Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-09
from the Desmoines Register.l
Majority Report of the Commit
tee ON Agriculture.

The undersigned members of the Commit:
tee on Agriculture, to whom was referred
a resolution 'enquiring int the expediency
of repeating the law creating and providing
for an Agricultural College and Experiment
al Farm to bs connected with the Agri'
cultural interests of the State" ask leave tc
submit the follow ing report:
That in their opinion it is clearly mex:
pedient, unwise and unjust to repeal said
law, tor the following among other reasons
First, that the law was enacted by the
last LEGISLATURE at the earnest solicitation OF
the raost intelligent and experienced farm
ers. mechanics and working men OF the
State-that after a full and tree discussion
upon the merits OF the bill, and the expedi.
ency of then laying the foundation of IN
institution for the benefit of the great mass
of our people who earn an honest living by
tho hard labor of their hands, and the sweat
Of their brows-it was passed with unani
mity that ought at least to have entitled II
to fair trial before attempts are made to
crush it out.
Second, there is no evidence before the
committee that any considerable number OF
people of any class, or in any portion OF the
State desire that the law OF last session for
the establishment of this institution, should
be rep ca led, until after a reasonable time
has elapsed to enable them, to judge wheth-
er it will meet the wants and expectations
of those for whose benefit it is to be estab-
lished. - II *
Your committee believe it would be but
iustice to tue very large and respectable
class of our citizens, who compose the work.
ing men of our State, to let the original in
tent of the friends of this institution be
fairly carried out, as provided BY the law
which it is proposed to repeal. Frs 20.
Third. in view Of the financial embarrass-
ments which now depress our people, the
friends of the College have decided to ask
for no further appropriations from the State
at this session of the Legislature-but that
thew will solicit and secure subscriptions
from friendly sources, as may enable them
when times are more propitious, with soiAe
assistance from the State, to erect such
buildings as the, wants of the institution
NAV REQUIRE - thus relieving the people
from apy apprehensions that this institution
should add to their already heavy burthen
of taxation .,,s..s. s..,,.........,
Your committee would further represent
that the law was so framed that its provis-
ions should go into effect gradually. =, An
Agricultural Bureau was organized in con.
nsction with the Board, for the purpose OF
collecting and disseminating valuable in.
formatiou which could ia no other manner
he 40 sffectually and cheaply obtained. II
also provides for the collection and distrib.
nt;on of seeds. thus afording medium Of
exchange among farmers in the different
narts Of the State-which of itself is O
far more value than the whole amount, O.
e1nen.e incurred. Indeed it would be i'm
possible to calculate the great advantages
which will undoubtedly result from this de-
partnent, Who can estimate the value tt
this State of the introduction of the single
article -sorghum--obtained by the seed de
psrtmant of the General Government-whicf
has already saved to our citizens hundreds
ofthousauds of dollars Through this de
partment of tho College, we are already
reaping the benefit of the law to some ex
tent. while the Board is engaged in making
preparations for carrying its provisions fully
posal will justify. ee
The farm has already been purchased, th'
location made--a large amount of money
subscribed to assist in erecting the necessa
ry, buildings. go 2 =
AZ evidence VI LILO uououV euSAo 40 AVA q
institution of this kind, and its popularit
among the farmers, your committee wou!'
state that there have already been hume
roua applications for admission Of student
into the College as soon as it goes into ope
ration. -
In view Of all these facts, your conmitte
-,ould most earnestly protest against the re
ns., !, ..he law, and the consequent destrut
ton fe. Of Of al all that has thus far been accom-
plished. being confident, s .. we are, that s.
this step 6ack,Ddrdis is taken that it n..s-'' ="
will be retraced--and that all OF the tim
and money already expended will be wors
than lost. ''-' aug ~ '.'''
Il will be evident to our citizens and to th
world that after once having determined I
educate our working nnen-to elevate lAbo
and mako it honorable and enobling tha
having decided to provide an institution !
which the sons Of our farmers and meehan
les may be educated for their chosen profe'
sion-we have repentsd Of our noble purpos
and have concluded that Ignorance 10 pr
fersble. to knowledge, and, have CHOSE
"darknesss rather than Light Nsa7oy o2 .ee9i
All of which is respectfully submitted
Signed. b. E.GuE, 49,
zsasoss ai ,aliR. W. MAOOMBER,
M. w. ROBINSON, *