to the interests of Normal education. The State Industrial University is, however, rendered independent of such incidental aid and support by the munificent Congressional bequest of 1862. In the month of November, 1852, a third convention met in the city of Chicago. At this time was formed the 'Industrial League of the State of Illinois,' the object of which organization was to enlist the influence and energies of the working classes in behalf of the favorite scheme of education which had been so ardently cherished by its friends. It was resolved at this meeting ‘to memorialize Congress for the purpose of obtaining grants of public lands to establish and endow industrial institutions in each and every State in the Union.' The convention again assembled in the city of Springfield, in January, 1853. During its session, the convention addressed a memorial to the State Legislature then in session, requesting the joint action of the Senate and House of Representatives, to assist in procuring from Congress a grant of lands for the establishment and endowment of an Industrial University in each State of the Union. The following is quoted from the memorial of the convention : 'We would therefore respectfully petition the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, that they present a united memorial to the Congress now assembled at Washington, to appropriate to each State in the Union an amount of public lands, not less in value than $500,000, for the liberal endowment of a system of Industrial Universities, one in each State in the Union, to co-operate with each other, and with the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, for the more liberal and practical education of our industrial classes and their teachers, in their various pursuits, for the production of knowledge and literature needful in those pursuits, and developing to the fullest and most perfect extent the resources of our soil and our arts, the virtue and intelligence of our people, and the true glory of our common country.' The memorial of the convention was favorably entertained by the Legisla ture, and on the 8th day of February, 1853, joint resolutions were passed by that body, praying Congress to donate public lands to the several States for purposes of industrial education. It is believed that this action of the Legislature of Illinois, applying to Congress for a grant of lands for the industrial education of the nation, was several years in advance of the action of any other State Legislature in the United States. Subsequent meetings were held by the friends of the enterprise at various places in the State; the subject was discussed in all its bearings; the theme was renewed at the annual meetings of the State and County Fairs; the scheme was advocated in public lectures, and addresses delivered to large and interested audiences of the people in the larger cities and towns of the State; and the labor of its friends was not intermitted until Congress, on the second day of July, 1862, passed an act, conveying to the States, upon conditions specified, the magnificent bounty described in the act itself, and before referred to. At the session of the State Legislature next following the passage of the act of Congress, the bounty proposed by the General Government was formally accepted by the State, and the public faith was pledged to a compliance with the conditions of the grant. At the special session of the Legislature in the month of June, 1863, an effort was made by parties acting in the interest of certain literary institutions, located in the central and southern portions of the State, to divert the Government grant from its legitimate direction, and to secure its appropriation to local and sectarian purposes, entirely foreign to the object contemplated by Congress. The State may be congratulated upon the failure of this effort, for by such a disposition of the grant, only a private benefit would have been secured, while all the important public advantages anticipated from the donation would have been lost to the State forever. In the same month, (June, 1863,) and during the time the proposition to apply the grant to private uses was pending before the General Assembly, another 'Convention of the Friends of Agriculture' assembled in the city of Springfield, and addressed to the Legislature a formal protest against the proposed diversion of the grant. At the same time, a committee of gentlemen, composed of one from each congressional district of the State, was appointed to collect facts and statistics relating to the establishment of a central Industrial University, and to mature a plan for its constitution and endowment. Later conventions were held, in January, 1864, in the city of Springfield, and during the State Fair in Decatur, in the fall of the same year. In these meetings resolutions were passed, favoring the endowment of ONE UNIVERSITY, and deprecating any appropriation of the National bequest for any merely partisan or sectional uses." In addition to these historical statements by Mr. Brooks, it is only just to add that Dr. J. B. Turner, of Jacksonville, had, several years previous to the date (1851) of the first Convention named above, been indefatigable in his efforts to enlighten public opinion on the value of industrial training, and to secure a National appropriation in aid of such education. INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY. The amount of land-scrip to which Illinois became entitled, was 480,000 acres. The definite action of the Legislature in regard to the disposal of the proceeds of the grant was not matured until the spring of 1867, when the "Illinois Industrial University" was formally incorporated. Its location was deemed of such immediate advantage as to lead to a lively competition from different counties and townships, and was finally awarded to Champaign County by the offer in land, buildings, and bonds, to the value of $400,000. The University domain, including ornamental and parade grounds, experimental and model farms and gardens, comprises