Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26
the secretary, is kept busy furnishing in
formation concerning conditions and op-
pOrfvpif{eS here


formation concerning conditions and op-
portunities here.
The year 1903 was the best period Of
growth and development i'm the history
of the town. Several hundred new fam
lilies were added to the population; three
hundred new dwellings were built; scores
of new farms were purchased from the
idle land Of rich owners and are now
under the plow or planted to orchards.
During the present year the movement IS
continued with even greater ACTIVITY. "A
number of substantial brick and steel
business blocks have been erected and
contracts have been signed for others.
Ground has been broken for new build
ing for Willamette University. Several
miles of street pavement are being laid /:
several new firms have commenced hus1-
ness, and prices. as well as the volume
of crops, are better than ever before.
In 1914 a town was laid out around the
Methodist mission at Chemekete, and they
called 1t Salem in honor of an ancient
city on the Massachusetts coast. In 1851
a state convention called to meet at
Salem. adopted a constitution and Pc
tition to Congress for admission to the
Union, which was granted in 1859. ana
Salem was selected as the capital OF the
new state by popular vote over the
town of Eola. beautifully situated on the
hills about four miles up the river. It is
said that the winning argument was tnat
Salem had the best hotel, which carries
moral with it. Eola is today sleepy
village Of about fifty inhabitants. and Its
only claim to consideration Is that II was
once the rival Of Salem.
Group of Imposing Structures.
The state house is fine building, with a
dome and a portico supported by series
Of Greek columns. The federal building
is a beautiful structure of classic design,
and the two, with the county courthouse,
make a group of imposing structures, oc-
cupying park in the center OF the city,
which is we'll kept and very attractive.
Willamette University has group or
handsome buildings, occupying a campus
of about twenty acres, adjoining the capi-
tol grounds.
The university is the outgrowth of Jason
Lees Indian school, and has history as
entertaining and romantic as that OF any
educational institution III the country. In
1910 a shipload of Methodist missionaries
were beating their way slowly up the
western coast of South America on the
tedious, and afforded them time to discuss
every subject that was in their minds.
One of the most important from tnelf
point of view was the establishment or
school in Oregon for the education OF their
own children, and they agreed that 1t must
be established as soon as possible after
their arrival. So earnest were they that
from their meager purses they subscribed
the sum of S6GO for the purpose. The
money was intrusted 10 the hands OF
committee, but, for various reasons. could
not be used until 1874, when it was made
the nucleus of fund to establish high
school or academy known as the Oregon
institute.
University Established.
In 1853 Willamette University was Or
ganized and incorporated upon that foun
datiou and has since been doing great
service as the only educational institution
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
Pacific northwest. The sacrifices of the
pioneers and the missionaries who founded
it have borne rich fruit. But five colleges
out Of fifty-four under the care Of the
Methodist Church are Older than Villa
mette University, and none has done bet
ter work or produced more influential and
useful men, 1t has a college course OF
four years: 1t is also an academy and
normal school. and has schools Of oratory,
music, theology. law and medicine. The
school of theology was founded In 1906 by
DIR. and Mrs. Fl. D. Kinball, and a. E.
Eaton of eastern Oregon recently erected
a building for the school of liberal arts
which cost $4,000, and was completed
Ex-senator Booth of Eugene, Ore, has
contributed literally to the endowment
fund.- and other generous friends have en-
HANGED its usefulness.
The president of Willamette University
Is Rev. DIR. Homan, graduate Of Simpson
College, Iowa, and Of Garrett Biblical
School of Northwestern University, Illi-
nois
The alumni are holding prominent posi-
lions and exercising dominating force In
the development Of this state. Three
judges of the Oregon supreme court. Chief
Justice Ailshire of Idaho, Gov. Sleeves.
Representative Hawley and other public
men have been educated here.