The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-23
THURSDAY EVENING, NOV. 28, 1871.
THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
COLLEGE SCRIP.

The Legislature will soon convene and
we trust with an earnest determination to
make the short session, to which it is
limited, busy and fruitful with good works.
Prominent among the important business
which will come before it, is the matter of
disposing of the Land Scrip by the general
government. This important matter was
crowded out last winter, by schemes of
private speculation, and special legislation.
1t should engage the early attention of our
representatives this winter. We trust that
every farmer and mechanic in Virginia,
who values the best education for his chill
dren, and the opportunities such an institu-
ton affords, will take lively interest in
this matter, and urge 1t upon the member
from his district. There is little chance for
making any money on this measure, but in
it are bound up the interests of thousands
of our youth.
The State has done much for the educa-
ton of the professions. 1t is certainly not
unreasonable to ask that itrshould simply
spend few hours time in applying fund
given for the education of its producing
classes, of which it has accepted charge.
We are not disposed to insist upon any pet
plan of administering this fund, but we do
demand that it shall be controlled by men,
who take an intelligent interest in those
pursuits, which it is especially designed to
benefit. We protest that this fund shall
not be handed over to professional men, to
be divided among schools already endowed.
We ask that it shall be placed in the hands
of those who will give the time and thought
ful attention requisite. for its proper appli-
cation, whose interests and tastes are
parallel with the purposes it was designed
to compass, and whose large and liberal
views will prevent any attempt to localize
its benefits. Placed in the hands of such
commission or board of trustees, plan
will be adopted, which will meet the needs
of the working men of the State. We have
no faith in any attempt of the Legislature
to fix the details Of such plan. The ques-
ton of location will be one of the most diff
cult, and would of itself occupy as much
time as the granting Of a railroad charter.
Let the Governor appoint commission,
with full powers to locate and organize an
institution, STIMULATING only general terms,
and providing that the location should be
given to the place that should give most in
land, money and buildings, The Western
States have nearly doubled their funds in
some cases, in this manner. We hope there
will be no further delay in giving to the
workingmen of Virginia the use of the fund
donated by the general government. The
interest on knowledge is just as clearly an
item in the assets of man or State as
the coupons on his bonds. But while we
can calculate the one at definite per cent,
the other is infinite and incalculable. Every
day that we retain this fund, our youth are
deprived Of its benefits, and the loss to
them and to the world no human power
Can foretell. We sincerely trust there will
be enough intelligent regard for the interests
and honor of the State in the new Legisla-
ture to apply this fund promptly to its
proper uses.