Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-12-04
lewa state Agric ulsasal College.

We received call yesterday from A. s.
WEIGH. President elect Of this institution,
now United States Senator from Florida
Hs was on his way to Washington to resume
his Senatorial duties, having spent the yaca,
ton in the discharge Of his Presidential du
ties. He reports the College as having open
ed mos, auspiciously. On the 2lst of las.
month the il stitution was opened. Sixty
one students were adm.tted-Eily-fonr Young
! men ard seven young ladies'. Others have
since come in. and there are now about enc
hundred III az. Tue present term, which
will close on the seventh O. January, is only
fragmentary. The first regular year viii be-
! gin Gu Tie third "Wednesday in March.
| After this year it will commence the FIRST
Wednesday in March. This change is to
| give tie President elect time TO finish his
duties at Washington. We may remark, in
passing, that Senator Welch was offered tls
long, or six years, term, but preferred the
| short, because be wished to take hold ofthis
educational enterprise.
The cardinal defect in the agricultural
college system OF the country is that the APP
preparations made By Congress have been,
in the majority Of cases, glossy misapplied
As Mr.. Weleh says in his address 10 the
Trusteeson the plan Of organization, .'ihe
Congressional grant from which our endow-
ment arises is pointed and explicit. 1t de-
elares that the leading object shall be, with
out excluding other scientific and classical
studies, and including military tactics, 10
teach such branches q learning as are reias>
|. ed 10 agriculture and the mechanic arts, ia
order to promote the liberal and practical
education Of the industrial classes, in the
! several pursuits and professions Of life. No
|, doubtful constructio. Of such language is
| possible. The principal clause announces
10 precise English that the leading object
shall be. to teach such branches Of learn
ing IS are related to agriculture and the me-
ehanic arts aud the gist Of the adjucts
which Sc: forth the FINAL purpose Is 40 edS
: cate tie isdusfridl elasses for their purssis.
in life" The address does not make invid,
uous comparisons, which would be in bad
taste, TO cay the least but it Is none The lssa
true that in many instances the appropria.
3 tons have been merely tackled on 70 exist
ing institutions,ssor else the new college bai
4 been made more classical than industrial
9 The department Of English literature il y
I important in such . college ~ in any other
but that OF the ancient or Of the foreign Ian
. guages should be dispensed with. Il Is q
we'll enough to study those branches; bu
Q there are other schools which make amp!
pfovision therefor. Each State should hsv
one institution devoted exclusively TO sci
snas = applied to the various uses Of thi
"working.d sy world This was the idea o
o Congress, and no State has . right 70 per
= vert the grant to any other end than thu
contemplated By tbs Rrsst.
VI For fidelity 70 The spirit and IL Ieatss {
II the grant, The foanders, trustees ssd Prssi
dent Of he Iowa Agricultural Collags d
!. serve spaeial praise. Il sagnn veil q u
success Of he institution. Chicago Joss
nal