The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-12
The Agricultural College.

The Agricultural College.
This college is intended to elevate tothe
dignity of science the practical processes
Of agricultural and mechanical industry,
to diffuse knowledge upon these subjects,
and thus to improve the condition OF the
State at large. The institution should be
so placed as to effect these purposes both
in the shortest time and in the best
manner.
Situated away from the general notice,
the diffusion Of this knowledge and the
production of the consequent improve
ment, especially upon the agriculture OF
the State, could be effected only through
the slow process of educating young farm
ers and sending them out to put their
knowledge into practice. Their numbers
would be, of course, limited, and not all of
them would go to work in the State.
Therefore, only after a number of years
would the influence Of the college begin to
be felt.
Founded, on the other hand, where it
would lie under the annual inspection of
large numbers Of the present active
farmers, planters, and mechanics of the
State. and where it would form a most i'm
portant feature in the yearly agricultural
shows and fairs, its influence would AT once
be felt for good. This general and indirect
instruction and example, addressed to men
keenly alive to every intimation involving
their interests, would be scarcely less valu-
able than that communicated to the actual
students. Shall all of this be utterly lost
by founding the college in some remote
situation?
The objects of the institution in their
mechanical aspect can nowhere be as ade-
quately met as in this city. Here are now
in actual application and display the ma
chinery, the methods, the products ofme-
chanical industry OF a scale equalled no.
where else in the State. Placed elsewhere,
all these advantages, which here cost no.
thing for the purposes of the college, must
be imperfectly supplied by models and ap-
paratus, to be put up and preserved IN suit
able 6uldinqs. The Legislature, in accept
ing this fund, has assumed a solemn moral
obligation. They are bound to see the op-
;ects Of the grant adequately achieved.
The law prescribing the conditions OF 'he
grant forbids that any portion OF the fund
shall be expended in building. II, then,
buildings are required for the accomplish
ment of any portion of the mechanical in
s,ruction contemplated, as they undoubt-
ed,v will be in any location but here, the
Legislature will be morally bound to sup
NV them. How is this to be done? Is an
already over-taxed people to pay for them
and find themselves entrapped by this gift
; from the United States into obligations
which will add to the ruinous burdens now
mon us, Richmond College, near this
CITY. offers its buildings, which, because Of
its proximity to the Supply-shopS Of The city
are sufficient for the objects of the grant,
after the purchase Of the farm contem'
plated by the United States law. The
additional boarding houses which may be
required as the attendance at the college
increases would be supplied by private
enterprise as soon as the demand is felt
Competition, too, would render the class
of board needed as cheap here as it could
be furnished in any other central location
There are people still living who
think that Q college should not be near 9
city. This opinion they hold in face o
the fact that all the leading institutions O
the kind in the world are near cities Of
townsville universities of Gottingen, Leip
sic, and Berlin in Germany-of Cambridgt
and Oxford in England-and Yale, Brown
University. Cambridge, and the Universit!
Of Virginia in this country. If a success
full college be founded in the rural districts
enormously supposed to be "remote from
temptation" it will create a town near it
and in this connection cities are decided.
preferable TO towns