over one thousand acres. TRUSTEES. The institution is placed under the control of twenty-eight Trustees appointed by the Governor, and four additional ex-officio Trustees, viz: the Governor of the State, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the State Agricultural Society, and the Regent of the University when elected. The names of the Trustees for 1867, were as follows: His Excellency R. T. OGLESBY, Governor; Hon. N. BATEMAN, Superintendent of Public Instruction; A. B. MCCONNELL, President of the Agricultural Society; J. M. GREGORY, LL. D., Regent, ex-officiis, and the following appointed persons: Lemuel Allen, Alexander Blackburn, Mason Brayman, A. M. Brown, Horatio C. Burchard, J. C. Burroughs, Emery Cobb, J. C. Cunningham, Robert Douglass, M. L. Dunlap, Samuel Edwards, Willard C. Flagg, O. B. Galusha, M. C. Goltra, David S. Hammond, George Harding, S. S. Hayes, J. P. Hungate, John S. Johnson, Luther Lawrence, Isaac S. Mahan, E. B. McMurray, J. H. Pickrell, Burden Pullen, Thomas Quick, J. W. Scroggs, Charles H. Topping, John M. Van Osdel. A meeting of this body was held at Springfield, March 12th, 1867, twenty-six members being present, and the Governor in the Chair. J. M. Gregory, LL. D., for several years Superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan, and at the time of his appointment President of a College in Kalamazoo, was elected Regent of the University, at a salary of $3,000 per annum; Willard C. Flagg was elected Corresponding Secretary, John W. Bunn, Treasurer, and O. B. Galusha, Recording Secretary. PLAN OF ORGANIZATION. Various preliminary steps were taken in respect to the organization of the University, the most important of which was the appointment of a committee on the selection of a course of study and the appointment of a Faculty; and the adoption of the following resolutions in respect to the establishment at Chicago of a Polytechnic Department or Branch of the University: Resolved, That a Mechanical or Polytechnic Department of the Illinois Industrial University be and the same is hereby established at Chicago, at such point as a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees residing in the Third Grand Division and first Congressional District, shall determine. The said members of said Division and District are hereby authorized and empowered to receive contributions and subscriptions for said department, and as a committee of the Board, to take all other necessary and lawful proceedings for the organization of said department, and the direction and control thereof. Provided, That said branch be located as near the centre of the city as possible. Provided, That no part of the funds, scrip, or other property of the Univer sity, other than such as may belong to or be received for such department, or be donated for its support or endowment, be used in the establishing or carry. ing on of said Mechanical or Polytechnic branch or department. The committee on organization, consisting of Messrs. J. M. Gregory, N. Bateman, M. Brayman, S. S. Hayes, and W. C. Flagg, have published a report, recommending the establishment of the following departments: I. The Agricultural Department-Embracing: 1. The course in Agriculture proper. 2. The course in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening. II. The Polytechnic Department-Embracing: 1. The course in Mechanical Science and Art. 2. The course in Civil Engineering. 3. The course in Mining and Metallurgy. 4. The course in Architecture and Fine Arts. III. The Military Department-Embracing: 1. The course in Military Engineering. 2. The course in Military Tactics. IV. The Department of Chemistry and Natural Science. V. The Department of Trade and Commerce. VI. The Department of General Science and Literature-Embracing: 1. The course in Mathematics. 2. The course in Natural History, Chemistry, etc. 3. The course in English Language and Literature. 4. The course in Modern Languages and Literature. 5. The course in Ancient Languages and Literature. 6. The course in History and Social Science. 7. The course in Philosophy, Intellectual and Moral. PROPOSED COURSES OF STUDY. The course of instruction may properly employ four classes of Teachers:1st. Professors, or principal instructors in each department of study. 2d. As sistant Professors-younger, or less accomplished teachers, employed in subdepartments, or to aid in departments in which the work cannot be fully done by one man. 3d. Lecturers, or non-resident Professors-men eminent in some speciality of art or science, who may be employed to visit the University at specified seasons, and give courses of lectures. 4th. Tutors, or young men employed temporarily to give instruction in the more elementary studies. The committee indicate the following as among the more important departments or chairs of instruction: 1. The Professorship of Practical and Theoretical Agriculture. In addition to these, the committee suggest the following Lectureships: 1. The Lectureship of Veterinary Science. The Military Department will be made an important and efficient part of the University, and the plan reported by Major J. H. Whittlesey of the United States Army, for providing a system of National military education, will be acsepted, when offered, in all its details. Drill exercises will be introduced from the outset, and a uniform of Cadet gray will be worn by all the students after the opening of the next autumn term. THE LABOR SYSTEM. All students, unless excused on account of sickness or physical inability, will be required to join in the work of the farm, and the garden, of fruit growing and animal husbandry, for from two to three hours per day, for which compensation will be made. BOARD, TUITION, ETC. Students can obtain rooms in the order of application, in the University buildings, at $4 per term, or in private families. Meals are furnished at cost. Each student pays a matriculation fee of $10, and, if from Illinois, $5 per term; if from out of the State, $20 a year. The formal opening will be on the 11th of March, 1868. |