TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told<br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
a great extent, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two scientific men whose reputation has added<br />
much to <strong>the</strong> fame <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>State</strong> University, <strong>the</strong> late Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Charles<br />
Vancouver Piper and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Trevor Kincaid.<br />
Years ago, when Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Johnson, who had come from Forest<br />
Grove, Oregon, was a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>. small faculty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early University,<br />
President Charles W. Elliot <strong>of</strong> Harvard visited <strong>the</strong> campus.<br />
In a conversation with Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Johnson, he asked <strong>the</strong> latter what<br />
chair he held. The latter replied that he taught biology, botany,<br />
chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy and mineralogy. President<br />
Eliot's rejoinder was, "I perceive that you do not hold a chair, but a<br />
settee.',<br />
CLARA lI1cCARTY WILT<br />
First Gr'aduate <strong>of</strong> University <strong>of</strong> TVashington, Recalls Early<br />
History <strong>of</strong> Institution in Talk Given June 30, 1876<br />
"Perhaps you would like to know how <strong>the</strong> University came to be<br />
located on this ground where we are today.<br />
When <strong>the</strong> Territory <strong>of</strong> <strong>Washington</strong> was separated from Oregon in<br />
1854 <strong>the</strong> Organic Act gave two townships to <strong>the</strong> University. The first<br />
legislature in January, 1855, located <strong>the</strong> University in Seattle and a<br />
branch at Boisfort in Lewis County. Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> institutions was to<br />
have one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> townships <strong>of</strong> land but nothing was done. In January,<br />
1858, that law was repealed and <strong>the</strong> University was located on "Cowlitz<br />
Farm" Prairie in Lewis County and <strong>the</strong> two townships given to it.<br />
In 1860-61 it was again moved. This time to Seattle. Arthur A..<br />
Denny was <strong>the</strong> legislator from King county. Daniel Bagley, John<br />
Webster and Edmund Carr were appointed commissioners to locate<br />
<strong>the</strong> land. With proverbial "Seattle Spirit" <strong>the</strong>se men decided that<br />
it would not again be changed because <strong>of</strong> failure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir part. Daniel<br />
Bagley located <strong>the</strong> land with <strong>the</strong> sanction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r commissioners<br />
and put <strong>the</strong> land up for sale at $1.50 per acre. Government land was<br />
selling at that time for $1.25 per acre, but it was easier to get <strong>the</strong><br />
University land, so <strong>the</strong> owners readily sold. The mill companies<br />
bought many acres for <strong>the</strong> timber. Many acres now in Seattle lots<br />
were part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se lands.<br />
The land where we are today was donated <strong>by</strong> Mr. Arthur Denny,<br />
Charles Terry and Edward Lander. It comprised ten acres, valued<br />
at that time at $300. It cost $3,000 to clear it, and get it ready for <strong>the</strong><br />
buildings and took 60 days to do it. The land was covered <strong>by</strong> a heavy<br />
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