New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-15

that Of any similar institution IN
the country. The library, consisting
Of about 10, 900 volumes, has been selected
with taste and Judgment and the appa-
ratus, cabinets and other aids in import
ing instruction in the exact sciences, are
not surpassed by those of any other liter
airy institution in the South. 1t has ever
been the aim of those who have been
charged with the administration OF the
university, to provide home school for
the education of Louisiana youth, and to
that end they have labored with untiring
energy and fidelity amid trials and difficult
ties, which would have overwhelmed men
animated by less worthy motives. Ii their
etfo1ts are properly seconded by the peo-
pie our State will soon have frs -class
literary institution on permanent basis.
The loss of its magnificent college
building, IN Rapides, has been serious
one to the university and continual OBJ
stacle to its success This loss should be
repaired at as early a day as practicable.
But the main difficulty under which the
institution labors may be found in the IN
adequacy of the means Of support pro-
vided by the General Assembly. When
the seminary was first put in operation
dozen years agot it was required to receive
a certain number of beneficiary cadets for
whose maintenance the State very gener-
ously provided Since then the number
has been considerably increased, but,
though the annual appropriations for their
support are regularly made, these sums
have been paid in State warrants whose
value is continually fluctuating and is al
ways far below what is represented by the
face of the obligation. 1t is, therefore,
the duty Of the Legislature, in making APP
preparations for the support of the uni
versity, to provide an endowment which
shall be more certain in its nature. 1t
has been suggested that the proceeds Of
the bonds appropriated by an act of Con-
gress for the foundation Of an agricultural
and mechanical college be devoted wholly
to the university, and petition signed by
a large number of the citizens Of the State,
of all classes, has been presented to the
Legislature, asking that such a disposition
be made of it. This would contribute
largely toward the desired endowment and
is. perhaps, the best disposition that could
be made of the agricultural and mechanical
fund The lands have been sold for about
$4,000 and the proceeds invested
in State bonds, yielding an annual revenue
of $4,000. The university has already
an annual fund of $4,000, derived from
the original congressional grant under
which it was founded. 1t is obvious that
the late congressional grant is insufficient
for the foundation of new agricultural
and mechanical school, and that unless it
be combined with some other endowment,
it must necessarily tail to accomplish any
beneficial results. In most of the other
States, this grant has been given to some
institution already in successful operation,
for the support Of an agricultural and
mechanical department. This is what is
proposed to be done in Louisiana, and
the university is the most natural recipient
of the grant. For years past its course Of
study has been shaped SO as to afford pc
culiar advantages in the study of the sci
ences and other branches which fit its
pupils for the practical duties of life. 1t
has a library, apparatus, museum, models,
etc, which the agricultural and mechan-
ical school Will need, and which there will
not be sufficient funds to purchase. In
short, it can be Immediately put in opera
ton as an agricultural and mechanical
school, while any other disposition of the
ment of the foundation of such a school.
1t needs no argument to demonstrate the
benefits to be derived from affording facil-
tiles to Louisiana youth for instruction in
the agricultural and mechanical arts, and
no time should be lost in rendering avail
able the liberal grant Of the federal Con-
pIeSS Ol idullS lOI 81 "O1tI ODJcCts
The State University is just beginning
to show forth its effects on the educational
interests of the State 1t has just gradu-
ated its third class. Three classes of its
well educated young men are now teach
ing Louisiana children, and are laboring
to elevate the standard of education in
Louisiana. Each year larger class will
90 forth from its walls, trained in the
same manner and proposed to aid in the
same work. The university, the acad-
emies and the common schools will,
therefore, form part of a common sys-
tenn in which the education of our chill
dren will depend. Will the people per-
NIT the whole body to perish for want Of
proper support of its head?
4 LOST OPPORTUNITY.
AS investigating committees are the
order of the day, it is unfortunate that the
congressional committee. while here,