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Show ORSON SPENCER The University of Utah EDUCATION has always been an ideal of the people of Utah. In the summer of 1848, after the crops had been preserved by the gulls, the pioneers began to speak of a higher institution of learning, where not only teachers might be trained for the primary schools, but where "the rising generation" might come under that "educational influence which is conductive to good citizenship." The people were a thousnad miles from the confines of civilization, and though they were just beginning to build their homes in the very heart of the arid west, and were absolutely without money, they opened the first University west of the Missouri River. It was a very humble beginning, but the ideal of true education was behind the movement. Soon after the organization of the provisional government of the State of Deseret, (later, Territory of Utah) Brigham Young signed an act passed by the first legislative assembly incorporating the University of the State of Deseret." The charter showed a breadth of scope and confidence in the future that were remarkable." The ordinance was approved February 28, 1850. The same Legislative Assembly elected Orson Spencer, [Chancellor, and the following men as regents: Daniel Spencer, Orson Pratt, John M. Bernhisel, Samuel W. Richards, W. W, Phelps, Albert Carrington, William I. Apple-by, Daniel H. Wells, Robert L. Capbell, Hosea Stout, Elias Smith, and Zerrubbabel Snow. At the first meeting of the Board of Regents held in Great Salt Lake City, March 13, 1850, a committee ¦was appointed to co-operate with Brigham Young in selecting" a site for the location of a University, as well as cities for primary schools. The minutes of this meeting tell us that "subscriptions were forthwith opened, and appropriations made by the Legislature to carry on the designs of the Board in forwarding the work and the establishing of a first class 'Parent School.'" At a subsequent meeting Governor Young announced that he had picked out a site on the bench immediately east of Salt Lake City for the location of the University. His recommendation was accepted, and it was decided to enclose the grounds with a rock wall and to plant trees and flowers. The City Council followed by passing a law designating a part of the east bench, where the government reservation now lies, as a herding and grazing ground for the use of those who should work on the grounds of the University. A wall eighty rods long was built, and by 1835, one hundred and thirty-five rods were completed and "enough stone had been hauled to build three-fourths of a mile more." The report of the Regents for 1850 tells us that the Territorial Treasury had given $4,589.14 for the University and primary schools, and from subscriptions and donations the amount had been increased by the winter of 1851 to $7,948.08. Among those appointed to the First Board of Regents, John M. Bernhisel, Orson Spencer, Albert Carrington, Hosea Stout, W. W. Phelps, Elias Smith, and Zerubbabel Snow were college graduates. Mr. Spencer, the first Chancellor, studied for two years at the Lenox Academy in his native ¦ _ >':¦¦'¦'¦Xyv v |