Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-03-04

made BY an experienced Architect employed
BY the Trustees. The plan proposed Is 10
erect q building that will accommodate one
hundred students, the President and profess
orr, with lecture and recitation rooms, LAHORE
tory, kitchen, dining and all other rooms
necessary for college and house for al con-
nected with the institution. The building to
be three stories high, and 40 feet by $50 feet;
the basement to be built of stone, and the
Of brick. The estimated cost
of such building, fully completed ready for
occupation, is $4,000.
The Trustees estimate that they have in
money, lands donated, and bonds, an amount
sufficient to furnish the college, provide the
necessary apparatus, stock the farm with i'm
proved breeds Of animals, the out buildings,
farming utensils, machinery, &c, suitable to
make satisfactory commencement.
1t is thought that $50. 900 would erect the
out walls Of the building and inclose it, and
If the Legislature should not think best to
provide sufficient appropriation at this SEES
sion for its completion, the above Mentioned
amount could be used to advantage, in carry
ing on the work and the friends of the in
stitution believe the next Legislature would
furnish the sum necessary to complete and
put the college in operation within the time
required by the act of Congress making the
grant.
The proposition has been made by the
friends of the State University, to take charge
Of the Agricultural College, and attach de-
partment to the University, in which shall be
taught such branches as relate to agriculture
and the mechanic arts, provided q large por.
ton of the land grant be diverted to the use
and benefit Of the University. We regard
this proposition as 30 manifestly unjust and
dangerous, that We feel it our duty to refer to
some Of the difficulties in the way of such an
attempted union Of the two institutions. The
University is intended to be higher grade
of school than any other in the State, in
which students from the various seminaries,
academies and colleges may enter, and CON-
plete an education in the highest branches
taught, affording facilities and advantages
that no other educational institution in the
State possesses. The object is noble one,
worthy of our great State, and we trust that
the purpose will be fully carried out, without
endangering its success by amy entangling
alliances" The State and General Govern
ment have dealt most literally with it, afford
ing it support and aid in lands, buildings and
money, to the amount of more than $780,
900.
The Agricultural College was projected for
very different purpose, and is iatended to
be conducted on an entirely different plan.
The want of high school or college for the
sons of working men, where they could, at a
trifing expense, acquire thorough practical
education, adapted to the industrial pursuits
they desire to follow through life, has been
long felt and earnestly desired. 1t is evident
to every one who has examined the subject
that this institution, to be successful, must
be entirely independent of ordinary colleges
and universities, where theories are taught
without practical illustrations. The organic
act provides that all students admitted into
the college "shall labor not less than too
hours per day in winter, and three hours in
the summer season." The object of this
provision is, no doubt, to place all students
on perfect equality as far as manual labor
is concerned, that there may be no distinction
between the sons of rich and poor-that the
student who may be compelled to labor to pay
his way may not feel that he Is submitting to
a work Of drudgery, but is only complying
with the rules Of the college, wisely provided
for the benefit of all, in giving them the ad.
vantages of every day practice to test the
truth or error Of the new thories they are
learning. Does any rejecting person believe
that these most important provisions of the
system of agricultural education can be con-
nected with the State University, located in
the heart of populous city, where no ex.
psrimental farm can be connected with it,
with no suitable boarding house where young
boys can be under the care and control of a
suitable person who would look to their vel
fare! They would be turned loose after
school hours to all the enticements, vices and
corrupting influences Of city. They must
find boarding places among the inhabitants Of
the town, where their labor cannot be EN-
ployed to defray expenses; department
thus conducted can derive none Of the bene-
fits contemplated by the friends of the Agri-
cultural College, in providing an industrial
school in accordance with the act of our own
Legislature, and the law of Congress making
the muuificent land grant, to enable the plans
Of the college to be faithfully and honestly
carried out.
We are satisfied that any such attempt at
consolidation would result in endless strife,
quarrels, jealousy and co Infusion, and would
60 far towards destroying the usefulness Of
both. We believe it to be the duty of the
Legislature to encourage and sustain both Of
these valuable institutions by judicious and
liberal assistance, while both ar. free to stand
or fall on their own merits.
All of which is respectfully Submitted.
[S:gned B. F. CUE,
JOHN RUSSELL,
D.,,u