Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-11-21
The Agricultural College.

The following statement of the
present condition Of the Agricultu-
raj College is from the Burlington
XaacI,eye of the 18th, and is derived
from information given by II. d.
Noble, one of the trustees. 1t will
be seen that important and radical
changes are being made in the fac
ulty and officers of the institution,
changes which seem to bctoken the
presence of disturbing elements,
the nature of which have not vet
been made public. The resignation
of President WEIGH will involve q
severe loss to the college, and it is
to be hoped that he may be induced
to reconsider his determination:
The Board of Trustees Of the
State Agricultural College closed a
two days session on Thursday eve
ming. Their meeting was an i'm
portant one, as business was trans
acted that will work considerable
change in the general management
OF the institution.
President WEIGH sent in his res
ignation on Wednesday. This gen
tleman organized the institution in
1868, and, though met by many OBJ
stacles, has labored diligently with
all his scholarly attainments and
fine executive ability to bring it up
to the utmost efficiency in its work.
The Board did not accept his resig-
nation, but reelected him again to
the Presidency. He has not ac-
ceptcd, nor is 1t known whether he
will or not. The Industrial Uni
versity of Arkansas, at Fayetteville,
has for eight months past been ma
king strenuous efforts to secure him
as president Of that institution, and
has made him tempting offers. 1t
is probable he will accept the O ffers
they have so repeatedly made him;
at least that is the supposition
among those who ought to know.
The Board also vacated every pro-
fessorship in the College, they pro-
ceedcd to refill them rejoicing
most of the old Faculty with the ex-
ception of the occupants ofthc chairs
of Mathematics and Engineering,
Chemistry, and the chair of Pomol-
ogy. These were occupied re-
spectiyely by Prot. Geo. w. Jones,
Prof. A. f. Fcote, and Prof. James
Matthews, who is so well known as
a fruit-raiser in Iowa.
Mr.. /. p. Roberts, the Farm SUI
perintendent, resigned, and Mr.
Milkan Stalker was elected to the
position. Mr.. Roberts has filled
the place since June LIST 1870, and
has made a brilliant record as a
practical farmer, and efficient teach.
er-occupying also the chair of
Practical Agriculture for the last
year. Mr.. Roberts is a Henry
county farmer. Mr.. Stalker is a
member of the class which gradua-
ted last Wednesday, and if his class
record is any index of his future
course, he is the man for the place.
The chair Of Pomology was abol-
ished by the Board, and new one
Observation-Disclosures and Forestry.
Mr.. II. II. McAtee, Of Freeport, ILL.,,
was elected to fill the same.
A resolution was passed by the
Board, asking President Welch to
correspond with different parties
with a view Of selecting suitable
men to fill the vacant chars of
Chemistry, Mathematics and En-
gineering, the result to be commu-
nicated to the Board at their meet
ing in December.
A new Treasurer was also elect
ed; Mr.. w. d. Lucas, banker of
Ames, taking the place of DR.. Ely,
of Cedar Rapids.
A general reduction.of salaries
was made; ranging from 8 to 33
per cent; it being deemed that the
embarrassed condition of the col
lege demanded such step. The
salaries of some of the younger
members of the faculty was raised
somewhat.
The next meeting Of the Board
takes place in the first week in De-
cember, at which time, perhaps,
further changes may be looked for.
What the ultimate effects of these
may be, it is difficult to say. The
management of the institution and
the most important posts in the Fac
ulty will fall into new hands. 1t
makes crisis in the history of the
Agricultural College, which we
trust may be passed with safety and
prosperity.