The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-01-13


was purchased, and suitable buildings.
we're erected thereon, preparatory to-
the opening of the institution for the
reception of students. The founding
of this college was an experiment in
the agricultural history of our country.
Although the people of this greut ma
ton are more deeply interested in agri-
culture than in all other pursuits COM
bined, Iyetno State in the Union had,
prior to the month of January 1855,
ventured upon the experiment of foun-
ding an !" Agricultural College" and to
Michigan belongs the high honor of in
augurating that policy that has since
been initiated by some of the proudest
States in the confederacy. This insti-
tuition of learning is under the control
and management of the aboard of
Education,"r. and was, on the 18th day
May, 1857, formally opened /; at which
time students from different parts of
the State applied for admission, and
were received into the institution. AT
the next regular term after its opening
one hundred students were admitted.
This is more than can conveniently be
accommodated without an enlargement
! of the buildings connected with the
college Much has been said and writ
ten against this college, yet / believe
that among the great mass of our peo-
pie, it is the most popular institution of
learning within our State, and should
be fostered. and encouraged by You. 1t
is no longer doubtful experiment, but
is successfully conducted beyond the
most sanguine expectations of its foun-
ders. 1 recommend that steps be TAX
EN- by you towards the enlargement OF
the capacities of this institution, so as
to accommodate at least two hundred
students For detailed statement of
the financial situation of this college,
land the management thereof, and the
amount necessary to be appropriated
thereon for the ensuing two years, You
are respectfully referred to the report of
the &C Board of Education now on file
in the proper department. pS'o.7p {.
The State you represent, from It's
geographical position and natural adj
vantages, must ever hold a conspicuous
place in our Union. We are upon the
dividing line that separates. the East
from the West We occupy the great
highway over which pass yearly tens
of thousands of hardy emigrants, in
pursuit of homes. These emigrants
take with them more or less wealth; at
all events they take with them the very
source whence all real wealth must ever
spring = strong arms and willing
minds. With them labor is honorable,
and wherever they make their homes
whether in the forest, upon the plain or
the mountain side, prosperity and hap
piness follow in their footsteps.
For twenty years this tide of emil
grafton has been steadily going past us,
with scarcely an effort on our part to
stay it in its onward march. Five-sixths
of our entire State is to-day a wilder
ness, and as inviting to the emigrant as
the more distant prairies of. the west.
Whole counties in the more northern
portion of the State have scarcely a
white settler within them, and, unless
some means are adopted to develop
and make known the great agricultural
resources of the, unsettled portion of
that region, it will for a long time re-
main wilderness. We want more
people. Of what use to us are our
vast woodlands with the laborer to
clear and cultivate them? Or, of what
consequence are mines of copper, iron
and coal, hid in the bowels of the earth,
with no. hand to develop and make
them productive? The advantages of
settlement within our State should be
made known to the emigrant He
should be made acquainted with the
extent of navigable waters surrounding
us, and within our limits-of the fish
cries upon our shores-of our vast for
ests of pine and other timber-of the
mines of iron, copper and coals-of
our beds of gypsum and springs of sa-
line-of the salubrity of our climate
and productiveness of our soil. A
knowledge of all these great agricul-
tural resources of our State should be
brought home to him, that he may
thereby be induced to settle among us,
and aid in making productive the great
natural resources of one of the finest
States in the Union. / recommend to
your consideration the policy of APP
pointing an g Emigrant Agent" clothed
with sush powers as to you ms v seem
meet, whose duty it shall be to induce
emigration to our soil. Our State is vet
in its infancy. She has, however, been
settled by selfreliant and energetic
class of people, who now number not
far from eight hundred thousand, with
an aggregate valuation of one hundred
and thirty-seven millions, six hundred
and sixty-three thousand dollars of pro-
perty. The great mass of this wealth
has been dug from the soil by the strong
arms of your citizens. They have a
rightto expect you TO pursue such a
course of policy as will most tend to
develop and make known to them the
extent of the great natural resources OF
the State.
The appointment of a estate Ge-
ologist" would do much towards bring
ing about so desirable result. As yet
we know but little of the vast mineral
wealth. that lies beneath our soil. Sci
encc alone can unveil the hidden mys-
teries Of the earth. The Legislature
at its annual session for the year 1887,
passed law authorizing the appoint
ment of competent person, whose du-
tv If yvas tn mako on acourata and CON,