The Portland daily press., 1873-01-07
Bsiaan Hail la Augusta. ON We Rsesday,
Ha1.nnrx As lAx3.
The State College Of Agriculture anu
Mechanic Arts.

The opposition TO the ota oo wv OAo
no il fast disappearing 10 silence opposi-
tim. 70 shut the mouths of croakers, there is
nothing like success. 1t is hard to make in
telligent people believe that an institution
that offers such inducements to young men as
to bring seventy five of them at thu beginning
of the fifth year rom all parts of the State
and to infuse into them such corps Esprit
as never to lose one of their members, is in
any way allure. True, it was a dubious
look at first and was fit mark for the pedan-
tic critic of mushroom colleges and the L.
cal legislator who spent his coarse jokes up
Oh book farming" in barbara Ems fish but
such practical and experienced men as ex-
Gov Coburn and his associates Messrs. Per-
ley, Oak, Stetson and others realized the need
OF the institution and gave their best efforts
to secure the measure Of success it has attain
ell. .
The present Legislature will be called upon
by the same board of trustees shat have
shown themselves so worthy Of confidence, to
extend further aid 10 give the institution the
means to make it more efficient. The intelli-
gence of the State, we are sure, a in favor
of its wing such reasonable aid as its merits
clearly entitle it.
There are several reasons why the State
o. Maine should make the Orono school Sue
cess:
First, 1t is the only larger schsoi east of
the Penobscot, or, in fact, east of the Kenne-
bee that has rec lived the patronage Of the
pnurdnin Colhu Rata Rapfta Hill
have all received State aid, amounting in the
aggregate to several times as much as will be
req Tired to put the Orono school on a firm
basis.
Second. The Orono college from its loca-
ton and character W Il never detract from
the patronage of the others. 1t is matter
of !oubt if any of those now pursuing
course of study at Orono would have either
been inclined or been able to attend either
of the other institutions in the State. Its
annual classes will largely come from the
young men ON the farm, who are not able to
pursue course of study at the other institu-
tions, but by free tuition, and with an oppOr-
tunty to work few hours day, are able to
secure an e!ucation to which they could net
otherwise attain.
Third, Maine, as we believe, is entering
upon a new era of development. If all signs
do not point the wrong way, the present in
dustries in this State will be greatly enlarged
and new ones will spiing up, all of which will
require mel with t practical education
that it is within the design and scope of the
College ofMechanic Arts to give to young
men. The changing relations Of our agricul-
lral interests consequent upon cheap trans
pDctation with the West will also call upon
the Orono school for valuable aid. Already
a series of experiments with different crops
and fertilizers have been begun which could
not be made upon a single farm. The re-
suits of these experiments will be of great
advantage in he course of few years.
Fourth. Another benefit to be derived
from the College is that it will give to local
ity where they are greatly needed hundred
teachers for winter schools. These young
men can and will be the means of co nmuni-
eating vast deal of practical information
gathered at the school on topics connected
with their course of instruction which will
give new liHpetuS W dSIlCultui h PuiouiIo'
Fifth. 1t is long lamented fact that a
large part OF the more intelligent young men
Ieavs our rural towns for other pursuits.
They have been taught that there is no E.
wards t be obtained at home and go out to
seek their fortunes, thus too often swell
ing the ranks of the consumers at the e,
pense OF the producers. 1t is believed that |
the new life which this school, in connection |
with other agencies, will lnfuse into agricul-
ture in Maine and kindred industries, will
have a tendency to check this tide of wealth
in brain and muscle that has for two decades
kept our population at a stand still and re-
duced it at an alarming rate in some locali-
ties At all events ifthe experiment will not
cost over $4,000 year, it is worth trying.
Sixth The graduates Of the higher insti-
tutions of learning seek the professions and a
few business pursuits. None return to the
farms and few to the factory; let Maine make
use of the bounty offered by the general gov
to see if men cannot be so educated
as o return to those great sources of our Ma
tional AMI State wealth, prepared to success
fully carry the work forward.
1t is not our purpose to detract from the
well earned reputation of our established
Maine colleges. They have their sphere with
which the new in0tituton cannot interfere.
In their nu nerous alumni and religious adj
lerents they have crowds of friends and pat
'ons that the Orono school cannot secure.