Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-16
THE AGRICULIURAL CONVENTION.
Educatiou In Agriculture and the
Mechanic Arts


The convention of persons officially interested
in the promotion of agricultural education, and
especially those concerned with the adminstra-
ton of the colleges which received tho benefit of
the national grant OF July ?, 1862, for the pro-
motion OF instruction in agriculture and the
mechanic arts" embracing delegates from the
several states and territories, continued its
sion at the Agricultural Department yesterday
for short time after eur report closed.
The Commissioner, Hon. F. Watts, read a
paper embodying certain propositions which he
wished TO be discussed by the convention. among
tie most prominent of which the advance
ment OF agricultural science by the establish,
me mt OF schools and colleges for both males AMI
females. which schools should be in communi-
cation with the Department of Agriculture.
The paper was referred to the commltsee on
OF the government ceding more land grants tor
agricultural purposes-was taken up
Dr. Robinson moved that the convention meet
at 10 a. M and adjourn at p. m; carried
Mr.. FaTwell, of Minnesota, read the act OF
Congress for the endow ent of land for the adj
vance ment of agricultural interests in the sew
eTal states, passed in 1852, and advocated an
equalization of the division of this land grant,
which had not been done. He advocated that a
ing for one hundred millions of acres of land
for educational purposes. The government,
while giving millions and millions of acres OF
Iand Tor railroad purposes only eighty millions
OF acres had been gwen for educational pur-
poses. He was in favor of universities which
did not make agriculture a secondary consider
alton in the sciences taught. He advocated the
passage of bill by Congress authorizing the
War Department to furnish officers to the Agri-
cultural Colleges to teach military tactics.
PIOf. Gregory, of Illinois, spoke against the
bill now pending before Congress giving the in
come from the entire proceeds of public lands
for educational purposes Unfortunately, i'll
the manner proposed. One-third of the whole
amount should be used in the education of teach
eTs, and One-third for payment of teachers of
normal schools. He said many of the old states
had been furnished with land scrip, while the
ST h1h lar
contended was great advantage over the older
states, as they could realize a much larger
amount by the sale, as land was constantly in
creasing in value. He moved the whole matter
be referred to a committee of five, carried; and
the chair appointed Messrs. Folwell, OF Missouri;
Bowman, KY; Gilman, Conn; Abbott, Mich,
and Fielder, Ga, as the committee.
DIR. Gregory moved tn at the subject of military
education in agricultural colleges be referred TO
a special committee; carried, andst the chair ap-
Clark, Vt; Aivord, va; KeppaTt, Ohio; and
WEIGH. Ohio, as the committee.
Mr.. Nicholson, of Tennessee, moved the ap-
the subject of experimental agricultural sta
tions; carried. Messrs. Nicholson, Tenn; Need
ham, Mass; Hamilton, s. c.; johnson, Conn;
and Allen, n. Y, were appointed for that duty.
DIR. Gregory stated that at the agricultural
convention recently held at Chicago a commit
tee of one from each state had been appointed
that committee were in attendance at this con-
yentlon, and he desired meeting to be held bv
that committee in this city.
The chair announced as the committee to con-
slider the NTH resolution submitted, by Commits
sioner Watts in his report, to be Messrs. Bar
net, Ga; ID. Il. Curtis, ID. c.; Governor Smytlr.
\; H.; Reynolds, Ill: and DR.. Robinson, Ohio.
Adjourned.
TO-day's PROCEEDINGS
The convention reassembled this morning at
10 O'Clock, the president, DIR. Lorinp in the chair
The eof r. F. Johnston, permanent sec
rotary to the convention, was inadvertently
omitted in our report yesterday. Mr.. Johnston
Il secretary OF the Michigan state agricultural
society and editor Of the Michigan Farmer
Mr.. Smith, Of New Hampshire, moved that
committee of five be appointed to wait upon
President Grant and invite him to be present;
carried.
Mr.. Lyons, of Kansas, moved that the report
of the business committee be taken up.
This report recommends that speeches be
limited to ten minutes; that some action be taken
pecially on the Rocky Mountains and the
prairies Of the west; also, that a committee be
appointed to wait upon Congress to urge the
cause of agricultural education.
The report was taken up and considered sec.
ton by section. The first recommendation that
speeches be limited to ten minutes, was amended
by limiting each speaker to only one speech on
any one subject, and adopted. The remainder
or the report was then adopted.
Mr. WEIGH, OF Iowa, introduced a resolution
that state boards of agriculture be established
by the legislatures in each of the states where
they do not already exist.
Mir. FOlwell moved that they amend by adding |
the words, land mechanic arts" Ii was fur.
ther moved 20 amend by adding 4" mining inter
ests." These amendments were opposed BY sew
eral gentlemen.
Mr.. FOlwell said it would not do for Minnesota
to ignore mechanic arts, but he withdrew the
MI. Patton, of Ala, renewed the motion 70 |
amend by inserting manufacturing and mi |
ming interests"
on this considerable discussion occurred. and |
TIE motion was losi. The resolution was then |
adopted.
Several new members were admitted IN ora
dentials.
A committee of five was ordered to be appointed |
To wait upon the two Congressional committees /
on agriculture to urge upon them reasons why |
they should favor increased appropriations 10
the Agricultural Department for the purpose of |
of seed.
Mr.. FOlwell, OF Minnesota, from the snecial
committee on
EQUALIZATION OF THE LAND GRANTS. |
made repOrt, recommending that Congress
relic We such states rs have forfeited their claims
10 land giants, leaving the conditions of such |
relief 10 Congress.
Mr.. Gormely, Of Connecticut, moved to take |
up the report seriatim; carried.
That portion of il asking Congress TO sunplv
the deficiency to such states o. have not been /
justly dealt with in the distribution of lands or |
scrip, was discussed at some length, some taking
the view that IL would be better to ask Congress
To give money in place of lands.
MI WEIGH, of Michigan, spoke on the ineoual-
lily OF the distribution, claiming that the eastern
population
with corresponding increase in the western
states, and that the division ALREADY made pave
the eastern states much more than they are nov |
entitled to.
Mr.. j. b. Bowman, of Kentucky, thought the
real question was whether the donation WAS
large enough 30 make these colleges successful.
He did not think Congress would give money
but while Congress was ri wing millions of acres
OF land to railroad corporations they would no
doubt extend this liberality to the states for
of schools. His state received
script, which did not amount TO enough to nav
the salary of one professor. He thought the biil
pending in Congress was too general in its terms
Mr.. LYONS, ofKansas, was in favor of Congress-
n naming such Institutions as IL intended To hem
eft. He thought they should give
EACH STATE ONE MILLION ACREs L
or fair proportion Of the proceeds OF lands sold
In money, for agricultural and industrial col
leges.
Mr.. Allen, OF New York, stated that MANY of |
the states which had received scrip had squan-
dered IL, and now feel aggrieved at the inequality
Of the distribution made. Such states had ONLY
themselves TO blame for this. He Thought the
proper way was to give boys and girls a fair
common school education, and let them take |
care of the fancy branches themselves; they
know best what they want.
MIR. Bridges, OF y. c., advocated the proceeds
Of land sales to be placed in trust fund and not
90 into the treasury of the United States for |
division. They should agree upon something
definite to recommend Ia C0noress. otbaryy;se |