The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-06-15

stables, providing seats, desks farming i'm
plements, team, aud apparatus, the com
mittee recommend an appropriation To be
made OF not more than fifteen thousand
dollars. There is on the premises a farm
house that can be used as residence for
some of the faculty This building will
have to be repaired and placed in habita-
bic Inditlon; for this purpose an appro-
priatioR of not more than two thousand
/ dollars is recommended.
Workshops and necessary machinery
should be connected with the institution, so
as to fully carry out the idea intended in
| its foundation, which is that the institu-
! ton shall be -'mechanieal - rs we'll as an
! agricultural" college. To effect this an
appropriation, not exceeding eleven thou
sand dollars, Is necessary. II is suggested
that so much of this amount as may be
necessary be applied TO the purchase of
steam engine.
The workmanship on the buildings, IN
the opinion OF the committee, has beet
sklllfully done, good and substantial
material has been used. The buildings
present an imposing style of architectural
elegance and taste which does credit to the
designer, aud is worthy of the great cause
of education and human Improvement.
While the committee approve the work
manship and the material, and most cheer
fully bear testimony to the magnificent gen
| eral appearance of the buildings-style
| elegance and good taste all cumbined-it is
| the duty. of she committee to say that, for
the purposes of an agricultural and me-
chanIcal college, a different arrangement of
some of the apartments would have been
better. This is but an opinion of the COM
mittee, to which expression is given in no
unkind or unfriendly spirit. Taken al
together, the buildings are OF a better class
than the committee expected to find.
1t was also made the duty of the COM
mittee TO suggest such Legislation, ii any, as
was necessary to put this institution in sue
cessful operation. Much thought and
some degree of investigation has been
bestowed upon this part of the subject.
In the opinion of the committee this lnsti-
tuition should be organized and put in oper-
alton as soon as possible. 1t will supply
want which has been long felt in our State.
A practical education i'll general science
will then be within the reach of many who
have heretofore been deprived of it.
The committee recommend that all mat
tiers relating to the standard of scholar
ship and the course of study to be pursued
! In each department be left with the di-
rectory of the institution. The committee
| Recommend that the number of the stu
dents TO be taught at tins institution free
| of charge for tuition should be regulated
| by law the manner in which this number
OF students shall be apportioned to our
population should be regulated by law.
| The committee have no preference for one
plan or method of selecting the students,
but believe it will be conducive to the in
terest OF the college that some method
should be made fixed and certain by the
Legislature.
The committee are of opinion that the
college should be open for both sexes. The
endowment was intended for all. AS Is
well known this endowment results from
the sale of one hundred and eighty thou
sand acres of land scrip donated to this
State by the United States by acts of Con-
gress dated July g. 1862 and July %, 1868.
in relation to the establishment of agricul-
tural and mechanical colleges. This
land scrip was sold in 1871 for the sum of
one hundred and tifty-siX thousand dollars.
This amount was invested in the seven per
cent. gold frontier defense bonds of this
State, issued under the act of August 5,
1870. The amount of bonds purchased is
one hundred and seventy-four thousand dol
lars. They run twenty years. The amount
of accrued interest on these bonds is
about forty eight thousand dollars. This
accrued interest should be invested in some
safe manner, SO that the college would have
the benefit of the interest on the accrued
interest. The interest on the endowment
and the interest on the accrued interest will
make the sum of about $14, 900, which will
be annually available for the purposes of
the institution, as regulated by the statute
of Congress. The statute of Congress be
fore referred to, the committee are of Opin-
ion, extends the benefits of this endowment
to all, without regard to sex or race.
The committee recommend that out of
any available fund sufficient amount be
appropriated to provide for the colored
youth of the country. The committee sug-
| gest that in some suitable locality, "A sutfi-
cient quantity of land be purchased, and
necessary buildings be erected thereon, at
an early day, so that these colored youths
can at once begin to enjoy the advantages
| and blessings of an agricultural aud me-
chanical college. The statute of Congress
authorizes one or more agricultural and me-
chanical colleges, and in the opinion of the
| committee both schools can be controlled by
the same directory, and the experience of
the one can be for the advantage of the
other This appears to the committee to be
an equitable, just ard legal solution OF
what seemed at first an insuperable difficulty
in the way of a speedy organization of this
institution. If the appropriations herein
recommended are made, 1t is believed that
by the first day of September next, the ag-
rIcultural and mechanical college of Texas
will be open for the reception OF students,
an event long looked for; it will be source
of congratulation to the whole State, and
especially to that part of our people to
whom this institution will offer facilities
| for intellectual development and improve
ment, hitherto not enjoyed toy them. AS
upon this cl IS rest many of the burdens
of government, it is meet and proper that
every effort should be made to prepare them
for their responsibility.
CARROLL, Chairman.
SMITH,
BRADY.
Supplemental table showing the plan,
size of rooms, style, &C., of Agricultural
and Mechanical College buildings. Rooms
IN first story as follows: One entrance
hall, IA l-2x3O; one janitor's room, 16 LEX
16 1-2; one work shop, 21x45; one horti-
cultural room, 21x24; one main hall, Tx
154 1 2; one dining room, 21x52; one pam
try, Sx21; one hall, 12x21; one recitation
room, 16 1-2x16 1-2; one store room, elk
II 1-2; one preparatory school room, 21x
| so; one kitchen, 16x21 one store room 10
x12; one pantry, 8xl0; one bedroom, lax
81; one bedroom, 1921; opening for stairs
and colonnade, 2lx30.
Rooms in second story as follows: One
reception room, 14x30; one recitation room,
16 1-2x16 1-2; one Office, 16 2x16 q:
one school room, 21x52; one store room,
21x17 1-2; one hall, 12x22; one museum,
21x45; one library, 21x24; one main hall,
12x154 1-2; one school room, 21x61; one
bedroom, 1921; one oath room, 10x21 !;
one bedroom, 14x21 one parlor, Is f-2x2l !;
openings for stairs and colonnade, 21x30.
Rooms In third story as follows: One
14x30; one room, 16 1-2x16 l-2; one room,
16 1-2x16 q; one room, 21x52; one room.
21x17 1-2; one hall, 12x22; one room, ELK
As; one room, 21K24; one room, 21x61 /;
one main hall, 12x154; one room, 16x21 !;
one room, 10x21; one room, 14x2l; one
room, 1Sx21; opening for stairs, 21x3O.