The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-30
evening State goarnaL.
THE FARMERS In COUNCIL
PETERSBURG CONVENTION
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND DAY.

| OF representatives. A motion was mace
to establish just basis in taking all votes
hereafter. The vote adopting the constr
tuition the night before was clearly con-
trolled by allowing the by.standers
and persons not properly delegated to
cote. To avoid this was therefore
| very important, If the Convention looked
| to permanent usefulness. The Chair called
| ten ion to the constitution itself, which
provided against any recurrence OF the ex-
| traordinary vote taken last evening, by
sealing the vote when the ayes and noes
| are called upon any proposition.
THE REPORT ON FERTILIZERS.
The President called for the report of
the Committee on Fertilizers.
DIR. Briggs said all the members were alb
sent save himself, and no report could yet
be made.
Colonel Ruffin wanted to hear what pro-
gress the committee had made, and when
they will be ready to report.
DR.. Briggs said the committee was to
have met before the Convention to exam
inc skeleton of the report prepared by
himself. In tho absence of majority OF
the committee he did not feel Authorized to
submit the report.
Colonel Ruffln did not desire to have the
time set apart for the consideration of this
report taken up with any other BUSH
ness. He moved that the committee be re.
quested to report IN thirty minutes.
DR.. Briggs suggested that as more dele
gates would be in by the trains to-day, the
reports should not be too much hurried.
This is too important matter to hurry
through with.
During the discussion, the chairman Of
the committee, Mr.. P. J. Holmes, of South
ampton, and another member came into
the hall--and the committee retired to pea
feet their report.
THE AGRICULTURAL AND AIECHANT-
CAL COLLEGE.
DR.. Hurt, of Sussex, suggested that dl-
ring the absence of the committee the Con-
vention hear Professor G. L. G. Minor,
President of the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College, at Blacksburg, Montgomery
county.
PROF. MINORS REMARKS.
Prof. Minor then addressed the Conven-
ton, in answer to an invitation from the
chair, He said he would trespass on their
patience for but short tune to make
known to the farmers-the persons most
interested-the work now doing in their
| college. 1t is well known that the school
| is endowed with the proceeds of the land
| scrip given the State by Congress for the
| purpose, The fund enables them to bring
a first rate education within reach of poor
| men, and not only is there for large num-
Der exemption from fees for tuition and
| other privileges of the college. but for the
very cheap rate of board and the simple
habits prevailing in the community
| enable q student to confine his whole
| expenditures besides cloth ng) within $3.50
for tho session Of ten months. The SIM
plest home-spun dress worn by any work.
ing lad at home will do at the college, for
| it is the dress of most Of the students, and
the public opinion of the place keeps such
| simplicity in countenance and makes 1t feel
| at home. Among the students are sons Of
| gentlemen who have lived in luxury, but
| they have learned the lessons Of the times,
and feel, and therefore show no contempt
fer the poverty and the manual labor with
which experience famiiarzed them.
The rapid growth Of the college for some
weeks past has shown that the trustees
were right in not delaying the opening for
another year, as some thought it necessary
to do, that there might be some accumula-
ton of tho funds to meet the expenses Of
equipment for first opening. The short
time given for preparation. and the neces.
sary absence of the faculty till within 0
few days before the opening, caused the
knowledge of the privileges offered to pen.
citrate to but few of the country people, and
at first but handful Of students presented
themselves. AS the knowledge of tho rea
work that was doing spread abroad, anl
the mistaken impression that it was tt
be a mere labor school Of the most ele
mentary sort was dssipated, the students
came 10 fast--two days ago there were sew
enty-eight students present, and plan evi
dence that there is yet to be large further
increase. The capacity of the collsg
buildings is already overtasked, and tn
village of Blacksburg has to lodge man,
of the boys. By judicious efforts the min
imum rate of table board has been re
duced from sl2 to sl0, and even 80 pc
month, and there is little doubt that it ca
be still further reduced.
To the question naturally suggesting il
self what the peculiar work of the colleg
! Is which entities it to the name it bears
3 the answer is as follows: To furnish an
education at all to the working farmer an
mechanic is new, peculiar and distinctly
task in Virginia, and still more to make
a comprehensive and liberal education. 4
F. few of the students have enjoyed exceE
: tional advantages and come well prepare
:. for the ordinary course of college proper
10 these the Professor gladly furnishes
!, suitable course, in the higher mathematic
y the sciences, and the languages, ancient
! well as modern. But far the greater nun
:, Der received preparatory training durin
/, the first year, and must have it as a foul
dation for their farther studies. Just
soon es they are able to do it they brane
= off into the elements Of chemistry, natur,
philosophy, and the other sciences, upo
r which rest the arts they are to practice. I'll
complete details of the course of speci
't preparation for their respective occupation
r, to be given the students have not yet bee
settled, only sixty days having elaps,
u, since the opening. There is much ligh
i, however, and much encouragement f
" those who have the task in hand. II
"a more than fifteen years past some of Il
es States have been experimenting with
and their reports, and the inspection Of 4
q, schools in operation, afford rich lesson
r not only what to do, but what not to d
p their numerous failures being no less
&c | OF fl,o, tba;v fam cnoooccac