New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-28
DRAWING TO 4 CLOSE.

| We hardly think it is necessary to re-
mind the members Of the General As
sembly that the term Of the present ses-
sion is rapidly drawing to q close. But
five days more remain for the transaction
| of business. And there is an immense
Gale ndar Of unfinished business. The
i! bills relative to the public schools, the
| Metr opolitan Police. annexation Of Car
rollton. tie Criminal Court, city taxes.
the city government, and large number
on other important subjects We. remain i'll
an unfinished condition. let by econo-
| Min 6 the time all that is necessary to be
done can be completed.
There is one bill which We deem Of the
utmos: Importance. We refer to that re-
lative TO the agricultural college. Unless
the requisite act is passed this session the
tund donated by Congress will be for
felt ed. and We shall be called upon to
refund abou: $500. Geo. besides losing the
dvantages 20 be derived from the estab-
Isment OF the institution contemplated
by the law Of Congress. The contest APP
pears 70 be chiefly over the site OF loca-
ton. Two or three bids have come in
FROM the country for the location OF the
asri cultural college. An offer is made to
erect buildings. which will be given to the
college. as none Q; the money realized
from the sale CT land scrip can be used
for their purchase.
Were all otie: conditions equal. we
should prefer some place in TIE country
to the cityas site for an agricultural col
!ege. The gura! districts possess obvious
advantages over the urban for such {. pUr-
pose. But a mechanical college IS also
demanded, and We question the rropriety
Of dividing the fund a. the outset. Be-
sides. It is by no means certain that suit
able buildings outside Of New Orleans can
DE obtained between now and the first O.
July. the last day OK grace. Here, On tie |
contTary.we have structures already built.
belonging 70 the State, togethe: with the
ground upon which they stand. They are
a. rsesen: SO nearly vacant tina. it would |
no: be much O.. 9 stretch to say they are |
entirely SO. We refer 70 the Medica. and !
Law University, on Common street. II
it be deemed desirable to continue these
Institutions at all. FOX the present. about !
which we express no opinion, they could |
he consolidated. or removed to other GUAR
tiers. The interests OF agriculture and me.
chanlcs are paramount 70 those o: the so.
called learned professions in this State.
In other words. We are sadly in deficient
in mechanical and agricultural skill. while
We have more lawyers. doctors. preachers.
&c. than We have employment tor. BE-
sides. there is the competition O: Euro
pean and Northern college; to contend
with. The demand Cor mechanics and
farm laborers is practically unlimited in
state like this. where no: more than one
i ghth Of the :illable land IS under Guilt
'a.ion. bu. we rarely have ever seen
scarcity Of physicians. and there las 10.
oe CT :. day FOX the past twenty years when
sc did no: have :no.e lawyers than We're
leeded twice over. Hence. the necessity
zis:s for the State TO extend what assistance
I Can afford to furnish forth tie education
hat is in urgent demand. and let the
soih Of turning out young lawyers and
physicians BE suspended for period
.'e are aware that it is not wise to sacri-
ce everything else TO utility. bu: i:
hculd not be neglected altogether.
These considerations should have their
ue weigh: with the Legislature and Sc
are :.le passage Of q law to secure :
BE advantages Of the congressional
oaa:ion, 20 matter what decision may be
cached hereafter. Iii: SHALL be thought I
Use and proper TO divide the fund, and :
,tab!isi, two colleges next year, we shall
ave 10 objection. Lu: we want 70 see a
romp: beginning.