Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-01-20
From the New York Tribune.
Iowa Agricultural College.

n ~ ~
Before the passage Of the Agricultu-
raj College bill by Congress, the State
of Iowa had organized an institution
tor instruction in Agriculture, ard
when the act was passed its terms
were, el course, accepted. l'y this act
land is granted TO each State according
to the number OF electoral votes, the
proceeds OF which were TO be devoted
10 the teaching OF such branches OF
learning as are related to agriculture
and the mechanical arts, including mil
i,ary tactics without excluding scicn-
titic or classical studies. Hence, 4 State
must provide the farm, and must build
and make all necessary improvements.
Iowa selected most OF the land within
her own border, and, instead OF selling
it at Il sacrifice, rs most ot the States
have done, it was rented tor five to ten
years for the interest Oh valuation OF
from S:. to 81 III acre, and the revenue
from this source is now about $50 900
. a year, amply sufficient for She support
of all the professors. But it seems
lha, this amount is not likely ever to
be much increased, tor the reason that
those who have rented the land have
the privilege of buying it at the ap
praised value. IN arrangement which
one would think might have been i'm
proved. The location oi the College
Is about mile from Ames, S,ory Coun-
w, and the College firm includes a
section, of 6i0 acres, part timbcrcd,
tie remainder being rich prairie; but,
rich rs it il, | noticed that all the ma
nure was saved. The Legislature has
appropriated, for buildings and i'm
provcments, si6o.0on. The College
building is noble in design and well
adapted to the object. The cost was
abou, s140,ooo 1t is lighted 10y gas,
warmed by furnace, and water Is
forced 20 every part by means OF
wind mill. which fills arescrvnir III the
attic. The use OF n windmill tor this
purpose is so obvious, and the expense
Of erection and repairs so slight, that
It Is wonder it is seldom adopted
Even tor use i'll a private dwelling, aud,
in connection, Tor farm purposes, 1T
should be of great advantage, While
upon the vast PLAINS. where irrigation
is required and streams are remote, IT
w.ul.i seem TO settle the question OF
making those regions habitab!c. 1t is
expected that siU0,0 900 will be appro-
priated in addition, tor another build
ing, inasmuch as 30 young persons
male application last year, but could
| not be received, for want OF room.-
The number OF students last year was
80, OF whom 80 were young women.
and all arc accommodated with rooms
in the same building; hut it has been
discovered that it would be better to
have the sexes under separate roots.
The reason for this was not stated, nor
was i, necessary to state it.
HOW THE STUDENTS LIVE AND WORK.
As the farm is new, much heavy, and
what could be called dead work, was
required, most of which was performed
by the students. They graded and
soddcd all around the buildings; they
made thirteen acres of lawn, the finish
ing work OF which required the use cf
shoyels, rakcs, and hoes, and the work
was we'll done. They planted an or
chard OF 500 trees, raised 5000 trees in
nursery rows, set out csergreens and
hedges, dug cellars and bitches, and in
one place dug ditch 50 rods long,
which averaged IL teet deep, and this
was done 10y some OF the best scholars.
They butchered, toddyrel and cared
tor cattle and horses, and always
MIXED. OF stock there are 60 head,
including Ayrshire, Alderney, Devons,
and Durhams, with grades, l2O good
bIoodel sheep, with shepherd dogs,
IL horses, and 70 hogs
The prices paid the students for work
was from to 10 cents an hour. They
are charged 1915 a week tor board,
which is good, and this sum pays also
tor room rent, fuel and light, and they
pay SO cts dozen Tor washing. Those
who drink tea and coffee arc charged
extra. Something above a dozen have
more than paid their way by their Ia
Dor; upward OF half have more than
halt paid it, The little fellows sent
from towns were so tlis shty and required
SO much watching, that their wages
were cut down to 4 cents an hour, out
those nearly men, grown and brought
up in idlcness, are ashamed TO be cut
down, and Notwithstanding their hands
$Presidcnt Welch makes the following cor
rccion Of the above statement
'.The actual number in the building at any
one tine was one hundred aud sixty, that be-
ing the limit Of its capacity. In addition e
this number there were come fifteen hundred
boarding outside, and the aggregate Of the
different students who attended during the
year Was one hundred aud ninety one.