| Winneshiek County IAGenWeb 1889 Removal of
Luther College
this page was last updated on Thursday, 01 April 2021 |
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REMOVAL OF LUTHER COLLEGE. Luther College goes to St. Paul! |
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Such was the intelligence that came from Prof. Larsen last Saturday morning. Two days were spent in LaCrosse arguing and balloting. After forty-one ballots, in many of which Decorah had a clear majority, two-thirds finally voted to yield to the wiles of the land speculators. It is scarcely probable that the decision is really satisfactory to the cooler judgment of the Committee; and, in the light of information obtained while the question has been pending, it may be said it is likely to be quite unsatisfactory to the churches in two of the three districts composing the Synod. The decision is an unfortunate one for Decorah; and it is liable to be even more unfortunate for the College. Here, at Decorah, it was in the midst of friends who built it, nurtured it, and from the inception until its death-blow by firehad been of the largest contributors to its support. At St. Paul it is primarily in the hands of a land-speculating organization the promoters of which may he honorable men, or land sharks. In either case it is a more business enterprise, and they can have no lively regard for the welfare of the institution beyond the dollars and cents it will entice into their treasury. The College will be surrounded by no congenial associations either of nationality or religion. There is not even the nucleus of an infant congregation to give it welcome. “ Decorah College” will cease to exist. The corporate name can be transferred, but tho traditions will be obliterated, and in effect the College must become a new institution. Perhaps another quarter century will recreate new ones rivaling the old. For the sake of the good people and kind friends to whose hearts the College is so dear wec hope it may prove so, notwithstanding our fears. The conditions of the St. Paul Park offer, that was accepted, were materially modified. The requirement to expend $100,000 in buildings was abandoned. The Company had its lobby on the spot to meet the fluctuations of the ballots. The estimated value of the land dwindled one-half, and when it was suggested that the College lands might sell slowly in competition with the thousands of acres owned by the Company, they generously offered to take the College into partnership by giving them, in lieu of the land, one thousand shares of Company stock. This was stated to be worth 35 cents on the dollar, or $35,000, with a guaranty by the Company that it will be worth $50,000 in five years. [N. B. —Who guarantees the Company?] And nothing was said of the common-law liability the College would incur if the Company collapses, as such companies frequently do, in debt. It seems to us that he is an expert financier who can figure any profit to the College in the transaction. All they receive is a site not equal to that they own—$25,000 in cash—and a contingent possibility in a speculation. Meanwhile, to get a College at some future date, the Synod must raise §50,000 of its own, or incur a debt of that amount that may be—perhapsliquidated. by and by, through the aid of the speculative contingency. Here at Decorah the College could be restored in modernized form for §50,000, nearly one-half of which is “ in sight” from the rich congregations within a radius of thirty miles, not one-tenth of which is likely to be given to aid the new College at the St. Paul suburban speculation. The execution of details is referred to a Committee, upon whom a grave responsibility rests. It will be their duty to see that the College does not become like unto a certain man who went down towards Jericho. What will become of the old grounds and buildings? is the next problem. The sentiment, as far as expressed, is against their sale; and active measures must be taken within ninety days if the $10,000 to $20,000 of value in the exposed walls is preserved for future use It is said that if the other sections of the Synod will release to the Iowa District their interest in the property the friends of education in the Iowa District will build upon the ruins an Academic institution that will be open to both sexes, and offer facilities to a much larger number of students than did the College. This, however, is all speculative talk. We could say much but is perhaps just as well not to let the pen run away with judgment in expressions of chagrin or regret. |
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