The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-01-17


so state that the further sum Of 10000
win be required TO sustain the institu-
ton until an. appropriation from the
Legislature will become available
The Board of Control therefore ask
that an appropriation Of $4,000 be
made to meet the deficiencies of 1893
and 1864, and also the further sum Of
$14, 900 be made to meet the deficienc.
les of 1868 and 1854 and also the fur
ther sum of S44, ,00Oto meet the current
expenses Of the school for the year 1865
and 1866. llG' 12ps
The object of this institution is no.
bic one, being the reformation and ed
ucation Of juvenile offenders, and al.
though burdcnsome to the treasury,
comncnds istelf to our synpathies, and
claims our support. The school is re-
preseoted as being in flo lfishing and
prosperous condition, aud rs fully ac.
complishing the benevolent purposes
for which it was instituted. / there
fore respectfully recommend that such
appropriation be made as many, upon
a careful examination, be deemed neces
sary to meet all its legitimate wants for
the years 1866 and 1866. iff.
STATE AGRIcULTUEAL COLLEGE.
The Agricultural College was origi.
nally established by act of the Lcgisla-
ture, approved Feb. 10Th, 1866, in ac-
cordance with the provision of the Con-
stitution, which declares that ''the Leg
islature shall encourage the promotion
of intellectual scientific and agricultural
improvements; and shall, as soon as
practicable, provide for the establish
ment of an agricultural school," BY
the provisions of said act, 676 acres of
land Were subsequently purchased for
the purpose Of an experimental farm
and site for such agricultural school
buildings were erected thereon, and on
the 18th day of May, 1857. the school
was formally opened. Here, we find
Michigan taking the lead in the progress
sive spirit of the age. BY this action
she became the first State in the Union
to found and establish an institution of
learning in connection with agricultu-
raj labor and experiment. BY an act
of Congress, approved July I'd, 1862,
an appropriation of 100000 acres of
public lands was made to the State for
the ''endowment, support and main
tenance of at least one College wherethe
leading object shall be without exclu-
ding other scientific and classical stud
les, and including military tactics, to
teach such branches Of learning as are
related to agriculture and the mechanic
arts in such 4 manner as the Legisla-
ture of the State may prescribe, in or
der to promote the liberal and practical
education of the industrial classcsin the
several pursuits and professions in life."
Said act of Congress also provided that
no portion of the fund arising from the
sale of said lands, nor interest thereon,
"shall be applied directly or indirectly,
under anv nrftence WhateyGr to The
pair of any building or buildings" BY
an act ofthe Legislature approved Feb
ruary 25th 1868, this grant was accept
ed by the State in accordance with all
the conditions and provisions in the
aforesaid act Of Congress. This en-
dowment, if these lands are carefully
and judiciously selected, will very soon
be sufficient to give the institution a
fair if not liberal support. In the
mean time it is imperative upon the Leg
islature, by the express provisions of
the Constitution, to make reasonable
appropriations for its support. ] ami
aware that in consequence Of the very
unfavorable circumstances surrounding
this institution during the first few years
of its existence, and which to a very
great extent controlled its operations,
many of the people Of the State, who
should have been deeply interested in
its prosperity and success, inbibed
strong prejudices against it, and were
even disposed to abondonit altogether.
l trust, however, that such persons viii
suspend judgment If they have not all
ready done so-until an opportunity
shall have been had for the Institution
to do justice to itself and to its friends,
l am very certain that it will, if reason
able time be given for that purpose. It
has now, / believe, outliyed much Of
the prejudice heretofore existing against
it, and will very soon, with proper en-
couragement and support, bcgiu to de-
velop some of the many benefits and bles-
sings that are yet destined to flow from
it.
Of all classes Of our citizens the fars
mer is the most deeply interested in its
success. 1t is i'll fact the turner's i,ist;-
tuition, and he should--as / hope he
very soon will-regard it with pride.
lfto some it may have seemed that its
demands upon the treasury have thus
far been somewhat large, yet it should
be remembered that we are laying the
foundation of q noble institution-one
destined to reflect great credit not only
upon the farmer and the mechanic, but
also upon the whole State; and that
the amount which has been expended,
although large in itself, is yet small in
comparison with the magnitude of the
interests which it secures. Agriculture
is no longer what it was once regarded
by the majority Of other professions of
men, and partially admitted by the far-
mer himself to be--a low menial en-
ployment--a mere drudgery-a delv-
ing in the sofia simple round oflabors,
i'll which no thought, or mind, or study
was necessary-but is becoming recog.
nized as noble science. Formerly
any man who had merely sufficient
sense to do just rs his father did before
him, and to follow his example and
initiate his practice, was regarded AS
fully competent TO become farmer