The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-24

ly captured by this fascinating offer
which looked SO fine on paper, and
moved that the Assembly at once accept
the brilliant proposition But in some
way action was deferred until the next
day, although it was with great difficulty
the whole Assembly was prevented from
accepting the offer ut once. We were
simply startled by the dispatches the
next morning. and three or four of us had
to keep the telegraph wires hot trying
to convince the Assembly that the whole
thing was a real estate speculation, and
ought to be promptly discarded, but We
labored in vain. so beautiful wae this
paper offer And the best result we
could secure was to have the matter re-
ferred to the Board OF Aid for Colleges
| for investigation This investigation
| showed that the location would be sui
cidal for a college, and that the lots
| could not be sold at any price.
The next movement was connected with
| DR. Sheldon Jackson's generous offer on
condition that a suitable site Of not less
| than fifty acres should be contributed by
| the men Of means in the city. Mr.. Gill
| s. Peyton took the matter up, and Of
| fered nifty acres Of most beautiful ground
on the Crismon farm. a mile south OF the
present site, provided the trustees
would locate the college there. The
| trustees accepted the offer. but after a
| short time 1t WAS discovered that the To-
| cation was too far from the city, and
| the college was anxious to be released
! from tho obligation, Fortunately, the
new owners of the ground were glad TO
give this release,
Then. the last OF November. 1901. the
college board appointed DR.. George
Bailey. the Rev. Mr. McClaln and myself
a committee to confer with Col, William
M Ferry. also a member OF the board.
and ask him TO give us this ground here
fHr had
horseback over all this valley, looking
at various locations for the college and
had come very definitely TO the conclusion
that this tract OF twenty acres was by
far the most beautifully located OF all,
taking into account that IL was In reach
of street car accommodations, city light
and city water. Col. Ferry readily saw
the great Importance OF the matter, and
wished n few days for consideration. In
ten days he sent for me and gladdened my
heart, saying he had decided to purchase
this ground for the college, II | would
take charge Of negotiating with the dlf-
ferent owners Of lots. For three months
I worked night and day to complete these
negotiations, and after great dihieulty
succeeded. So much for the history ol
securing this college ground.
Talks of College Work.
Now. for few words about the college
work for the past nine years. AFTER
reslgning my position as pastor Tor
twenty years OF the First Presbyterian
church. and while l was considering
what work 1 would take up. received two
stirring appeals from Gen. John Eaton OF
Washington, D. c., who was the college
president, and from DR., Sheldon JACKSON
one of the trustees, urging me 70 devote
the rest of my life 20 this college en-
terprlse I should have said that Gen
Eaton was elected president In the sum-
mer of 1895, and continued as president
until January, 1902, doing a very Inn
portan5 work for the college Dr. Jack
son generously being responsible lot MS
salary for FIVE years.
These two men knew that | had spent
several years as teacher, and was IN
terested in teaching He urged me to or
ganize college work and make begin
ming Of freshman class " | could not
secure more than three students One OF
the most fortunate things l ever did for
the college was the securing OF that
thorough scholar and most efficient IN
structor, George B. Sweaney. who taught
with me in the college for seven years.
with the exception OF one years leave o1
absence to pursue special studies in Ger
many at the University OF Bonn. He mas
been bound to the Collegiate Institute as
principal the past two years, but ne pc
to take charge of an important depart
ment in the college after another year
There have been many dark days the
mast nine years. many months Of great
anxiety, when ! could do little but pray
10 God for help. Still 7 never lost faith
I'm the ultimate strength OF this enter
prise for I knew God was behind 1t, and
that many earnest souls were also pray
ing for it
The first real encouragement to me-
and TO all the trustees, came on that
joyful day In December. 1901. when Col
Ferry announced that he was ready TO
purchase this magnificent site and give
1t 10 the college. God bless his memory.
wonder II he is not looking down on this
joyous scene today
The next encouragement was when
DR., George Bailey was secured for
president In March. 1902. and put In
charge of the colleges valuable property
In Washington. Then came the compile
ton OF the beautiful college chapel In
March, 1905.
The next encouragement is connected
with DR.. Stevenson. At my earnest re-
quest he and his wife came from Lincoln.
Neb.. last August. and spent week at
our house. TO look over the situation
the college, The result was.
the trustees unanimously elected him
president; he accepted and has been
president since the first of last November.
From that day to this there has been a
strong, steady. progressive movement.
Two other great and encouraging
things I must mention. One is the grand
and successful work OF our most brave
and efficient old friend, DR.. S. e, Wishard.
Beginning last November a campaign for
the college in the East, in three months
he raised over s2S, 900 in cash. May God
bless and keep him, and give him many
victories over there In California.
The other most bright and encourag-
Ing thing was the very generous and
timely gift OF s15000 toward the womans'
by Mrs. Ferry last April, pro-
vided the women shall raise the remain
ing $4,000.
The future prospects OF the West
minister college are NJ bright as this