New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-22
Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges.

In many of the States Of this Union egri-
cultufa! and mechanical colleges have
alrea,v been established and are in success
aging The establishment of such institutions
all ever The country, Congress az early as
1862 donated 20 each State large amount
OF pUpic land. which has been sold and
the money devoted as directed by Congress
in ia. premises. Two hundred and ten
Thousand acres Of land were given 80 Lou.
:sana :or This purpose. This land was sold,
and according 20 a report made 70 the
Legislature. dated March l, 1873, the ag-
.cuItura! fund derived from the sale
amounted 20 $;1' COO. Il was invested in
Louisiana State six per cent bonds. The
interest on this SUN yearly is no trtiIg
amount. The act OF Congress making this
liberia! donation provides tha. ten per cent
Of the fund may oe used for the purchase
OF land. but prohibits any portion o: :t
being used in the purchase or erection OF
buildings. The coat OF these has to be met
by the people in the parish and parisbs.
nearest 20 where the Legislature determines
to locate the college. or by the State at
large.
In compliance with the national law pro
viding :or tue establishment OF agricultural
and mechanical colleges. Senator Brewster.
of the !asish OF Ouachita, has introduced a
bill il :he Senate. entitled an act to esta5-
iish. eniow and locate the Louisiana Ag..-
cultural and Mechanical College,
The college. according to this Sills IS 10
be under .he control nf State board. 20 he
composed OF the Governor Lieuten ant Gov.
ernor. Attorney General. State Superin-
tenden. o! Public Education and She mem
bef Of Congress representing the congress
sional district IN which said college j. 70
Gated. The board is made body corpoT.
ate, capable il 'aw Of suing and being sued
and is vested with power to obtain. acQ-:i
and receive by contract, purchase. grant.
gi.. devise or jequest. real and personal
property. and holding, maintaining, su.
proving and selling the same: OF c0ntTacS
ing and being contracted Wits using
corporate seal: OF changing and alterin"
the same at pleasure. and of doing or Cats
-IS W W uOhc uAi hNON''o"iy ~ St'A y
out tie provisions of the law creating the
same. and of the act of Congress of 1862
providing for the establishing of agricule
:ural ana mechanical colleges. The board
is authorized TO elect a president and secye'
.ary Of .he college a: lite first MsetinA or
as soon thereafter a. practicable. Who are
20 hold iheir offices Tor the term Of one
year or until their successors are elected
and qualified. The board is also vested
with authority 70 select and plnch ase suit.
able lands. not less than 250 acres. for the
use and purposes of said college, and as is
one or more papers IN the State, for I<
riod of not less than thirty days, for pro
posals for the sale Of land and the erection
OF all necessary buildings. The BOARD =
- have Che general control ard sA
pervision OF .he college, farm ana
mechanical! departments. etc, and have 'E.e
power ot fixing The salaries Of .hs i,,es9dei..
professors. manager and othes sms;ryts,
and prescribe .heir respective duties: Iu: j:
is strictly prohibited ircurring any ind-}...
edneas in Che name Of the college. ana .hs
men bsrs of the tos-s. are 20 Tece:y. no
compensation for :heis services further taan
mileage il travelling 20 and from 'ho snees.
ip.. Of the BOARD. which as 80 be She same
a. u allowed Congressmen. As sgr;c1l
tural and mechanical colleges are il,s what
is needed in the South 20 instruct ats youth
q. labor 20 the best advantage. the seOuer
they are put in operation here the better
The general complaint now is that @nr boys
are no. afforded the means Of learning the
mechanical arts or the art of farming. The
agricultural and mechanical colleges will
no: only learn them 10 become good farmers
and mechanics, but they will furnish them
with sufficient book education to answer all
the practical purposes of life, and for these
reasons il il desirable that Louisiana
should have them as soon az possible. The
bill presented by Senator Brewster will
likely be promptly acted upon and become
a law,