Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-22

Remarks Of Mr.. 8. C. Hatch OF DsDgoP.
In HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, Feb. lah,
on the Resolve in favor Of the state College oi
Aerlcuiture and the Mechanic Arts.
Mr.. HATCH said:
Mr. SPEAKER:-1n reply to the inquiry of
!he gentleman from Calais (Mr. Corthel) for
ihiormatioa In regard to the appropriation
asked for, will cay that a statement 81 facts
Is embodied in the report of the trustees Of
the institution. They propose to have barn.
suitable to the wants of the college, which
they judge will cost about $4,000; workshep
and tools, $1,000; house for the Professor's
family, $1,000; for farm improvements and
Improvements on college grounds, $500; for
instruction, in auditing to the revenue derived
irom'the Congressional fund, $1,000; appara.
tus for the several departments, $1,000; add
to this the debt incurred in behalf Of the col.
iege, as shown by the treasurer's report, @5,.
4ol bills unpaid at the date Of said report,
ABOUT $2549 making total of 426, GOO.
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, there 10 no
appropriation that has been before this House
that more cheerfully support than the one
under consideration. The feeling that exist
ed few years ago against the State extend.
ing further aid to the agricultural college at
orono, Is, | am happy to say, fass fading
away. It Is now in the eth year Of exist
ence, and seventy.fve young men Of our
State are receiving at this institution liberal
education, that will ft them for industrial
pursuits This is done by offering to them
the best scientific education, without compel
ling them to study Greek and Latin. These
privileges ere furnished to our young men
without any charge for tuition or room rent,
and where all the expenses sre kept down to
accommodate students of moderate means
while the requirements of manual labor les.
sens still further their expenses. Its annual
classes will largely come from the young men
on the farm, who are not able to puFsue q
course of study at the other institutions, but
by free tuition and the opportunity to work
Few hours day are able to secure an educs.
ton to which they could not otherwise at
tain.
The affairs Of the college are in the hands
OF an able board of trustees. 1t has for Pres
ident gentleman of culture, in whose ability
to bring this college up to the highest state OF
usefulness, we all have the fullest connd&ncs,
and with every evidence Of success that il
now so apparent, / trust the legislature will not
refuse to give them the sum reported By the
committee. This amounts necessary 70 meet
the pressing needs Of the College for addition
al buildings, apparatus and for fencing and
other farm improvements. The State By &C.
cepting the bounty of the lands, has bound It.
self to maintain an institution of this kind
The citizens of Oldtown and Orono have grant.
ed the farm for this purpose, and the Legisls-
ture has already appropriated . large amount
tor the buildings required, ON the pledge Of
continued action. The only source Of income,
is from the funds derived from the sale OF
lands granted by Congress, the annual in.
come from which is about $4,000. and this 10
all needed to pay the salaries of the president,
professors, military instructor, farm superin-
tendent, &C., leaving other expenses which
al al 70 tta oo1 -.
an institution, unprovided for. The furnish.
ing and finishing of necessary buildings for
the College and the farm, cannot BE- taken
from the funds derived from its original en-.
dowment, nor can that which il necessary for
farm improvements be secured unless provid.
ed by the State
Other states, approaching the advantage
of an agricultural college, have provided most
literally for their support and there are no
good reasons why Maine should be behind her
sister states in the good work.
The number Of students are rapidly in-
creasing, and doubt not, before the session
of another Legislature the rooms In the Col.
lege buildings will be taken up and not one In
ten OF these students would have attended
any other college. 1t was my good fortuus
to be present at the commencement exsrcises
last August. The graduating class elected
the most emphatic commendation from all
present, exhibiting such sound scholarship
and manly department, as to give the sure
pledge of future usefulness; and will predict
that in less than five years, the graduating
class from this College will exceed in numbers
that of any other college in our State.
The State has heretofore been very liberal
to other colleges and seminaries. am con.
fdent the favorable change in public senti-
ment, that has taken place in regard to the
usefulness of this College, 10 the State, and
its Importance to cur agricultural interests,
any appropriation we might make, necessary
for its actual wants, will meet with the hearty
approval of our constituents. Thus believing,
l shall cheerfully give my vote in favor Of
the resolve.
The resolve received a passage,