Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-12
AGRICULTURAL,
The igricwlturai college.


Hon. Thomas :. Lang, Senator from
Kennebec County, made an interesting
speech in support of q resolve in favor OF
the State College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts, in which he spoke Of the
resources of Maine and the Kind Of men
necessary to the development OF The
State. We wish our space allowed MS to
insert the whole of Mr. Lang's valuable
speech.
We give the following extracts
lis there a portion Of the globe better
fitted by nature for such developments IN
her children, than the State OF Maine9
with its enviable geographical position, as
cool bracing atmosphere. giving health
and energy, with variety Of soil and posi-
ton fitted for varied products, necessary
for dense population; nayigable rivers
into the interior: bold shore of harhors.
the natural haunts OF the tribes Of the sea
while her lakes and springs will supply
the motive power for a world machinery.
With lumber. granite. slate, lime and
other building materials Of the finest
quality and in abundance and undevelop-
ed mineral wealth, which is Yet to be
made available 70 the necessities of the
people a system OF railways. which, when
completed will offer facilities To every
locality, and a. no distant day, Europe 60
ing west. and the western world going
east, are destined 10 pay Us tribute. With
such material advantages. shall your sons
seek more favored educational adv antageS
in States less welded To the old rutS of
academical and collegiate education? or,
shall we awake in sister StatcS,-vie with
them in planting lortresses of strength
and progrcss'
Let 10 one infer that / would take from
the proud record of institutions Tor the
diffusion Of knowledge which i, i the
privilege of the people of the State of
Maine 10 enjoy. On the contrary, am
ready 10 work steadily Tor their advance
ment. and to urge lh.E. every dollar ap-
propriated in establishing such institutions
Is money well laid out in the best interests
of the State
An honor 10 4 State which has done SO
much to establish such a lis, of Education
al Institutions - Maine has.
find We have an aggregate of Sls9, All
in money, and G2S, 9j9 acres of land given
for educational purposes. Allowing fifty
cents per acre for the land, and it is too
high undoubtedly, and YOU have little
less than halt a million dollars given for
such purposes, * applied TO the pcrman-
ent Improvements of your educational in
situations and this has been laid out most
" in - wears. You will sect i, only one
half of one per cent. of the farming and
industrial products Of Maine for one year.
Is there 4 man who has the great inter
eSts Of the people Of the State al heart,
that regrets this comparatively small out
Law? rejoice, Mr. President, that there
have been those who have acted so ju-
diciOusly for these institutions. whose stu
dents now I'll the responsible places in
every department Of life the world over,
and who bless your foresight and their
native soil.
The point wish n make in referring
to these interests willie speaking Of the
Industrial College. Is the wide difference
in their intention and range OF instruction.
Your colleges and academies teach and
spread theories and discoveries. already
made. Your Industrial College also makes
that an important branch of her laboss ;
but our all Is \ distinguishing feature is
the department for discovery, field
which the world is fast entering upon Is
there, on this continent, upon which the
richest gifts has been poured. from the
pole to the equator. more than one inStitu-
ton endowed for the specific purpose OF
discovery? well know that q few Of
the colleges within few years have been
opening profesSorships in this direction,
but as a whole they are engaged in the diff
fusion of discoveries already made.
In endowing or establishing this in
stitution. for which we ask your assistance
YOU open new book, (yiewed by some
as altogether chimericaD that will es-
tablish itself 4 place in your Political
Economy" as important as daylight to q
traveller in a strange place.
What makes Massachusetts take such
place among the States by which she is
surrounded Possessing only third-rate
natural advantages. vet her manufactur.
ing interests far outrank her sister States,
simply because each mandatory is the
result of useful discoveries, and these
manufactures are active ;practical schools
for new discoveries, hindered only BY
their efforts to keep such discoveries Sc.
cret, instead of spreading them for the
benefit of the people.
Go across the ocean What is the