Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/679

 collegiate education in connection with an agricultural one. Each state senator was authorized to select one student, not less than sixteen years of age, who should be entitled to two years tuition in this college; and the president of the college was permitted to draw upon the state treasurer for eleven dollars and twenty-five cents per quarter for each student so attending; the money to be refunded out of the proceeds of the agricultural lands when selected.

This was done because the act of congress making grants for the establishment of state colleges of agriculture required these schools to be in operation in 1867. The time was subsequently extended five years. Meanwhile the board of commissioners, John F. Miller, I. H. Douthit, and J. C. Avery, proceeded to locate the agricultural-college lands, chiefly in Lake county. In 1881, 23,000 acres had been sold at $2.50 an acre, giving a fund of $60,000 for the support of the agricultural department of this school.

Of the state-university lands, about 16,000 acres remained unsold in 1885 of the 46,000 acres belonging to this institution. This remainder, located in the Willamette Valley, was held at two dollars an acre. An act locating the state university at Eugene City was passed by the legislature of 1872. The people of Lane county, in consideration of the location being made in their midst, made a gift to the state of the grounds necessary, and the building erected upon it,