Chapter 364: Pattern

Fremont supported the construction of a university in California with both hands.

Even if it was a free donation to fund the construction of the university, Fremont was willing.

He was the first American explorer to open the Western Trail and reach California. He had a deeper affection for this land than other California dignitaries.

His family has all moved to California and plans to settle here permanently.

"You can't run a university with money." Education Minister Pillman stood up and said.

"The current number of students in California may be able to barely support a small university, but what about the faculty and academic resources? These are things we don't have."

As the Secretary of Education, Pillman is relatively familiar with the education situation in California. He believes that the current actual situation in California is not suitable for opening universities.

There is also selfishness in Pillman's speech. As a member of California's powerful elite, he is more interested in power than power.

Pillman's net worth of several thousand dollars is not enough in front of the wealthy people in the living room who can easily start with a net worth of one million dollars. If he were not the Minister of Education, he might not be qualified to appear in the living room of Tingtao Garden.

If Pillman is asked to donate money, even if he is squeezed dry, he probably won't be able to get much profit out of it.

But Pillman is not Liang Yao's target. Liang Yao's target is California tycoons like Fair, Strauss, and Gervin, who are worth millions.

"Teaching resources can be solved by finding ways. I am in contact with Yale University. Yale University is also very interested in opening a branch in California. But I hope that the first university in California can be a university owned by Californians. Not a branch of another university.

Of course, after we Californians start our own universities. If other universities are willing to open branch campuses in California, I welcome them. "Liang Yao paused and continued.

“Education also represents the image of California to a large extent. Although you are rich, in the eyes of the upper class people in the east, you are just a group of nouveau riche without quality and cultivation.

I think you don’t want your children and grandchildren to be looked down upon by those people in the east who claim to be upper class. "

As soon as Liang Yao finished speaking, everyone in the living room started talking.

Except for a few people in Fremont and Robinson who really cared about opening a university, most people were more concerned about how much they had to pay to obtain Standard Oil's refining formula.

"As long as we support the construction of universities and show our sincerity to California education, can you disclose to us the refining formula of Standard Oil Company?" Someone in the crowd shouted this.

Minister of Agriculture Chen Baoliang and representatives of the Agricultural Association are actually mainly early Chinese immigrants. Relying on the dividends of the times, these people have now grown into large farmers, that is, the upper class of California.

After discussion, these people said: "Although I haven't read any books and I don't know a few Chinese characters, I still know the right and wrong. No matter how poor you are, you can't lack education. What's more, we are not poor now. No matter what we say, we can't let our Future generations will be illiterate just like us.

If you are determined to set up a university, our Agricultural Association can donate a sum of money to fund the establishment of a university in the state. We do not require you to disclose the secret recipe of Standard Oil Company's refining on this matter. We only hope that after the university is opened, a special agricultural subject will be added. "

The size of the agricultural association representatives surprised everyone.

At the same time, it also makes some California dignitaries who talk about profits feel ashamed.

"If we were to build a university, my clothing factory would make a lot of money from the orders you got from the French. Without California, without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am also willing to donate a sum of money free of charge to help California We will do our best for education.” Strauss, the mayor of San Francisco, also expressed his position.

After Strauss expressed his stance, Fremont, Gervin, Robinson and others also followed suit.

Liang Yao was also gratified by the statements of these people. The powerful people in California were not all profit-seekers. There were also people who regarded California as their home.

"Liang will bear in mind your good intentions. There are many gentlemen in California. I think the future of California will be bright."

Liang Yao stood up and pressed his hands, motioning for everyone to sit down.

After everyone was seated, he continued to speak.

“The university needs to be built, and the oil in Los Angeles needs to be developed. These two things do not conflict.

I came here today, firstly, to discuss with Huo Huo the establishment of a university, and secondly, to discuss with everyone the establishment of a petroleum association and jointly develop oil in Los Angeles.

Of course, there is a third thing. The petroleum industry is an emerging industry. In view of the particularity of the petroleum industry, I would like to submit a proposal to add a chemical industry department to the state parliament at the end of the year. I would like to share with you today. "

With that said, Liang Yao picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip of water to moisten his throat.

Preparing for the establishment of a university is only a relatively minor matter among the matters discussed today.

While preparing to establish a petroleum association to share oil dividends with California's elite, Liang Yao also wanted to take this opportunity to improve the management system of California's petrochemical industry.

For a long time to come, oil will be as important a tax source as gold.

"The chemical industry belongs to the industrial category. The Ministry of Industry is fully capable of managing the petrochemical industry. The addition of the Ministry of Chemical Industry is just an increase in redundant staff. Besides, if the Ministry of Chemical Industry is added, who will coordinate whom between the officials of the Ministry of Chemical Industry and the officials of the Ministry of Industry?"

Based on his own interests, Minister of Industry Fair did not agree to add a Chemical Industry Department, but hoped to keep it as it was, and let the Industry Department manage the chemical industry in the state.

Minister of Education Pierman, who had nothing to do with this matter, stood on the opposite side of Fair: "Minister Fair, the Industry Department not only manages the industrial park in San Francisco, the coal and steel alliance, but also manages the mines in Sacramento, the mines in Nevada, and the oil in Los Angeles. I am afraid that the friends of the Industry Department are also willing but unable to do it."

The Industry Department is a good job among many departments in California, and the Education Department is a poor government office.

Whether a department is fat or not can be seen from the value of the minister.

Although the establishment of the Chemical Industry Department will not bring any substantial benefits to the Ministry of Education, Pierman is still very happy to see that the Industry Department will take a piece of the pie.

Liang Yao does not expect that every one of his proposals will be supported by everyone.

After all, everyone has their own interests and positions.

As long as his proposal can get the support of the majority, it is enough.

"The specific details of setting up a chemical department will be discussed at the end of the year meeting." Liang Yao stopped there.

"Next, let's talk about the Petroleum Association.

As long as you join the Petroleum Association, you can share the technology of Standard Oil. Of course, this requires a membership fee of 50,000 US dollars.

Of the 50,000 US dollars, 20,000 US dollars will be used for the construction of the University of California, and the remaining 30,000 US dollars will be used to establish a state petrochemical company owned and operated by the California State Government and the Los Angeles City Government: Los Angeles Chemical."

"That's it?" someone asked.

"No, we need to sign an agreement."

Liang Yao waved his hand, indicating that Hu Jinchen, Coney, and Carnegie would distribute the "California Petroleum Association Agreement" that had been prepared long ago to everyone present.