Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-16
Within the last decade, the agricuItu

an impetus anu gIoNtu WHICH hds
placed her in the foremost ranks. The
ready means of transportation to market
afforded by her railroads, placing heI
thus in ready communication with the
seaboard, for foreign markets, and with
the large and prosperous manufacturing
districts Of neighbori0g states, have con
trbuted in no small degree to the adj
yancement and prosperity of the state ii
this her leading interest.
Already have her dairy products anC
her horses found their way to foreign
markets, and acquired an enviable motto
riety, and still more recently, her sheer
have been introduced into favorable no.
tice in foreign countries, and under cir>
cumstances likely to secure to Vermont
not only high reputation, but to bring
her in return, rich and extensive trade
in that branch of her industry. In Feb
ruary last, the state agricultural society
appointed Hon. Daniel Needham, the
efficient secretary Of the society, commits
sioner, TO attend and represent the inter-
ests of the state, at the great information
al exhibition, then to be held at Ham
burgh, in Germany. Other states were
represented at the exhibition by commits
sioDers appointed under state authority.
New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, Illinois, and l think Penn
sylVania, were all represented. Among
other products, taken from Vermont by
the commissioner, for exhibition, were -
merino sheep, and am happy to con-
graduate the state upon the success which
attended the enterprise.
In the list of competitors for prizes at
the exhibition, were more than two thou
sand sheep, representing the best focks
from all the Germanic States, from
France, England, and nearly all the coun-
tries of Central Europe. Against this
strong competition, and contending
against the natural prejudices existing
towards American products, Vermont
won, at the hands of an able and impair
tial board of judges, the two first prizes,
and one second prize for her Sheep
The results of this, to the sheep breed
ing interests of Vermont, can hardly be
estimated. 1t was a great achievement,
and is destined to give to America, and
especially to Vermont, that, which Eu-
rope has for SO long a time almost exc!u-
sively enjoyed, the rich and valuable
trade in stock breeding sheep.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE-LAND SCRIP.
The legislature at its last session pass
ed an act providing for the appointment
OF agents to receive and dispose oil the
land scrip to which this state may be en-
titled under the act of congress, appro-
we'd July I'd, 1862"
The act, after appointing the agents to
receive the scrip, and comforting upon
them certain powers, and imposing upon
them certain duties, authorizes the gov
ernor of the state to receive proposals for
such donations of land, buildings and
funds as may be rendered from any por-
ton of the state, or from any person or
persons, for the purpose of establishing a /
college, according 10 the provisions Of the
act of congress. The act also provides,
that ali moneys derived from the sale Of
the land scrip shall be invested by the
treasurer of the state, in safe stocks,
yielding not less than five per cent. upon
the par value of the stocks, and the in
terest Of the fund shall be appropriated
for the purposes declared in the act of
The act of congress donates to each
state land to the amount of thirty thou,
sand acres to each senator and represen-
tative in congress, the proceeds of the
sale Of which, or of the land scrip to be
issued therefor is to be invested in stocks
Of the United States, or Of the states, or
some other safe stocks, yielding not less
than five per cent. upon the par value Of
said stocks, and to constitute a perpetual
fund, the interest of which is to be invi-
olably appropriated to the endowment,
support and maintenance of at least one
college in each state, where the leading
object shall be, without excluding other
scientific and classical studies, and inclu-
ding military tactics, to teach such branch
es of learning as are related to agricul-
ture, and the mechanic arts, in such man
ner as the legislatures of the states may
respectively prescribe, in order to pro-
mote the liberal and practical education
Of the industrial classes in the several
pursuits and professions in life,-and
further providing that any state which
may take the benefit of the provisions of
he act, shall provide, within FIVE years
rom the date of said act, at least one