Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-03-12
State Agricultural College.

Stato A&1lCQILuI61 VVA060'
We this week give, in our Farmers De-
partmcnt, that part of the able report Of
A. L. Russell, Esq, Superintendent OF
Common Schools, which contains his plan
of State Agricultural College project
of great plausibility, and one which MIR.
Russell advocates, with cogency and zeal
that betoken on his part strong confidence
in its ultimate success.
Without intending now to discuss its
merits, we may briefly suggest an arrange
ment by which the main results sought to
be attained may be accomplished, with
less expense, and at an earlier day, than
by tho plan proposed in the Report. For
instance: the University at Lcwisburg
when fully organized, as it will be at no
distant period, would be able-with the
addition of Professor of Chemistry, and
one of Botany, and few more acres of
land-to accommodate full proportion Of
the agricultural students that it is supposed
would be drawn to the State institution,
and do them full justice, if an annual ap-
preparation Of one hundred and fifty dollars
we're furnished by the Commonwealth for
each student sent by the State. The ap-
pointment of the additional Professors
could be made by the Governor or the
Superintendent of Common Schools, and
the benefciaries be selected from the vari-
Gus Representative Districts in the manner
designated in the Report. This would
give the Commonwealth due proportion
of controlling influence, ensure the faithful
application of the funds, and maintain
Just freedom from sectarian influence.
The Colleges at Meadville, Washington,
Cannonsburg, Gettysburg, Carlisle, Ian
caster, Easton, &C., would doubtless under
take similar arrangements upon the same
terms; and efficient and prosperous agri-
cultural schools would be thus established
in various convenient parts of the State,
accomplishing substantially the same prac-
teal results contemplated in the plan of
the Superintendent, and at comparatively
small expense to the Commonwealth.
There would seem to be some possibility,
too, that this imposing central establish
mcnt would be too extensive and cumber
some for effective operations-a difficulty
that would be obviated by adding to the
resources of several existing institutions
in convenient locations; and which could
in the aggregate accommodate many more
agricultural students to advantage than
the number proposed for this single estab-
lishment They would, together, be like
ly, also, to secure a greater number of pay
students, from the well known fact that
the greater proportion Of students at any
college are generally from its immediate
vicinity, or adjacent counties. An argu-
ment, on this point, of considerable force,
is furnished by an article in the american
journal Of Insanity, page 2se, ct seq. in
which it is demonstrated that proximity
to any such public institution is the cause
of more numerous attendance from any
particular locality, and this without refer
cree to the number of persons in the re-
spective geographical divisions, who would
be expected to attend. The county in
which a college is situated will always send
more than its proportion of undergraduates;
and this will doubtless continue to be the
case, Notwithstanding the increased faci-
lities of travel and communication, by
railroad and telegraph. 1t is advisable to
secure the greatest good of the greatest
number in this as in other things, and if
six agricultural colleges would, as seems
probable, accommodate more students, as
well, and at less expense than one, it is a
conclusive reason for giving them proper
encouragement and support. We may
refer to this subject again.
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B@-The February No. Of the d" United
States Law Magazine" has been received,
and barring some sadtypographical errors)
fully sustains the deservedly high reputa-
ton of this periodical. This No. contains
a portrait of Chief Justice Taney the
whole Of Jeremy Bentham's admirable
treatise on Fallacious Augmentation !;
Notes of recent decisions in the States Of
New York. Delaware, Arkansas, and In
diana ; a digest of all the cases in the last
Nol,ua of Sauth Carolina RnnorfS NatcS