Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-25
The Vermont Agricultural College.


ly its inhabitants are always enterpris-
ing In the prosecution OF their private
business. Collectively they are not al
ways so enterprising in matter of pub
lie concern and Importance, A stranger
would naturally suppose, for example,
from the very thin attendance at the
meeting held on Monday evening to take
measures with reference 10 securing the
location of the State Agricultural Col
lege in Rutlnnd, that it was matter of
no sort of importance to the town. Yet
II is a matter which, though of public
character, directly and greatly concerns
the private business of every one Of our
citizens. 1t Is true that the notice of
the meeting was short, yet 1t was long
enough and general enough to have Sc
cured full meeting, had the people
been awake to the Importance of the
subject. II is probable that their alb
sorption in their private affairs had pre-
vented their giving the matter due con-
sideration, and it is to urge them to take
this subject into their thoughts that we
speak of it again.
Here is a State institution-an insti-
tuition founded under the patronage of
the general government-an institution
in which our public men, our State au
thorities and the whole people of the
State, do and will take a special interest,
that is to be established somewhere in
Vermont. There is no doubt of its es-
Establishment there is little doubt of its
success, for the reason that with the
funds secured in the outset it will be
self-supporting. One hundred Thousand
dollars, at least, are to be raised by sub
scription, which will be Immediately
expended in tie town where the college is
located. The interest on one hundred and
thirty thousand dollars more(t the amount
of the fund donated by COngress) will
be annually expended 10 the same place.
All the students attending the institu-
tion are to be fed and clothed in the
same place. The amount Of trade thus
created in any place where fGurishing
college is located, is wonderful. Cacu-
late the average amount of money
which one student is in the habit of ex-
pending per year, at college, and multi
ply this by the probable number of stu
dents. Every business man of Rutland
who subscribes for the purpose of Sc
curing the location of this institution |
in town, makes what will probably |
prove his best paying investment. And |
what benefits the tradesman, benefits |
equally the property holder by increas-
ing the value of his property, benefits the
farmer by increasing the market for his
products and the value of his farm, and
generally as is well known, what benefits
one branch of business in any place re-
""ueflcially upon all branches.
acts ~
N"ly one view Of the sub
n'' n 'n.' , - ~ ~ the College here
|eCb. lhe AoS"e"h Va ~+iO,, So
would give Rutland repuUe..v..
"'"i' a''i" -, which is al
ready the artih"'' 80 40 soto
othn~' ---Niai "0N'iN - |
business not necessarily Connected !
with College in any way, get brought
here by the influence oll its name; IL
would tend to attract 'Aere men of edu-
cation and men of wealth and leisure
for residence; anc. would thus benefit
again the mater al interests of the place,
by increasing .rade and the value OF prop
erty, not to speak more particularly OF
its social and educational interests. And
there aye many other ways in which the
locati on of this State College here would
bep eft the town, of which we have no
s,,ace to speak more particularly now,
but which will readily occur to any one
who will give the subject consideration.
Some are inclined to doubt the success
of an Agricultural College. But it
should be remembered that the act of
Congress does not exclude classical
studies, and there is no reason why 1t
may not be made good classical as well
as scientific and agricultural institution.
The success OF COllege ucpenuS upoh
its endowment and proper manage
ment. Its endowment is secured; and
with the help of this and the interest
which will be manifested in it by the
whole State as a State institution, its
good management will doubtless be Sc
cured.
Here, then, is rare opportunity for
Rutland. The corporators of the col
lege, we believe, are already lavOrably
disposed TO this town as the proper To-
cation of the institution. But its loca-
ton here will depend upon the degree OF
interest manifested in it, and the amount
of subscriptions made by this county
and especially by this town towards its
establishment. The people of the couu-
ty will see that what benefits the Coun-
ty seat will more or less directly benefit
the whole county. But upon the people
of this town, after all, it devolves to
make special effort. And it must be
made now or the onnOrtunity will he