Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-16

OF Tue Sduc, anu lhhSsI tue pTOC6cuS Vi
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 under the act
will, in due time, submit report of their
doings. ] understand, however, that APP
plication 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.
There remains now but little more
than three years, within which time the
state must comply with the provisions Of
the act of congress, and establish col
lege for the purposes specified, or the
grant, as to this state, is to cease.
The shortness of the time, the impor-
lance and magnitude of the enterprise,
its effects upon the educational interests
of the state, and the great variety Of
questions involved, justify me in calling
your special attention to the subject at
this time.
BY the terms of the grant, there will
fall to the share of Vermont 10000
acres of land, which, at the minimum
valuation of government lands, is equiva-
lent to one hundred and eighty seven
thousand five hundred dollars, which,
safely invested in our own state stocks,
bearing six per cent. interest, would yield
an annual income of eleven thousand
two hundred and fifty dollars, for the
support of the institution to be establish
ed; or, computing the valuation a! dou-
BILE the minimum price, which it is not
unreasonable to expect to realize for the
scrip, and which is the rate for railroad
grants, the valuation would be equivalent
to S375,000, yielding an annual income,
for the purposes contemplated, Of S22,
500. These valuations of land, or
amounts TO be realized from the sales Of
the land scrip, win be varied according
to circumstances, and may be enhanced
OF diminished according 10 the location
and the judgment and skill used in ma
king sales of the same, and a variety Of
other causes that may contribute to ap-
preciate or lessen the demand for them.
Taking into account the tide Of emig-a-
ton setting towards this country, grow
ing out of the efforts being made, and
the various organizations which have
been formed, in various parts of the.
country, to stimulate and encourage it, ID
is but reasonable to suppose, that with
proper care in the location of the lands,
and judgment in the sales of the scrip,
at least the last figures named above may
be realized to the state.
The object of this generous grant is
fully expressed in the act itself, "the en-
dowment, support and maintenance of at
least one college, where the leading OBJ
ject shall be, without excluding other sci
entic and classical studies, and including
military tactics, to teach such branches
of learning as are related to agriculture
and the mechanic arts, in such manner as
the legislatures Of the states may respec-
lively prescribe, in order to promote the
liberal and practical education Of the in.
dustri2l classes, in the several pursuits
and professions in lie" \ most worthy
object indeed-and sustained by a most
munifcent graut,-available to every
state, and abundant, il properly man
aged, to secure the desired end-the ed
ucation and consequent elevation of the
masses of the people. Fully harmoni-
zing with the genius of our democratic
unitarian in its scope and
plans, favoring no privileged class, but
generously opening broad the door for
the liberal and practical education Of the
industrial classes, affording them access,
not only to the higher branches of a sci
entfc aud classical education, but super
adding to this a systematic and thorough
in the every day, practical, and
hitherto almost untaught, science of ag~
riculture and the mechanic arts.
To Vermont, this scheme has pecu-
liar value and Importance. Eminently
practical in all her pursuits and interests,
with a population hardly equalled, GER
.ainly not surpassed, in intelligence and
virtue, her hardy sons only need the
stimulating influences which thorough
education in such an institution, properly 7
managed, would afford, to place them in S
he foremost ranks among the cultivated I
and refined, and secure to her position i
'or intelligence, wealth, influence and re- i
inement second to none in the great sis s
erhood of states. Il
The grave question, however, arises, g
row the benefit to be derived from such ,
IN institution can best be secured, Shall I