The Portland daily press., 1872-12-30
Annual Reports Of the Officers Of the
Agricultural College.

The report of the Trustees, President AM
Farm Superintendent of the State Colleg
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts to be pre-
sented to the Legislator, contains man,
matters of interest to our people The Trus
tees, all of whom are practical men, state a
the beginning of their report that ga review
of thu year just ended inspires new hopes
and expectations in the minds of the Trus
tees and officers of the College, as to its lu-
ture usefulness and eff iency."
In referring to the present condition of the
Institution, they say:
The number of students has been largely
increased. Seventy-one now respond to the
''rolI-call' Of these, fifty-seven belong to
the two lower cl ssses. The Freshman class,
now numbering thirty-two is almost certain
to be increased considerably at the beginn ng
of the next term. Perhaps not more than
one in ten of the young men connected with
tn Institution would ever have attempted to
obtain liberal education but for the facili
tics offered at the State College. We have
accommodations for one hundred and twenty
five students. There is scarcely doubt but
these will be uly appropriated within the
next two years. The students have prompt
lv and cheerfully performed the tasks assigned
them, whether of study or of aoork. Fo II
years of experience and observation have
confirmed the conviction of the Tru tees and
officers that manual labor is most valuable
necessary auxiliary to study and health A
member of the class which graduated at
Orono in August, declared publicly that he
had performed the most study when he had
worked the hardest Mr.. Cornell, in speak
ing of the students of Cornen University, on
a recent occasion, said that 'the hardest
workers are the best scholars" The Trus-
tees only regret that they cannot furnish
more labor.
The trustees ask for aA appropriation from
the State of $4,000 to be devoted to perma-
nent Improvements. increased facilities of in
struction and the payment of outstanding
debts amounting to $1,000.
President Aliens report gives full EXPOSE
ton of the years work in all the departments
of instruction and plainly set s for b the adj
vantages and wants of the institution. OF
the instruction the past year the President
says:
In pursuing the course of instruction, with
the means at our disposal, the constant en-
deavor has been made to impart to all who
have availed themselves of the privileges of
the institution, thorough knowledge of tie
sciences most necessary to be known by the
industrial classes, and to show the applica-
ton of these sciences to the arts of life. Es-
pecia attention has therefore been given TO
those sciences which are closely connected
with agriculture and kindred pursuits. Much
time and care has been devoted to the studies
of chemistry, botany, zoology, human and
comparative anatomy, and physiology. Sup
rior facilities of acquiring thorough knowl-
edge of the higher mathematics have been
afforded to all; while those who are seeking
81, I,,,A
been required to put in practice the princi-
pies they have learned in the recitations, by
actual surveys in the field.
While endeavors are put forth to impart a
thorough training in scientific studies, liter
airy culture has not been neglected. Exer-
cises in English composition and defamation
accompany tie recitatious in rhetoric, and
studies in history, physics, natural science |
and la are pursued by means of lectures and |
recitations.
PRECEDENT Allen suggests gradual rise in |
the standard of admission to the institution, |
in order that the students may be better nre- |
pared to fully obtain the advantages of the |
instruction. He also complains OF the mad |
equacy of the library and suggests that ex-
Gov. Coburn in donating $500 TO that depart |
ment has set an example worthy OF imita-
ton. The President during the year has
given instruction In rhetoric, logic English
literature, political economy, the constitu-
ton Of the United States and lectures on
rural and international law. The department |
of Mathematics and Physics has continued |
under the efficient superintendent of Prof. |
M. c. Fernald. Prof. Pike has had charge of |
the department. of civil engineering. In his |
port, he says:
''The department of Civil Engineering has |
now been in operation about a year ana a |
half, and during that time the first class that |
Inferred the college has graduated. OF this !