Earlier this month we learned how Fargo and Valley City both fought for the agricultural college which evolved into North Dakota State University. Valley City began the legislative battle this month in 1889 when Hugh McDonald, a Territorial Councilman from Valley City introduced legislation to the Territorial Legislature calling for an agricultural college to be built in Valley City. Fargo quickly fired back and Smith Stimmel of Cass County, former body guard of Abraham Lincoln turned Territorial Councilman, submitted legislation calling for an Agricultural College in Fargo. The battle went back and forth, but eventually Fargo’s leaders suggested working together to increase both communities’ chances of securing an educational institution. Understanding the advantage of gaining Fargo’s support, Valley City’s citizens dropped their claims for the agricultural college and requested the next best thing, a normal, or teachers’ school.

Although Valley City lost their battle with Fargo for the agricultural college, this month, January 1889 marks Valley City’s first concrete steps to establish an institution of higher education in their city. Valley City’s efforts were eventually successful, and with Fargo’s assistance, Valley City was able to secure wording in the North Dakota State Constitution which granted them a state normal school.

The Constitution of North Dakota may have mandated a Normal School in Valley City; however it did not provide the immediate funding for the school’s operation. To remedy the problem, Duncan McDonald introduced legislation to the State Legislature in December of 1889 to provide $40,000 for the opening and operation of the Normal School. The money for the school was to be raised through the sale of land that had been allotted to the school at North Dakota’s Constitutional Convention.

However, the bill was deemed impassable after Governor John Miller vetoed similar legislation calling for the financing of the agricultural college in Fargo. The Valley City Times-Record stated that “Governor Miller says flatly the State does not need any more new institutions – while we are in debt.” The school had land it could sell in order to raise capital. However, to hire teachers and begin classes Valley City needed ready cash, which it could not get without legislative support.

Without money to begin the construction of buildings or to pay the salaries for faculty, the future of the Normal School in Valley City remained uncertain. How was Valley City’s teachers’ college finally financed and built? Tune in tomorrow for the completion of the story.

Written by Lane Sunwall

Sources
http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/stilgenbauer-stockslager.html#ROG07FC4L
www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndirs/
www.nd.gov
Welsh, Donald H., Cornerstones: A Centennial History of Valley City State University 1890-1900. Valley City, North Dakota: Valley City Times Record, 1900.

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