The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-09
Tha State Agricultural College.

The State Agricultural College.
A very able letter upon the general subject
Of Agricultural schools, from the pen of the
Secretary of the Mass. Board OF Agriculture,
will be found In another column. The Com
missioners to consider the subject of location
have reported in favor of accepting the propo-
sition of Bowdoin College, which In brief is
this The College TO provide suitable build
ings, to purchase suitable farm convenient
to the College building, to make the Agricui-
tural College distinct from the Literary lnsll-
tuition as the Maine Medical College now is,
TO allow it the benefit OF the library, chemical
laboratories and lectures, the philosophical ap-
paratus &c, without cent of cost to the
State; the State to appoint the majority of
the Board of Trustees, so that the control
may be constantly safe against any overshad-
owing control or absorption from the College.
In this way the State would not be called
upon to raise one dollar in money, and the
proceeds of the College land scrip would re-
main a perpetual fund to pay the salaries of
the necessary professors and teachers and to
defray the other expenses of the school. Let
our readers think OF this proposition in the
light of the experience shed upon the general
subject by Mr.. Flint's letter, to which refer
ence Is made above. 5b
The leading influence opposed TO the accep-
rance of this proposition, under such restric-
tions as the wisdom Of the Legislature might
BEE At to impose, seem to favor what is known
As the Orrington scheme. A gentleman has
proposed to donate to the State farm in Or
rington, presumed to be very suitable in and
Of itself, provided the College shall be located
IN that town; but the State or private munifi-
cence will be obliged to erect the buildings,
to procure library, philosophical apparatus,
chemical laboratories, &c, and then the fear is
that the institution would not be self-sustain-
ing, but be a constant pensioner upon the
State Treasury, and thus become disreputable
and finally be regarded as worthless burden.
The location in and of itself is matter OF
no small consideration. Brunswick is CEN
trally situated, is in daily communication with
all parts of the country by railroad, and has
all the mail and Geographic facilities of any
place In the State. On the contrary, Orring-
ton Is six or eight miles east of Bangor, has
neither railroad nor telegraph, and, we are in
formed, has only weekly stage, and mall
but once or twice week. A reading room
supplied with daily papers would be an i'm
possible thing there.
We will close this article with an extract
from recent leader in the Advertiser, writ
ten by gentleman who has himself offered
to donate to the State a farm and buildings
for the establishment of the Agricultural Col
lege, pleasantly situated in the neighboring
town of Gorham. We mention this fact. as
It shows that In the view expressed in the ex-
tract below he divests himself of all selfish
considerations. The writer referred to, SAYS:
It Is perhaps quite certain, that the majority
wish is, for an Independent institution. But.
then it is asked, tUhere are the funds to come
from, to erect the necessary buildings, and to
proufde the necessary philosophical, chem
teal and other apparatus OF such an institu-
ton? From $4,000 to SIS 600 of actual cash
means will be requisite for these purposes
alone, after acquiring the appropriated lands.
The sch0Le fund must be obtained by oift.-
And where is 1t to come from? Will the far
mers OF the State subscribe it? If so, let it
be done, with pledge that the Government
fund shall follow such an endorsement
But, the expectation of such subscription
is wholly unwarranted by any experiment
with public spirit in this State. And If SO.
what does practical necessity teach? Ger
tainly an utilization of this government fund
with some already existing institution, having
the agencies for instruction In several OF the
requisite departments of knowledge. Bow
ooln College offers such agencies already ma
tured. .5.sssss
A, ,,,,oa 40 eotio,,, 49, ,.l~ n.i....
amount TO an absorption of the new college
In and by any existing one. The relation NAV
be only conventional, and leaving each, in all
matters Decentralization, police and courses of
instruction wholly Independent of the other,
The relation may be limited TO simple ex-
change of priyileges--by which each and both
VIII De strengthened and enlarged in its
sphere OF usefulness. With the concessions
winch we understand Bowdoin College is will
Ing to make from its first proposals to the
Governors Commissioners, all these results
may be obtained, and the absolute majority
control Of the whole Agricultural College be
retained In the hands of Trustees appointed
by the State. Besides the privileges of Bow
ooin Colleges already existing organization.
with library, medical aud philosophical ap-
paratus and appointments, that institution
oilers to donate farm Of 300 or 400 acres, fit
tingly situated, and to erect the needful Col
lege buildings for the strictly Agricultural
College. -''''' -
WHAT offer has been, or Is probable to be
made, comparable with this offer? It answers
the requirement substantially of an Indepen.
dent Institution, with the adjunct of all the
great privileges of an already existing one
4t guarantees the State from all necessity of
making yearly appropriations to sustain the
Agricultural College. 1t ensures an immedi
ATE vigorous organization of the new institu-
lion on scale Of enlarged maturity, such as
no other offer or plan can begin to promise
Tor years to come. Rightly drafted into a
Jaw, such an association of the old and new
institutions would be less likely to subiugate
the latter to the former, than to drown out
the former ultimately in the latter. Bow
ooln College Is self sustaining, and this offer
would make the new College selfsustaining
also, from the start. This, this Is The great |
0essdsrdtup to be attained. An INDEPENDENT |
sell sustaining State Agricultural College.
Win the vigor of an old, and the purity Of a
new Institution. .i,7HN'
Glimpses Of the Oanitol. ss