Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-25


several needs are as follows
For tt purchase of apparatus 5000
improvements on farm and College
grounds, 1000
Pay for instruction in addition to the
Congressional fund 1000
" New barn and to cover water 1000
Expenses of Library, 100
Furniture to meet the wants of students, 900
g Repair of cistern and chemical
laboratory, 500
" Thoroughbred stock, l,400
1t is disgrace to the State that its college
farm should be stocked with grade or native
animals. which not a progressive farmer in
Maine would tolerate upon his premises. 1t
would be far better for the farm to have no
stock, than to have refuse stock or second
and third rate animals.
Unlike any other institution which receives
State aid, the State College does not come as
an object of charity" but in accordance
with clearly stipulated agreement by and
betw een the Legislature and Congress.
The act of Congress donating lands to the
States which may provide colleges for the
benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts,
stated clearly and concisely the conditions
with which States must comply and must full
fiji, that accepted such donated, lands. The
money derived from the sale of such
lands was to constitute perpetual fund, re-
naming forever undiminished, the interest to
be inviolably appropriated to the endowment
OF college to teach such branches of learn
ing as shall promote the liberal and practical
| education of the industrial classes; for this
purpose and this alone, can that interest be
| employed, and, as defined in subsequent Sec
| tons of the act of Congress, that interest
must be expended for the payment Of instruc-
tors. Such, in substance, were the terms Of
| the act donating lands. By section 7, two
years were allowed for States to signify their
acceptance thereof No hasty or snap judg-
mcnt legislation was required, but ample time
was given to each State to considerably ma
ture decision. Maine accepted the terms,
became a party of the second part and re.
| ceived the 2l0, 900 acres of land, thus condi-
tonally to be given. These lands were sold,
part by Gov. Cony and the balance BY Gov.
Chamberlain. Whether these sales yielded
to the State their full value, is not german
to the question under discussion. If the
lands were sold for very much less than
| their value, the college officials were not in
fault. From the sales were realized SllS,-
600, which, with an accumulated interest of
$4,000, gives congressional endowment
fund of Sl34,0 The yearly interest of
this fund is expended for the payment of in
structors, which is about two-thirds Of the
sum required Tor that purpose. Congress
gave the fund in good faith, the State &C.
cepted it in good faith, and without breach
OF that faith, cannot Withhold, nor can it appro-
pirate with penurious hand.
| am fully aware that many whose opinions
are entitled to weight, regard the State col
lege as failure, or that such it is ultimately
to become. That it does not come up to my
STANDARD, is frankly confessed, nor am l with
out anxiety that. unrestraiRed or unadvised,
it may grow out of a practical and scientific
course Of instruction and grow into an insti-
| n md tbar
many farmers that share this anxiety with
me, especially if the legislature become neg
ligent of its rights, as provided in section
four Of the congressional act.
On the other hand, if the legislature see
to it, that such branches as relate to agrcul-
ture and mechanic arts are taught, and by lib
eral appropriations support and maintain it,
no reason, real or prospective, exists, why
that college may no: become an institution
where the sons of farmers and mechanics
may be educated in the several pursuits and
professions in industrial life.
With the existing condition of the college,
l do not believe it to be economy to appro-
pirate a less sum, than the aggregate reported
in the resolve, in which opinion it is hoped, a
majority of the members of this House will
concur.
This institution is one which the State can
not afford to starve, or keep on short allow
ance, for such policy is ruinous to her in
dustries. The only hope that Maine has to
ever reach higher industrial plane, is by in
telligent labor, and intelligent labor-the
surest guarantee of material prosperity-can
be secured, only by fostering This institution,
where the course of instruction is designed to
be of q character that teaches the principles
which underlie practice. Would the State
prosper, then she must by wise and liberal
la slatio inc or nd lima oil xbo Ii
boring classes. And the best approved method
is through the medium of the State college.
with its course of study adapted and designed
to give to the young men Of the State, prac-
teal education, with special reference to their
relations to the useful Arts.
Mr.. KELLoCH declared himself friend of
farming interests, but thought the proposition
before the House, one that needed careful
consideration. When certain parties, in the
interest of the Agricultural College, asked an
appropriation of ST., 500, it was due his con-
sttuents, as their representative to know in
what manner the money was to be invested,
and whether any real and actual benefits ac-
crue to the State from it.
Going back to 1867, he found that the State
had given the College 200; in 1865 Sl0,-
900; in 1869 S2S,000; in 1870, S22, 900; in
1871, $4,000; in 1872, $4,000, and in 1873,
S24, 900, nearly $4,000 of which, was to con-
struct barn. Total in these several years,
SIPS, 900, besides what it has had from the
Congressional endorsement, the whole
amounting to S24s,O00, or $25O,O0O. The
question occurred to him, whether that sum
had been judiciously expended; of that, he
was no. ready to speak. He did not propose
to discuss the matter, because he was not pre-
pared, but he wished to make the statements
which he had, in order that the House might
consider them. He believed it could be
shown, that after the large expenditure, one
half if not three-tourths of the graduates of
that college have gone into other States, and
the balance he believed. might be found fill
ing clerkships in this state. He did not OBJ
ject to an appropriation, but so far as he had
investigated, he thought that an appropriation
of about $4,000 would defray the necessary
expenses of the college, and give them a
thousand dollars for improvements. He
moved to amend, by making the appropri-
alton $4,000, instead of $4,000.
Mr.. Corthell spoke against the amendment,
and in favor of the resolve.
Mr.. KELLoCH replied.
Messrs. KNowLToN, WILSON, and PULLEN
spoke in favor of the resolve as reported by
the committee.
The discussion was further continued by