The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-25
Annual Report of the State Board Of Ed.
uCatiOn.

Annual Report ofthe State Board of Ed.
ucation.
LANSING, Mich, Dec. z, 1853.
To lis ErceHency, Rinsley S. Bingham,
Governor ofthe State of Michigan:
The Board of Education, though not re-
quired by law to make specific Reports,
deem it becoming and proper to submit an
nually brief statement Of their acts in the
management Of tho important interests con-
fded to them.
We herewith transmit the printed Re-
ports Of the Secretary of this Board, and
of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer
of the Agricultural College, found in the
recent Report Of the Superintendent Of Pub
lie instruction, pages S25, 3ee, and the
Report of tho Principal of the Normal
School, in the samo volume, pages 500,
373, to which we would refer for particular
and detailed information in reference to
each of these Institution,
The Normal School and Agricultural
College being especially under our charge
we will, in addition to the above Reports,
yresent brief statement of their present
condition, the amount at our disposal for
their future support, and indicate the legis-
lation we deem essential to their continued
success.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
This Institution, (as will be seen by the
Report Of the Principal, to which we refer)
is in highly prosperous condition. 1t is
supported in part by the revenue derived
from an appropriation of Salt Spring lands,
and in part by annual appropriations by
the Legislature. No material changes in
its policy or management are deemed nee
essary or advisable for the ensuing two
years; and the usual appropriation Of from
six to eight thousand dollars per year in
addition to the fund derived from Salt
Spring lands will, we think, be sufficient to
meet its absolute wants.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
This Institution being recently establish
ed, in comparatively new and unsettled
portion of the State, on tract of land en-
tirely uncultivated, and on basis essential
ly different from any existing College in
the United States being in fact, the pio-
neer Institution of the kind in this country,
and, therefore, an experiment-has boon a
source of great anxiety, and in its develop
ment has required the expenditure of an
amount exceeding our anticipations.
The amount appropriated to the Agri-
cultural College for the purchase, clearing,
and improvement OF land, erection of build
ings, procuring stock and maintaining the
College, which has been in successful ope-
ration for nearly two years, has been as
follows:
Proceeds of Salt Sping lands, S56,S2o 90
Appropriation OF Feb. 10th
1857, 10000 90
Expenditures beyond appro-
priations raised, 1912 70
sIo9,792 7s
For particulars Of these expenditures we
refer you to the Reports of the officers a.
bove cited, and to the Reports Of the Pres.
ident and Treasurer Of the College, here
with submitted.
II will be perceived that the expenditures
and indebtedness exceed the appropriations
and receipts $13,472 73. This has risen
in part from erroneous estimates and un-
foreseen contingencies-among which might
be named the unprecedented imitation in
value of all kinds Of property and labor
while the buildings were in progress and
the improvements being made-and In
part from defects in tho buildings, subse-
duently revealed, that could not be reme-
died without an unexpected outlay, for
which we had mace no provision. In ma
king estimates for buildings and improve.
mcnts, it wa, supposed that enough had
been reserved to carry on the Institution
until the close Of the present year; and
until further appropriations might be reas-
onaby anticipated. But unforeseen contin'
gencies a. ose, and latent defects in the build
ings were developed, rendering it indispen..
sable, in order to preserve the property OF
the State, and prevent serious loss, to use
upon the buildings the amount reserved for
the current expenses of the Farm and Col
lere. This left us, at the commencement
of the year $50, entirely destitute offunds;
but believing that the existenJe of the Col
leCc and the preservation Of the property,
as well as tho best interests Of the State,
required il, we made such arrangements as
have secured its uninterrupted aud success
f,I nropress. Tn doing this, We had to as