The Green caldron - University Library

March, 1958 27
tained a copy of the bill, struck out the eleventh section (which provided for
a committee to select the location of the university) and substituted a passage
"locating the proposed University between the towns of Urbana and Cham-
paign . . . [in] a certain edifice [the Urbana-Champaign Institute building]
and grounds there situated. "^^ Value of the property was listed as $130,000.
The building was not yet completed. The revised bill, which was introduced
to the legislature, drew criticism from several communities throughout the
state. The legislature then voted to allow competitive bids from the different
counties. No other bids were imminent, and the whole affair was shelved for
the remainder of the session.
Their determination undaunted, the Champaign group made more prepara-
tions in the fall of 1865. They wanted to have an undivided university located
in their seminary building, but failure to get the entirety would have only
intensified their determination to obtain at least a half or even a third. "There
was a certain bull-dog tenacity of purpose in their efforts that boded ill for
their opponents."^'* Turner and the other leading agriculturists, some of whom
had been pushing the educational movement since the Granville Convention of
1851, thought that their respective counties should have first chance at the
university. In September of 1865, the Champaign County Board of Supervisors
met again and agreed to purchase the "elephant" (as the building had come
to be known by its enemies) and attached farm, on "the express condition that
the said Industrial University be located in this county by the Legislature at
its next session."^^ In December another $5,000 was appropriated and given
to a three-man committee to use in securing the location of the college in
Champaign County. This fund became known to Champaign County's oppo-
nents as the second "slush" fund.
The Illinois Legislature of 1866 decided not to divide the Industrial University
fund among the existing colleges of the state. The decision was made
contrary to the desires of a group of Illinois college presidents, who thought
that the fund should be proportioned out to their respective colleges. In the
meantime a new crisis had arisen. The five years allotted the states for accept-
ance of the land grants were nearly up, and Illinois still had not taken all the
necessary steps. The problem was solved by an act of Congress, passed July 23,
1866, which extended the time of acceptance for five more years. ^"^ The stage
was now ready for the 1867 session of the legislature and the contest that
ensued.
" Taken from a committee report given at the Industrial University Convention,
Bloomington, December 4, 1865, as quoted by Carriel, p. 180.
^'Powell, p. 211.
^^ Record of the Board of Supervisors. September 13, 1865, III: 385, as quoted by
Powell, pp. 213-4.
" Carriel, p. 193.