Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-12-29


village located at place among the
y Palouse hills which was called
"Three Forks" Three streams min.
gled their waters there. This little
village is Pullman. In 1890 it had a
population of S6S, but was growing
rapidly. The town was very ambi-
tious to make place for itself. Fire
had destroyed it three times. Tn
daunted, its citizens rebuilt. Early
in its history the citizens of Pullman
: had shown a deep interest in educa-
tional matters, establishing the first
school in 1880. But these ambitions
were not only for sonmon schools,
but for Institutions of higher learn
ms, and found early expression in
the establishment and support of the
Pullman Military College.
In 1889 statehood was granted TO
the territory of Washington. In ac-
cordance with the Enabling Act
passed by Congress earlier in the
year, $4,000 acres of land were
granted for the maintenance OF an
agricultural college and 100000
acres additional for the support of a
school of science. The first legis-
lature of tho newly admitted state
Of Washington took steps for the ac-
ceptance of this land grant and the
establishment and location of col
lege in accordance with the pro-
visions set forth by the Federal gov
eminent. In the legislative act ap-
proved March %, 1890, these plans
were made for the establishment of
commission known as the Commits
sion of Technical Instruction" estab-
fishing an Agricultural College and
School Of Science, and providing for
its location by the commission. From
available material it is not clear
whether this commission was ever
appointed. Later, there was a com
mission consisting of the Hon. Tom
Smith of Colfax, the Hon Ed Winson
OF North Yakima, and the Hon. G.
Ferguson of Snohomish, but it did
not seem to have the powers dele gat-
ed to the original commission. 1t
was, nevertheless, empowered to Sc
lect location for the college.
Pullman was busy long before this
bill had been passed. The citizens
had been organized to act as a unit
IN their request for the college. Be
lore the bill had been approved by
tne governor the Pullmanites sent a
telegram to the chief executive of the
state, setting forth the advantages of
the Palouse country for the work of
an agricultural college and expert
ment station, mentioning its artesian
water and offering 100 acres of ex-
cellent land to the state, should the
college be located there. When the
locating commission came to Pull
man, the message had been sent to
the farmers for miles around to come
10 town and hitch their teams in a
conspicuous place so as to show the
commission that Pullman was a trade
center The commissioners received
the greatest attention, but when they
met to decide on the location the
member who lived in Colfax voted
ior ColfaX, the North Yakima mem
per voted fer North Yakima, and the
west side member voted for Spokane.
since none would yield they could
not agree upon any site and were
Obliged to report their failure to the
legislature.
ms failure to agree upon loca-
tlon was not surprising to anyone
VINO knew the difficulties encount-
ered. There were many ambitious
towns and cities in the state that
wanted this plum" Spokane, North
iaklma, Colfax, Walla Walla, and
Fullman were all very eager to have
It, with no progress having been
NhO Pl NV ioAOhS ~
iirst legislative act, a substitute act
was passed by the second legislature
ana approved March 3, 1891. This
act provided for the appointment OF a
board of five regents to assume the
management of the college and eX-
pertinent station and for commits
SION OF three to locate the institu-
uon. A limitation as to the person
mel and activities of this commission
was that none of the members should
oe from any county east of the Cas-
caue mountains and that the institu-
'ioh should be located on the east
sue and in county not already haV-
ing state institution. This pro-
vision regarding the choice of loca-
'ion not already having a state instr
tuition was inserted at the suggestion
Vi Pullman, so as to place Spokane
ana Walla Walla out of consideration
anu leave the matter to be fought