Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/170

162 F. G. YOUNG. capital. 74 Partly because there was revulsion against further jockeying with the institution and partly because of a senti- ment that the university fund should be diverted to the pur- poses of the common schools, the legislature of 1855-6 repealed all acts locating the Territorial University. 75 Provision was also made for loaning the university fund so that it would no longer be "left 'laying about loose' at the service of any ingenious and enterprising town proprietor, with which to grease the wheels of some local movement of his own. ' ' 76 Among other indications of conditions in Oregon at this time making it precarious for a university fund, are the facts that the first board appointed to select the two townships of land failed to act, and further, after lands were selected, private individuals were not slow in disputing the right of the Territory to them if they found them desirable. Public opinion seemed to support the practice of trespassing upon them and grand juries were loth to bring in indictments. 77 Notwithstanding this loss by trespass, the minimum price of these lands was fixed at four dollars an acre, which at the time was prohibitive of further sales. Lands amounting to two townships were selected and the approval of these selec- tions by the Surveyor-General sought in accordance with the terms of the grant. However, that provision in the grant requiring that one township be selected north of the Columbia River and one south of it, was repealed when Washington was organized as a Territory. The lands were likely for years to remain cheap and it was realized that a larger grant would be needed if the endowment was to be adequate towards serv- ing its purpose in bringing about the establishment of a uni- 74 Oregon Statutes, Fifth and Sixth Sessions, p. 562. 75 Oregon Statutes, Seventh Session, 1855-6, p. 53, and Hotise Journal, Eighth Session, 1857-8, p. 38. 76 Oregon Statutes, Seventh Session, 1855-6, p. 75, and Oregon Statesman, December 25, 1855. 77 Report of University Land Commissioner, Appendix to House Journal, Tenth Session, 1858-9, pp. 64-5.