Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-24
Remarks OF Mr.. Atwell OF OrOnO,

Remarks OF Mr.. Atwen Of OrOno,
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, in favor of
the appropriations for the State College Of Agri-
culture and the Mechanic Ats.
Having the honor to represent the town of
Orono, and as intimately con-versant with the
College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts
at that place as any one not directly connect
ed Herewith, it may not be amiss for me at
this time to make few remarks with regard
to that institution, its present status, its
merits as an institution of education, as re-
CARDS the physical and mental development,
its great future with regard to the rising gen.
Grafton of this State, as also its pressing
needs, the reason convincing, at least to us,
why assistance at this time should be granted.
l will premise my remarks by quoting from
the Author of the Act of Congress, granting
aid to this and like institutions, as follows:
''The design is to establish the College upon
a sure and perpetual foundation, acceptable
to all, and especially to the sons of toll where
all the needful sciences for the practical avo-
cations of life shall be taught, in order to
promote the liberal and practical education of
industrial classes in the several pursuits and
professions of life." Now Mr.. Speaker, so
far as this college has progressed nothing has
been left undone on the part of the trustees
and executive department, that was possible
to do with the means at their command, to
ensure success to the noble inception of the
founder of this college. And that foundation,
as firm as the granite hills, will carry the
name of Benjamin F. Wade of Ohio to future
time, as one of the greatest benefactors to
education of the generation in which he lived.
In the accomplishment of this noble work it
was not without the most untiring struggle on
his ri NTH hooyu a1Jc hin,
posing the most able men of the times. After
a six weeks fight in the Senate of the United
States, and although the act was denounced as
the most inconsistent and iniquitous that was
ever presented to any Congress, that he at
last trumphed.
And that triumph Mr.. Speaker, we to-day
are reaping the benefit of in having capital
which will forever remain undiminished, the
interest of which must inviolably be appro-
priated to that purpose, of all others the
most important to our race, the education Of
the coming man. For my own belief is, and
have no doubt am sustained by every man
upon this floor, that the education of our
children is the greatest wealth that it is pos
sible for US to bestow on them, in comparison
to which, gold is dross.
No pains have been spared in the principal
structures erected the past season, to make
them as near perfection for permanence as
stone and brick can possibly be laid, antici-
pating in the future very light expense for
them to last hundreds of years.
Thus you perceive, Mr.. Speaker, that not
only our sons, but our sons sons, are to be
the recipients of the benefit of this noble ms
titntion now in its infancy. The progress of
the college during the past year has been as
as could have been expected or
was anticipated by its warmest friends. Those
among us who the first year had doubts per-
haps, or fears, as to its final success, are now
unanimous in the expression that the last year
has been complete success-that it is rapid
ly taking rank alongside the best schools in
this State, either where manual labour under
any system is taught, or the usual methods in
our high schools and colleges. And have
no doubt sir-that in another year or two,
with the encouragement it most certainly de-
the able and efficient board of
trustees, faithful professors, and last but by
no means least, the gallant Chamberlain at
its head, whose varied literary attainments,
would be no more questioned than was his
sterling courage in our time of need, and the
man of all others in this State to develope the
institution, we will show you record that
will give us what we want more than aught
else, the confidence and good will of the citi-
zens of this State-without which we are
powerless, with it, all we need
follows in course.
In this college, unlike any other in this
State, the student can earn nearly one-half
the expense incident to boarding school, and
as general rule the winter vacation will af
ford him an opportunity to teach, thus making
a sum sufficient, nearly, to pay his current
expenses from year to year, while he is not
only getting a thorough education, but also a
training, to enable him if he contemplates
agricultural pursuits, to take any and all the
advantages to which his years of study and
experience have eminently fitted him, while
if he prefers mechanical pursuits, either in
wood or metals, we trust, and feel assured,
that the time is not far distant when the col
lege of agriculture and the mechanic arts,
through the just and discriminating munifi-
cence of this State will be enabled to furnish
not only the brains cultivated to the highest
degree possible, but the bodies hardened by
the discipline of labor, to that state of per-
fection only attained by regular employment
a portion of each day in some manual labour.
And we have the most perfect assurance that
within the next decade this college will be
to furnish to this State, and the
world at large, our sons, not only thoroughly
educated, but highly skilled as farmers, ma
chinists and workers of wood in all its various
that too without the usual
loss of vitality attendant on our college grad
yates of the present day. Ready to do
the battle of life, be the sky clear or clouded,
assured of the fact that they have that within
them which must sooner or latter place them in
the front rank of their fellow citizens, as who
among us takes precedence of the educated
mechanic.
Allow me here to remark without being
egostistical, that we believe the system OF
labour in this college is far preferable
to any in New England if we may perhaps
except the Massachusetts, Agricultural Col
lege, which is if we are rightly informed
of the same general outline as contemplated
by the institution at Orono.
We believe the most serious objection arises
from schools where the students have the
privilege of doing as they choose, either to
work or play-during all the hours which it
is both unnecessary and also unhealthy for them
to study-or perhaps might more properly