Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-30
RepOrtS Of State Omcers.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE,


to the general public. The number oil
students in the academic and scientific de-
partments, last year, was Hinety-oHe, and IN
the Medical College fffy-One, total OF one
hundred and fortv-two. The present year
will show a handsome increase on these
figures. Eight young women have been
pursuing the classical course and i've the
scientific, and they have proved themselves
the equals of the young men in scholarship
The report discusses briefly the question
why 50 many young Vermonters 60 to col
leges out of the State and one important
reason is given which the State can readily
remove. 1t is that State funds and appro-
priations to the colleges in other States allow
them to offer free tuition to many poor young
men. On this point the report says
Never before have We had so many appli-
cations for scholarships from promising
Young men struggling Tor an education
And this we regard an encouraging sign OF
the times. IL means that the prizes OF lite
are going to be taken more by those VINO
have the energy 10 win them, and less by
those into whose lap they fall. The students
whom college instructors like best to see
fockinE to their classes. are Just these resolute
ambitious. self-dependent young men Injured
10 hardship. and more ashamed OF ldleness
than Of poverty. IL Is a very common occur
renee for Young men 10 write to the fresi-
dent III tue University that they prefer to
come 10 their own college, but cannot afford
To do so. unless the same aid is extended TO
them which has been offered them by some
other institutions. The University has but
seventeen scholarships, which are enjoyed
mainly 10y brave young fellows who are
fighting their way. without any other aid,
from the scanty farm to scholarly emlnence
and usefulness, We ought 10 have nifty
such. For lack Of them, some are Obliged
10 abandon altogether the attempt to get an
education, while Others 90 TO more hosplta-
HE States, whittier they take OF course their
affections and their interests. II Vermont
Kill not. by little timely aid, help 10 edu-
cate the ia lent that lies dormant in her sons,
New Hampshire. or Massachusetts,, or New
York stand ready TO lend the penny in time
OF need which in the time Of plenty Is re-
membered and returned in princely bene-
factions. The question whether the state
situations of learning. was settled by the
State of Vermont at the outset. by the de-
claration Of its first Constitution (Sect. XII
that one Grammar School in each county
and one University in this State ought TO be
established By direction OF the General AS
ssmbly.n and by the reservation OF lands
''ior the use of Il Seminary or College And
though these wise provisions have not been
carried out according to their full intention
the State cannot in honor repudlate the
policy Of its founders as thus expressed
The report discusses the interesting sub
iect of schools Of Agriculture Under the
head Of " What our Agricultural Depart
ment might be. it says
We do not consider that We have more
than begun to develop the capabilities OF
our system We have laid broad FONDA
tion we have secured the most essential
parts Of "a liberal and practical edaca-
ZION " we have introduced nothing that
could possibly oe spared from such an edu-
cation we have wasted no money on rash
experiments Bat j; Is as far as possible
from our intention to remain satisfied with
our present position Ii is a part Of the
settled policy OF the trustees 10 expand the
institution 10 all directions by all the means
in GUY power The next forward step IN the
Agricultural Department will be the ap-
puiutment 81 a professor o; agriculture who
shall he able 70 devote bis whOle time 10 IN
srruc:ign ard Investigation in this depart
ment. -
Meanwhile We are honestly and faithfully
carrying out our agreement 10 give lnstrac-
ton &c 10 branches relating TO agriculture.
Out of 2 long list Of subjects classified as
" branches relating 10 " Agriculture ~ IN
the INQUIRIES OF the Committee OF Con-
gress." only very few are not found IN
our curriculum a young man intending
10 be a iarmer-let u say, intending to be
q mar an educated man, and farmer
could hardly qualify himself better for his
work and place in life, than By taking such
a course IN The sciences, IN literature. ms
tory and philosophy. as this institution can
give him We hope to have the means ere
long either through State or private endoW-
ment. to add some things In which We are
now deficient But the essentials OF a
thorough education for agricultural pur-
salts, we can furnish already.
The report announces a winter course OF
lectures to farmers. a detailed programme Of
which will shortly be published. For re
marks on the various departments, we
must mainly refer our readers to the re
port. OF the civil engineering depart
meat. it SAYS it has been successful
from the beginning" The chemical de
partmcnt, Is e. thoroughly equipped " and
" has a laboratory not surpassed in complete
ness by any in the United States The
department Of military instruction is in
charge Of a l. $ officer, and is '' much in
favor with the students The medical de-
partment ranks second among the New
England Medical Colleges"
The University is not without means. The
value Of its property is put down at S2Sl,-
472 Exclusive Of the Congressional fund,
which gives an income Of $3.50 year,
Its lands are valued at Sl27 900; its build
ings at $1,000 its collections of books,
apparatus, etc, at $50 400, its funds and
assets at 49,, ~ Bat it still needs the
means of growth, to make it worthy of the
State whose name it bears. Among its
pressing wants area physical laboratory; an
observatory, more conmodious gymnasium
and a larger chapel but especially. say the
trustees. the State needs most in it. Uni
versity. all for poor young men and
young women, in the form of scholarships
and next the endowment of one or two pro-
fessorships in the Agricultural department. "
A bill is now before the Legislature, APP
propriating the modest sum Of 81 ,500-the
same amount as Is now given to aid INDECENT
students in the Normal Schools-to enable
the University to offer to young Vernon
tiers desiring an education inducements
equal to those held out to them by New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York
and moderate appropriation for an Agri-
cultural professorship. In no other way,
we verify believe, can the same amount of
money be made to do so much good to the
public and we trust the bill will find favor
with our legislators.
Some facts and figures in relation to the
State grants made to the State Agricultural
Colleges in other States are given in an sp-
pandix, to which we mas refer hereafter
Compulsory Education.
The State of New York is about to try
this important experiment A law passed
a. the last session of the Legislature will 20