Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-16

foremost ranks. The ready means of trans
Portation to market, afforded by her rail
roads, placing her thus in ready communica
tlon with the seaboard, for foreign markets
and with the large and prosperou,
manufacturing districts of neighborinu
States, have contributed in no small degree
To the advancement and prosperity uf the
State in this her leading interest
Already have her dairy products and her
horses found their way to foreign markets.
and acquired an cnviablc notoriety. and still
more recently, her sheep have been introduc-
ell into favorable notice IN foreign countries,
and under circumstances likely to secure To
Vermont. not only high reputation. but to
bring her IN return. a rich and extensive
trade IN that branch of her industry In Fe-
hruary last, the State Agricultural Society
appointed Hon. Daniel Necdham. the cfici-
ent Secretary Of the Society, Commissioner.
to attend and represent the interests of the
State. at the great lnternat tional Exhibition
then to he held at Hamburg. in Germany.
Other States were represented at the Exhib-
tlon by Commissioners appointed under
State authority New York. Rhode Island
Massachusetts. New Jersey, Illinois. and |
think Pennsylvania were all represented
Among other'products. taken from Vermont
by the Commissioner, for exhibition, were
twelve merino sheep. and am happy to
congratulate the State upon the success
which attended the enterprise
In the list for competitors for prizes at the
Exhibition, were more than two Thousand
sheep, representing the best tlocks from all
the Germanic States, from France, England,
and nearly all the countries of Central Eu-
rope. Against this strong competition, and
cOntending against the natural prciudices
existing towards American products. Yer
mont won, at the hands of an able and i'm
partial board Of judges, the two first prizes,
and one second prize for her sheep. The re-
suits OF this, 10 the sheep breeding interests
of Vermont, can hardly be estimated. 1t
was great achievement, and is destined 70
give to America. and especially to Vermont,
that. which Europe has for 50 long time
almost exclusively enjoyed. the rich and va
lGable trade in stock-breedins sheep.
AGRICULTURAL LcoIIEcE-IANDsCRIr.
The Legislature at It's last session passed
an act '' providing for the appointment of
agents to receive and dispose Of the land
scrip TO which thi, State may be entitled
under the Act Of Congress. approved July >.
lN62 90
The act, after appointing the agents % re-
cci,e the scrip. and conierring upon them
c,rtain powers, and imposing upon them
certain duties, authorizes the Governor of
the STATE 10 receive proposals for such dona-
tinn> of land, buildings and funds may Doe
rendered from any portion of the state, or
from any person or persons. for the purpose
of e>ta blishing College. according 20 the
provisions of the act of Congress. The net
also provides, &c that all moneys derived from
the sale of the land scrip shall be invested
hv the Treasurer of the State. In safe stocks.
yielding not less than five per cent. upon the
par value of the stocks. and the ntcrcts
ct the fund shall heappropriatci for tlr pur-
poses declared IN the act Of Congress.
The act of Congress donate, % each state
land t. the amount of thirty thousand
acres % each Senator and Repres,u-
tative in congress. the proceeds ut the
sale of which. or of the land scrip
to bc issued therefor, l. 10 he invested M
stocks of the ntcd States, or of the States.
or some other safe stocks Welding not less
than five per cent. upon the par value of said
stocks. aud o. constitute perpetual fund.
the interest of which is to hc iuyi0llhly ar-
pr6pratcd % the endowment. support and
maintenance of at least one COLLEGE in each
State, where the leading object shall hc.
without excluding other scientific and cla,,i-
cal studies, and including military tactics. tl
teach such branches OF learning a, are related
to Agriculture, and the Mechanic Arts. In
such manner as the Legislatures at the States
NAV respectively Vrc-cribc, in order to pro
mote the liberal and practical education of
the industrial CLASSES m the several pursuits
and professions in lilc.-and further pro1i-
ding that any STATE which may take the hc-
ncft of the provisions of the act. shall pro-
vide. within five years from the date of >iId
act, at least one COLLEGE. a, described m the
act. or the grant 10 the state 10 cease, and
requiring the STATE. by IT. legislation, % ex-
express it. acceptance of the provisions ot the
act within two years from the date of it, dV-
proyal.
The brief -ynor-i, of the general features
of the act of Congress Will enaEle you 10 un-
derstand more readily the position which this
STATE. bv ITS action at the last session Of the
legislature, occupies IN reference to the sub
icrt The act of last fall expressed the ac-
ccptancc, by the State. of the provisions of
tn, act of Congress, within the prescribed
period. Ii also appointed agents % procure
the land scrip from the United States govern
ment, TO which this state l. entitled, 10 dis
l-,,e of the same. and invest the proceeds of
the sales in safe stocks, bearing not less than
five per cent. and Appropriated the fund TO
establish "a college, as required by the act of
Congress.
The agents appointed upon the act will.in
due time, submit report of their doiug--
understand, however, that application has
been made to the Secretary of the Interior
for the land scrip, and that the scrip either
has already been, or will soon be, issued by
the State.
The remains now but little more than
three years, within which the State must
comply with the provisions Of the act Of Con
rress, and establish "A college for the purposes
specified. or the grant. a. To this State. is to
cease.
The shortncss of the time. the Importance
and magnitude of the enterprise, its effects
uron the educational interests OF the State,
and the great variety OF questions involved,
Justify me in calling your special attention
10 the subject at this time.
By the terms of the grant, there wil-lall TO
the Share of vermont one hundred and tiity
thousand acres of land. which, at the minimum
valuation Of government lands, is equivalent
To one huuIrrd and eighty-seven thousand
five. huud, ed dollars. which, safely invested in
t,.rr-t would yield an annual income of elev-
"a thuu< nd two hundred and fifty dollars. for
the support Of the institution to be establish
ed or computing the valuation at double
the minimum price. which it is not unreasOna-
ble to expect TO realize tor the scrip, and
which is the rate for railroad grants. the val
uation would be equivalent TO three hundred
and seventy-five thousand dollars, yielding an
Z annual income. for the purposes cOntemplat-
ed. of twenty-five thousand five hundred dol
lars. These valuations of land or amounts
| TO be realized from the sales of the land scrip,
will be varied according to circumstances.
aud may be enhanced or diminished accord
/ ing 10 the location. and the judgment and skill
used in making sales OF the same. and a varie-
| ty OF other causes that may continue to ap
/ preciate or lessen the demand for them. TAX
| ing into account the tide OF emigration setting
! towards this country. growing out OF the ei-
| forts being made. and the various organiza-
! tiods winch have been formed, IN various
/ parts OF the country. to stimulate and encour-
| age it. it is but reasonable to suppose. that
~. 10. g fha1 nd