The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-06-24
Iowa STATE AG'oLTL COLLEGE,
AMEs, SToRT co,
juno 18th. 1869. !

Nothing SO difficult as Il beginning
Except, perhaps, it be the end" -ot
| Long before now. Mr.. CoyRIfR, ]
wanted to burn the "midnight taper
for your edifcation, Cor otherwise
but in unconsciously defcrring it old
Father Time stole unheedcd by be
fore l had undertaken beginning
| Your paper makes its weekly visit
regularly, and is always received as
a welcome visitor. Indeed its pleas
ant columns serve as a very agreca-
bic intermission to the often tedious
steps on the road of Science.
No doubt the worthy people OF
Wapello's broad expanse would not
find amiss word as to the progress
of this young institution, and how
we Ottumwaites are borne along on
the tide of "human events" pre-
sumo the latter may be summed up
in the brief chapter of ''doing well, "
while perhaps the former and more
interesting may demand u longer no.
tice
That the college is making pro-
gress of which, every true lover Of
advancement may well feel proud, is
fact our people will be gratified to
learn. However, let them bear fully
in mind the difficulties to be encoun-
tered which tend to retard rapid pro-
gress. The path of any new under
taking is seldom smooth one, and
colleges arc no exception to the rule.
This Institution is new in many OF
it's features, and these now principles
are getting a thorough test by prac-
tical men. The labors consequent to
keeping the college in smooth nun
ming order arc immense, and it re-
quires men of Atlas shoulders to hear
them up. OF itself, the task of bend
ing such a large number of students
to college discipline, is no light one.
Students assembled from every part
of the State, each with his own PEI
culiar idea of what constitutes right
or wrong, and to direct all these
minds in one channel, to mould them
in one common mass, is more diff
cult task than one would at first sup
pose. f.,..,
To meet these difficulties requires
men of energy and earncstness; men
who hold the interest of The State
and education dear at heart. 1t is a
matter of qualification that VIC, have
just such men in charge of affairs,
and we can have no higher assrir-
acc OF success than that We have the
present working faculty we have a
President Welch, who also fills the
chair of English Language and Lit
erature with his other duties, is one
to whom the cause of education is
under deep and lasting obligations
He has devoted a long life of earnest
labor, toiling to promote the intellec-
tual welfare Of bis fellows. Surely,
if there is merit in dispolling the
dark shades of Ignorance, in burst.
ing the bond of intellectual darkness,
and freeing the human soul from the
narrowncss Of Superstition, and its
kindred spirits, Bigotry and Preiu-
dice, then his name, and those of his
co-workcrs, will grow green with
rccceding time, and move with unia-
ding lustrc around tho cycle of CON-
ing ages.
DR.. Townshend fills the chair OIL
Practical Agriculture and Veterinary
Science. He also, has devoted hfo
time to the study Of Nature and her
laws He is man of deep learning
and acute observation, and the record
of his public life is sufficient guar
anty that the State could not better
fill his place. 2
Z
DIR. Foote, Professor of Chemistry,
is a young man, but who has already
made such progress in science, and
shown such proficiency in his deport-
ment, as leave but little doubt that
he will do his share in the cause of
advancement, and yet make no mean
mark among men of learning. Pity
It's, that there arc not more such
men in the world--men Of deeds in
stead Of words.
The chair of Mathematics is filled
by Geo. W. Jones, a graduate of Yale
College. There is not another man
in the State with more energy in
anything he undertakes, whether il
be Mathematics, or anything else.---
As a proficient in the department. OF
which he is professor, it would be q
difficult task to find his superior I"
Such arc theprincipald departments
now fully organized, and such are
the men who occupy them. Aitho
more departments are contemplated
these aro all that is needed yet
Others will be organized as fast q
necessity demands. al
/ Will you allow mo to correct ii mis-
take in your last Weekly 2 Tho'col
lege is not at Nevada, but at Ames
in the western part. of the county
ten miles west of Nevada. Ames i
nice little place Of six or eight hui
dred inhabitants. Although neve
destined to bo the 'hub of the un
verse" il win make avery good plac
! nevertheless.
: Another the number OF student
! from our county is fourteen, instea
, OF thirteen. | don't know whethc
our county is more energetic, or BIZ
Il i5I4..-- i,