Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-17
The Virginia Agricultural and Me
cllanical College.


The Virginia Agricultural and Me.
cllanical College.
BLAcKsBURG, MONTGOMERY Co, Va
September 9th 1874.
To the editor Of the LynchJurg lw9mtan
The Impressions of first visit TO this place,
and more particularly the results OF a close IN
specton of the Agricultural aud Mechanical
| College recently here established, will possess
interest to such Of your readers at least az are
10 any way identified with the cause of educa-
| ton.
Blacksburg is situated in the midst OF fer
| tile and beautiful region, eight miles from
Christansburg station on the Virginia aud Ten
pessee division of the A. NJ. j. y. railroad. 1t
is four miles from the Yellow Sulphur Springs
(which are passed in coming to it from the rail
way;) six from the Montgomery White Sui
phur twelve from the New River White Sui
phur, and eighteen from the celebrated noun
tain Salt Pond 10 in the county of Giles.
Though far from being out Of The world 1t is III
a certain sense not of the World-ln such
sense as to make it an cminently suit
able location for the institution named above.
The cheapness of living here renders possible
the lowest rates Of board, while the simple,
inexpensive habits and sound good sense OF
the people give no cDuntenance to that aver
sion to manual labor which in many quarters
DOW menaces the best interests OF the country
1t will be remembered that the long contest
in the Legislature as to the disposition OF the
States share of the land scri p was settled un-
der the act approved March 10, 1872, which
gave one third of the proceeds to the Hampton
Normal destitute (for colored students) and the
rest toward the establishment Of an Agrlcultur-
al and Mechanical College at BIacksburg, on
condition Of the transfer to such college OF the
real estate belonging to the Preston and DIN
! Institute, aud the addition to its funds by the
county of Montgomery of twenty thousand dol
lars. With this endowment of $4,000 the
institution was opened October 18TH 1872, and
during its first session 1872 students matrlcuat-
ed The second year the number reached 1877.
The college being designed specially for the
Improvement of the Industrial classes" its
authorities purpose without excluding other
scientific ard classical studies to assign a pro-
minent place to those techuical subjects which
give the institution its name and distinctive
character" They fully recognize the Difficult
~ of combining manual labor with inteliecuaI
culture, but pledge themselves in all cases
where there is couflct to give preference to the
latter.
The college owns valuable tract of more
than three hundred acres adjacent to the lot
containing its only building, which constitutes
an experimental farm. This is already well
equipped, and is stocked with some excellent
blood cattle. The mechanical department will
be organized and put into operation as soon as
the shops and other necessary appliances (tor
which due appropriation has beeo madc) can
be provided. Chemical and philosophical ap-
paratus sufficient for present needs has been
| baf he
present limited building accommodations per-
NIT has been supplied for the successful prose-
cuton of the work proposed
The faculty includes seven gentlemen OF tai.
ent and experience All but TWO are alumni OF
the University, three being titled graduates OF
that institution. 1t is sufficient to add that
| they will in all respects compare tavorably With
those holding like positions 10 any college IN
the State.
A three year curriculum has been adopted
| to which (uuess excused by the faculty for
| special reasous) all must conform, except that
is the senior year there are two parallel cour-
ses. one for agriculturists and the other Tor
mechanics Either French or German is re-
ouired Latin is optional and Greek is not
taught. Though 10 no other respect military
school, daily drill in uniform is required Of all
students who are not physically disabled. This
is under the charge OF Prot. james ii: Lane,
late Brigadier General, G. S. A. Manual labor
in the aggregate probably less than TWO hours
week, is required of students only so lar as
is necessary for their lnstructon; but a con-
siderable amount of compensated work, both
agricultural and mechanical, is done by them.
The latter constitutes an Interesting aud I'M
portaut feature IN the school, While experience
shows that no stu lent should expect to support
himself wholly and few mainly, by labor, there
have been 10 the last year te" exceptional
cases where all expenses have been earned: Ia
another case, also Within the knowledge of the
writer, a student of the very best standing had
made his entire expenses for eighteen mouths
except eighty dollars. Table board 10 Blacks
burg is from $40 TO $l2 month, full board,
including lodging, fuel and lights, Is from so
to SIS BY messing the cost Is materially d.
minisbed; Que mess Of twenty or more this ses-
sion subsisting 90 az average cost TO each mem-
her of five dollars aad half. 1t is literally true
that without the assistance of compensated Ia
Dor the aggregate cost OF an uubr0ken ten
months session beginning February 24!h-
need not exceed Except 10 the case OF pay stu
dents who must lave besides $40 tor tees) Que
hundred and fifty dollars. The reason tor this
nnprecedented fact may be briefly gwen thus
nj the liberal endowment OF the school by the
eoverpment which provides the best insruc-
ZION free Of cost to the student; ~ the cheap
ness of the country 10 which the college Is
placed ~ the good sense of the surrounding
community aud of the students themselves
which renders self help aud rigid economy not
only possible but credltabe.
The crying want OF this impoverished Com
uouwealth is advanced education at cos;
within the reach of the majority II not all who
would seck it. Such education to be worth any
thing must be paid for: 1t canoot and ought
not to be made cheap by the instructors beng
uoderpaid the professional teacher being at
-. - unr,hv nr his hire as the reDreseu-