Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/155

The bill to create and locate the State University passed both houses and was signed by the Governor; and also the bill authorizing the county court to levy a tax on the assessable property of the county for the aid of the people in raising the remaining $30,000 to secure the university, passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor. The question of the location of the site of the University in Eugene was a source of much contention. The people living in the west end of the town wanted it located near them, while those living in the east end wanted it there. And on the 8th day of November, 1872, a called meeting of the Union University Association was held to consider the question, and it was decided to appoint a committee to select grounds for a site, and receive propositions and bids for the same. A committee was appointed for that purpose, consisting of Dr. A. W. Patterson, Ben F. Dorris, E. L. Bristow, W. J. J. Scott, and J. G. Gray. This committee received propositions from quite a number of persons to sell land for the site, and reported the same to the association. To harmonize these factions it was agreed to select a site for the university on the D. R. Christian land just south of Eleventh Street, and between High and Oak streets, containing some ten acres, that being a central point between the factions. But many serious objections were made to this location, the principal ones were that the land was too flat,—want of drainage, and that it would soon be in the center of the town. The act locating the university at Eugene, provided that the Board of State Land Commissioners, consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer, should approve and accept the site and building on the part of the State. I suggested to the Union University Association that inasmuch as the law required the State Land Commissioners to approve and accept the site, it would be the part of wisdom to invite these State officers to Eugene to look at the