Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-11-18
REMARKS OF Mr.. LANE,

OF COhNWALL,
On the agricultural College Question. IN the
House Of Representatives., NoU. IS, 1864.
A wise statesman. while looking at she
rapid growth and material abundance in our
country, will see amid all this prosperity
that under the past and present state OF agri-
culture, the virgin soil that first yields such
abundant hatvests, will some day become
exhausted; and he will wisely inquire, is
there intelligence enough among the agricul-
tural class, this great industrial class, to rem
edy the evil; The able representative from
tue second congressional district in our state
saw that the development Of our agricultural
resources, the prosperity ofthe states, depend
ed upon the practical education Of the cult
yators Of the soil, and the state may we'll be
proud that he originated and presented the
bill to congress which became law, granting
lands to the ates for agricultural colleges.
II was one Of the most important acts ever
enacted ny congress, snd one that will confer
the greatest benefits on the industrial classes
in the several states, If they will carry out
the design Of congress.
/ he language Of the fourth section Of the
act is That all money derived from the ssle
OF lands aforesaid shall be inviclaby appro-
priated by each state which may take and
claim the benefit of this act, in the endow-
ment, support and maintenance of at least
one College where the leading object shall be,
without excluding other scientific and CLASH
cal studies, and including military tactics
to teach such branches Of learning as are &C.
lated to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in
such manner 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.
For the practical education of the indus
trial classes" W ho belong TO he industrial
classes in our State , Ours is an agricultural
State. Four-ffths Of our population are en-
gagged in farming. The prosperity Of the
State. the increase in its population and
wealth, depends upon the education Of the
farmers sons
An education suited to the profession he
is TO pursue" If the fund created by the
sale Of lands granted to the State, is disposed
of by connecting the College contemplated by
that act with Burlington College as merely
an appendage to that institution, believe
that the agricultural department will be alb
sorbed by the other departments of the older
college, and ten years heoce hardly any one, mot
connected with tie college, will know that
there Is such an institution in name or fact as
the Vermont Agricultural College. The clas-
steal and literary departments of instruction
will overshadow the agricultural agricultu-
raj students would not be regarded as Of
equal rank with classical students unfavor-
able comparisons would unjustly but con-
stantly be made between them The farmers
son, who wishes TO pursue course Of study
IN one of our colleges, can hardly live through
his freshman year, and if he ever secures an
equal rank in his class, he must show superb
or natural and acquired attainments. The
student pltsulng course in the agricultural
department would have caricatures heaped
upon him 10 teniold ratio TO what the fresh
man now does. He would be regarded as in
a lower class mentally and socially and
consider it certain that the agricultural de-
partment would suffer by being in con act
with the classical to that degree that it would
be of no kind of benefit to the farmers.
The history OF all agricultural schools and
colleges proves that, to be prosperous and use
full, they must be independent--not connect
ed with other institutions. On the continent
Of Europe there are three hundred and fifty
two agricultural schools and colleges, and
bat fourteen Of them are connected with any
college or university, and those fourteen are
OF but little note.
In our own country, those States that had
established Agricultural Colleges previous to
the passage OF the act granting land for such
d purpose, will no doubt appropriate the in
terest on the fund realized from that land
grant to existing Agricultural Colleges
Michigan has already appropriated hers for
the support of her Agricultural College at
Lansing. Other States have done the same
In those States that mad no Agricultural Col
leges, we believe they will generally establish
them independent OF other institutions. -
Ohio, we are told, will establish three, 10.
stead of one great central, overshadowing in
sutuuou, richly endowed according to the
Idea OF tue gentleman from South Hero (Mr
heelerG one to accommodate the Northern,
one for the South-W estern, and one for the
Eastern section of the State. The trustees OF
the Massachusetts Agricultural College have
decided " locate their Institution at Amherst.
The iafm and size selected is one and a halt
miles ON Amherst College. Although To-
Gated In the same Town with Amherst Col