Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-16
Iowa Agriculture, College and Farm.


The Board Of Trustees of the Iowa
Agricultural College and Farm, in re-
cent memorial to the General Assembly,
present the following concise and bffef
history of the institution:
In 1853, the Legislature passed an act
appropriating $4,000 for the purchase
OF u farm on which to locate an Agri-
cultural College. A farm was purchas-
ed In 1859, in Story County, situated
about midway between Nevada and
Boonsboro, and about thirty miles di-
rectly north of Des Moines. The farm
contains GAS acres, aud Is admirably
adapted to the purposes of the institu-
ton, embracing oil the leading varieties
of soil i'm the State. No additional ap.
preparation has been made by the State
since the organic law was passed, but
the county of Story donated $4,000 In
the bonds of the county, bearing seven
per cent. interest. and individuals of
story and Boon counties donated in
lands and notes about 900 additional.
The organic law also diverted the five
sections of land granted by Congress to
the State for Capitol purposes, laying in
Jasper county. provided Congress would
consent. \ recent net of Congress gave
the control of the land to the State.
which is now under the charge of the
College Institution. These lands have
been sold for the sum of Sl6. 900.
The total receipts of the farm proper
from all sources. including cash, lands,
material aud labor, up to January lat,
1865, amounted to S5a, a,s3439. Total ex-
pcnditures on farm proper rs above
amount To S35 1852. II, leaving a balance
of "a, ,662, II in land and bills receivable.
The College proper has received from
the state $4,000, which has been ex-
pended for brick and foundations. Re-
ceived from Government 2i0, 100 acres of
land, valued at 500 per acre S4SO, ,OpU.
or these lands there has been leased ST.
436 31-l0O acres, at a total value of SlO9,-
1914, upon which there has been paid
advance interest of 81, ,74G.l3, as an en-
dowment to the Institution, making
grand total of receipts from state, Gov
ernment Counties and individuals of
$3.50, ,s3i.S9. Total expenditures up to
date, 500, ,l72.2., leaving n balance Of
S50i, ,662.l7.
Thus 1t will be seen that the financial
condition of the institution Is In
healthy state. The State has given tho
farm proper $40, 900, aud she has proper
ty for this small outlay amounting to
s59, ,s3l.39. The farm Is worth $4,000
more than tie State gave for IL, thus
making the farm proper worth to-day
S39, ,S34.39; and with the muuiticent
grant from Government, valued mt $780,
O0O. make u grand total of $3.50 ,S34 80.
This muniiicent grant having reliev-
ed the Board from any anxiety in re-
gard to the future endowment Of the
institution, they feel that a portion OF
the reserved assets might safely be used
to place the firm IN a condition 10 ex-
- l.
erai of the leading races OF improved an
imals of all kinds, and testing their val
ue by crossing Oh native breeds, best
mode of feeding, shelter, &C., and In
beautifyiIg the farm with useful trees
and shrubbcry, and preparing fully fos
the work contemplated In the establish
ment Of such an Institution.
Such is u brief history Of the Institu-
ton under the management of the
Board Of Trustees, which is almost ex-
clusively confined to the farm and the
operations thereon. The next point II
the College proper, and the course OF
studies to be pursued therein, which arc
specified in the organic law as follows,
with some other provisions in regard to
the reception Of students, &c. ...
SECTION Is. The course Of Instruction
in said College, shallinclude the follow
ing branches, to-wit: Natural Phiioso-
ply, Chemistry, Botany, Horticulture,
Fruit Growing, Forestry, Animal and
Vegetable Anatomy, Geology, Mineor-
ology, Entymology, Zoology, the Eeter-
mary Art, Plane Mensuration, Leveling,
Surveying, Book Keeping, aud such
mechanical arts us arc directly connect
ell with Agriculture; also, such other
studies as the Trustees may from time
to time prescribe, not inconsistent with
this act.
SEC. IL. The Board Of Tsuateoe shall
establish such Professorships SIS tksy
may deem best to carry into effect the
provisions Gf this act.
SEC. II. Tuition i'm the College here
in established shall be. forever free to
pupils from this State, over fourteen
years Of age, and who have been resi-
dents Of this State six months previous
to their admission. Applicants for ad-
mission must be Of good moral character
able to resd and write the English Ian
guage with ease and correctness, and
also to pass a satisfactory examination
in the fundamental rules of arithmetic.
SEC ls. The Trustees, upon consult
alton with the Professors and Teachers,
shall from time to time establish rules
regulating the number Of hours, to be
not less than two In winter aud three in
manual labor, and the compensation
therefor; aud no student shall be cgs
empt from such labor, except in case Of
sickness or other inllrmity.
The inquiry will naturally be made
in regard to the cost Of educating and
sustaining 4 scholar in the College for
one year. In the Farmers College of
Pennsylvania the price for board, lolg.
ing. washing fuel, aud lights Is fixed
ut $500 per nBGum. The cost In our In.
stitution would not exceed this sum,
from which would be deducted tho
amount credited for labor on the fnrm.
The tuition Is made free by law.
The exact financial condition OF the
trust placed under the charge of tho
Board, will appear in the annual report
of the Secretary.
Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM Fl. HOLMES,
PETER MELLNDT,
J. A. BRONSON.