Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-04-11
Pennsylvania Farm School.

Pennsylvania Farm School.
The following
article in reference to the Farm School we
cliu from the Philadelphia Press. 1t may
prove interesting to the friends of the insti-
tuition:
"Tnis institution is located in Centre Co.,
and was incorporated in 1855 by an act of
Assembly, for the purpose of building up a
system of agricultural instruction, in which
manuallabor should be associated with study.
1t was located by board of trustees appoint
ed to select a site, and in 1857 the Legisla-
ture voted an appropriation of $4,000 to
erect buildings, and an additional S25 600 on
condition like sum was raised There hav-
ing been S25 900 in addition to two hundred
acres of land subscribed at the time of the
act. and $4,000 of the last appropriation
has been received, making S46 900 received
from the State, and. including the land do
mated, about $58, 900 frem other sources All
this money has been expended for the pur-
pose implied in the act, and an addition
al debt of S25, 600 incurred, and it is estima-
ted that it will require over S25 600 more { o
complete the college buildings, which, when
finished, will enable the institution to admit
from three to four hunlred students.
At present only about one hundred can be
accommodated, and that number has been 10
attendance since February, 1859, at which
time the school opsned. The difficulties en- :
countered in carrying it on with its buildings
incomplete, and with lumber, stones, bricks,
debris, &c., surrounding it, are very great,
and in addition to this, debt Of S25 900 has
been incurred, which is sufficient to sacrifice
the institution entirely if aid is not speedily
afforded it,
La order to pace it upon a proper footing,
the trustees have applied to the Legislature
for aid to discharge lis deb, and to complete
its buildings.
Governor Packer who had visited the in-
stitution, and knew its necessities and It's
merits. earnestly recommended it to the favor
of the Legislature and the present Governor
in his inaugural, col r5urred 10 the friendly
remarks of his predecessor. The trustees ask
for S50,000 as the sma Hest sum that can be
made available for the completion of the
buildings and meeting the debt of the insti-
tuition already incurred for bringing is build
ipgs to their present state.
They have had hearing before the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, and il has report
ed in favor Of their bill, and the question will
soon be brought before the Legislature. AS
this is a noble undertaking, aud Que in every
way worthy of the patronage of our great
State, We hope that cur Legislature may save
it from ruin, and render it efficiently active
for the purposes designated in its act CT in
corporation.
Since the above article vas in type we
learn that the Legislature of our State has
passed bill appropriating sum sufficient
10 insure the completion of the buildings
and the ultimate success of the school. The
munifcence Of the State in this particular
will, we hope, result in the most tangible and
substantial benefits to the people at large
Added to our system of common schools, per
haps the rery best in the world, school de-
voted to practical experiments in agriculture
and chemistry, cannot fail if property conduc
ted 10 its objects of good, and we therefore
anticipate that the benefits to be derived
from the. Farmers High School, will not
merely be confined to the lessons which it is
designed to inculeate among It's students,
but that il will be instrumental in distrib-
uting the benefits Of scientific experiments
and results among the agricultural commu-
nifty at large. Those having the Institution
in charge owe this much to the State, on
whom they have been dependent for SO many
favors-and as the school increases in
strength and importance, we trnst that it will
not forget ts simple duties to the mass oi
agr;cultursts in any pride Of pedantic know
ledge or power. Its design is 10 make it a
movement Of plain and practically impaired
knowledge ge-and if it eyer departs from this
design, it will cease to be o Farmers High
School.