Mineral Point Weekly Tribune

The Seminary.

However much we may have desired the location here of the seminary proposed to be erected by the M. E. Conference, we feel that the committee of our citizens acted wisely in exacting a guarantee from the conference committee before depositing the security for the proposal they offered. Inducements have been held out by the committee of the conference that a first class seminary was to be located in this district somewhere, and though disclaiming any authority to accept of pecuniary aid as an inducement to guide them in the selection of a locality, the thing was really put up to the highest bidder, as though it was money, and not the most desirable site they were after. The citizens of Mineral Point proposed to pay $10,000 towards the erection of the seminary if located in this city, and offered to deposit U. S. bonds as security for the faithful performance of their pledge. But they exacted of the conference a guarantee for the fulfilment of promises made that the seminary should be a first class institution.

This pledge was not an unreasonable request, and the committee could have had no hesitation in giving it if they were authorized to pledge the inducements they had previously held out. If the M. E. Conference propose to get what they can by subscription, and then depend upon a begging agent to raise the funds necessary for the erection of a seminary, as we were led to believe from remarks from some of the committee, we believe Mineral Point is fortunate in losing the site, for no first class institution can be got up on any such terms.

If it is the design to use the tool, contributed by the citizens of the place where the building is to be located, in the erection of a seminary, and trust luck for what more may be necessary, Mineral Point can use her own funds to secure a school just as well without the aid of the conference as with it.

We understand there are other parties willing to take the subscription offered by this city, and, on the terms offered, establish an institution of learning that will be a credit to the place, and we hope those who have subscribed to aid the M. E. Conference in the erection of a seminary will not be backward in extending aid to others for a similar purpose. We have confidence in the ability and willingness of our citizens and believe we shall yet get a school that will not be second to any one in the West. The M. E. Conference is not the only class of people who desire good schools or who are willing to aid in their establishment.

Let us be up and doing and we shall yet get an institution of learning such as is needed, and such as will secure a liberal support.

The Dodgeville Chronicle in noting the location of the M. E. Seminary at Darlington, says the committee refused to entertain the proposition from Mineral Point. Now we can hardly think that the editor of the Chronicle wishes to misrepresent this matter, but he is certainly wide from the truth in this assertion. The locating committee consisted of eight members, and but two of that number expressed themselves against entertaining the bid from this city, which was but a small minority of the committee.

Again, the Chronicle says the reason for its location at Darlington instead of Dodgeville is easily explained. The Mineral Point delegation failing to get it at that place, concluded they would rather help Darlington than Dodgeville, and so cast their votes and gave their influence in that direction. Here is a misstatement, which is undoubtedly intended to increase the ill feeling of a portion of the citizens of the county against Mineral Point, and is very much in character with a portion of the remarks made by one of the Dodgeville delegation before the committee.

Mr. James Spensley the only permanent resident of Mineral Point, cast his vote every time for this city. Rev. Mr. Tasker, who is temporarily located here, we presume cast his first formal ballot for Mineral Point, and after that voted for Darlington or Dodgeville, we know not which, for reasons best known to himself. We are sorry to see the spirit of enmity towards Mineral Point by our Dodgeville neighbors, not only before the committee, but in the remarks of the editor of the Chronicle. We do know that the citizens of Mineral Point, many of them, at least, preferred the location of the seminary at Dodgeville rather than any other place except this city; but after the slang and abuse towards this place thrown out before that committee, it could hardly be reasonable to expect that Mineral Point delegates would turn round and vote for Dodgeville.