The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-04

The State has appropriated $4,000 per an
mum for its perpetual support. Proposal
ale issued for the purchase of suitabl
farm. The institution is to be managed
by board Of trustees chosen by the stock
holders. Il 10 details relative to manage
ment, course of studies, DC, not yet de
termincd upon.
Massachusetts,, in 1850, authorized &
board Of commissioners to report plan 70
the establishment of agricultural schools
Professor Hitchcock, one of the commits
sioners, made an elaborate report relative
to agricultural colleges in Europe, and the
board recommended a plan to the legisla
ture, but no further action was ever taken
uyon the subject
In Tennessee Franklin College, near
Nashville, was organized in 1854, with
the design Of making it an agricultural
college, uniting culture of the soil with in
tellcctual training. Physical labor was
made optional with the student. That
feature was finally abandoned, and the in
stitution is now converted into a classical
college.
The Union Agricultural Society of vir-
ginia and North Carolina have established
an experimental farm near Petersburg, at
cost of $4,000, which is now in opera
tion under practical overseer. An apn,i-
cation to the legislature of Virginia for the
endowment of an agricultural institute in
ccnnexion with tho farm failed of success.
In Mississippi State agricultural bureau
has been established by recent enactment.
The State of Ohio has established a
State board Of agriculture, the object of
which seems to be to collect agricultural
statistics, but to what extent or with what
especial object the undersigned is unable
to learn.
Connected with classical institution
College Hill, near Cincinnati, is q scien-
tific department and experimental farm,
whore are taught various branches of learn
ing directly connecscd with horticultural
and agricultural pursuits.
In Georgia there is an agricultural pro-
fessorship connected with the university of
that State, with an endowment of $780,
600, donation Of ono of her pablo spr-
tied citizens, where the sciences directly
connected with agricultural pursuits are
taught in regular courses of lectures, with,
as the undersigned is informed, much ad.
advantage to tho agricultural interests of
that State.
Scientific schools and agricultural pro-
fessorsh ps have been established in con.
Lexion NTH very many of the universities
and colleges Of the country to, in some
degree, satisfy the irresistible craving and
demand Of the age for more thorough and
practical instruction in the arts and sciences
that bear directly upon the industrial occu
pations of men.
This universal, anxious longing for prac-
tical education, for that kind Of inteli-
gence which will enable men to apply
whatever scientific knowledge they may ac-
luire to some useful, practical and profit
able occupation, has finally male its ap-
peal to the Congress of the United States
Tor aid. Sdch an appeal coming as it
ioes, from all sccts and denomination of
men, religious and political, from all Sec
lions and parts of our broad land, in a
word from the people themselves, can new
r. in the opinion Of the undersigned, be
.urned from the doors of an American
Congress without at least respectful hear
ng and just consideration.
In view of tho great Importance of the
ubject and the interests involved in it, a
'rief review of some of tho leading occu-
'ations and PURSUITS of the people of this
'Duntry, the proportion Of the population
md capital employed, the products of
heir industry, and the money expended
or instruction and protection Of various in
erests and classes of our people may not
20 out Of place in this report.
From the census Of 1850, we learn that
he entire free male population of the
United States, over fifteen years of age,
vas 5,37l, $40. Of this number, 1885,
)l3 are returned as farmers and planters,
While in the professions of law, medicine
md divinity, 94,5l5 are employed. To
ducate these 94,5l5 men for the learned
Professions, 234 colleges are established,
ndowcd by many millions Of dollars, and
wo millions Of dollars are actually expend-
d every year in the education Of $4,000
tudents.
The undersigned does not underrate tho
alue of education as acquired in our
chools and colleges, nor the value and
Importance Of such institutions to the WE'LL
'eng Of society and the country, but SUBJ
nits that while millions arc being expend-
d for the literary education Of the few,
omothing should be spared for the practi-
al education Of the many. If the intel
gence Of the people is the safeguard of
ur liberties and attachment to the soil of
ur birth, the guarantee Of our continued
surely the more extended
he education Of tho people and the more
,telligently that soil is cultivated, tho
afer are our liberties and the stronger the
Of our independence.
The undersigned does not mean to say
hat the expenditures for tho support Of
he literary institutions Of the country are
II made by this government; but does
,can to say that very many of them have
cen literally endowed by this government
, tho manner asked for by the friends of
gricultural education. The census of ls-
o shows the valuation Of the firms and
limitations and farm implements in the
Initod States to be about %, 500 OOo, 900;
nd the best estimate that the undersigned
as been able TO make Of the agricultural
roducts Of the country shows it TO exceed