
question. In order TO determine the
relations that should exist between
these institutions. It Is necessary to
consider: first, the origin of state
universities and the object in view in
their establishment second, the func-
tlon and scope of state universities
prior 20 1862. third, the origin Of land
grant colleges and the purpose Of their
establishment; fourth the concurrent
development OF state universities and
Immigrant colleges since 1852; fifth. the
49, q 80
institutions.
The limits OF this paper preclude any
thing like complete discussion Of
these questions. AS a basis for the
conclusions which are to follow, how
ever. It IL important that brief refer
cnce be made to at least few of the
leading features.
ORIGIN OF STATE UNIVERSITY.
The origin of the state university
dates back to the famous ordinance Of
1887 for the government of the north
west territory This ordinance declared
II To be the duty OF. the nation to sup
port education, and reserved two town
ships of public lands IN each state for
the maintenance of seminaries of learn
ing. The states which were subse-
quently organized out OF the northwest
territory carried out the educational
provision OF this ordnance; and
through 80 separate acts of Congress.
passed largely during the first half OF
the last century, all OF the states west
Of the Mississippi received similar land
grants for the endowment OF UNIVERSE
ties. Under these acts. approximately
100000 acres of land were granted for
the endowment Of institutions of higher
education In 22 different states and ter
rltories. The purpose IN view was the
establishment OF a university in each
state under the control OF the common
wealth 20 promote, in the language OF
the ordinance, good government and
the happiness of mankind" The char
acter of the work contemplated for
these institutions Is indicated In the
provision of the ordinance. which de-
clares that the land granted should be
used for the support of literary insti-
tuition, TO be applied to the intended
object by the legislature of the state"
The oldest of these state universities
established under the ordinance Is the
University OF Michigan, founded in 1897.
The University of Missouri was estab-
lished In 1910, and the University Of
Wisconsin in 1913. Most OF the other
state universities have been established
since 1868.
MORRILL, LAND GRANT ACT.
At The time OF the passage Of the
Morrill, Land Grant act In 1862 the
accepted type of higher education was
the four years course OF the old classic
al college. The conventional courses in