The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-13
THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL
COLLEGE.

COLLEGE.
In the Times of Saturday last, unde
the above caption, were comments Of
the proposed union OF those two Stat,
institutions. Some OF the statement
made and positions taken, In the article
referred to, are erroneous, and 1t 10 TIT
object Of this paper to try and correc
them.
/. In answer to the charge that "suef
consultations have proved unfortunate
In every State where they have beer
made, to the extent OF defeating en-
tirely the Intentions OF Congress wher
granting funds to establish practical
schools for the education In agriculture
and the mechanical arts" it may be
said that such was not the opinions OF the
Congressional Committee that investi-
gated the subject so thoroughly some
two years ago. &c was then too early,
as It is now. to decide from actual re-
suits, which class OF the agricultural
and mechanical colleges, those separate
from, or In connection with, other In
stitutions OF learning, had made best
use OF the national grant; and 30 the
committee clearly stated.
But the committee farther added:
Tt 10 due, however, to this whole
class of institutions to say that there Is
nothing In the results thus far attained
that can be called discouraging.
"a considerable number OF the colleges
have done work which requires no apol-
ogy, and q few of those earliest organ
lied have already found time to take
high rank among the institutions OF the
land" "There Is evidence of an
honest purpose to make the studies pur-
sued such in variety, In extent, and in
value rs shall meet the requirements of
the law to which they are Indebted for
the endowments. Studies connected
with agriculture and the mechanic arts
are made prominent, II not paramount,
and there Is reason to believe that by
this means the taste for. these branches
OF knowledge has been considerably in
creased in the whole community"
Such 10 the language Of tho Congress
sional Committee on Education and La
Dor In their report OF January 10, 1876,
upon "the condition and management
OF the agricultural and other colleges,
which have received grants from the
United Jni States under the act of July Q,
In not single instance does that re-
port condemn as failure an agricultur.
al and mechanical college, as connected
with other institutions Of learning.
while the drift Of the facts and findings
OF the committee is In favor OF such
union or consolidation, about the
wisdom OK which the Times and the
DIR. II. I'll. Ryland, the master OF the
State Grange, have all along had grave
doubts.
10 can be readily shown that the
opinions and experience of the ablest |
scientific educators and practical men In |
Europe. and In this country, are gener-
ally In favor OF uniting practical schools
OF science with other schools of q more |
liberal land theoreticaD training. Such
agricultural chemistry and of auricul-
tural education In Germany; and such
ls now the opinion of Prof Henry OF
Che Smithsonian Institution, and of DR..
Henry Barnard, late Chief Of Bureau of
Education at Washington, Of DR.. J. w.
Hoyt, Special Commissioner of Educa-
lion for the United States at the Paris
md Vienna Expeditions, and of many
other eminent and able men--some Of I
hem. in charge even of separate"
schools OF agriculture and the mechanic
lrts, as the following letters attest:
MARYLAND AeRteubTuRaL ConLrar,
November 16, 18Th
,. i. Boyd, Superintendent Louisiana State
University:
Dear Sir Your letter OF The 4th (post-msrked
th), was received this morning.
You ask my opinion at length, or In u few
lords II 1 prefer IL, on the question: sis IL
cost, or not, to orgsnize an agricultural and
college tas contem plated in tho act Of
longre,s Of 1891 in connection with an ins itn.
on OF general literary and scientific culture ="
press Of business prevents me. at present, ,
'om giving my opinion Mt length with the rea-
,ns on which IL 10 based. will simply give il |
my very decided opinion that 1t Ia best 30 to I
The considerations that lead me to this opin.
IN apply with especial force TO Louisiana and the
her southern States. think IL very desirable
lat . model farm should be connected with the c
yricultural department OF the Coll sge or Uni {
'rBity; and believe that the ends designed to Q
} obtained by agricultural education will DO | Y
ost surely and etfsctually accomplished in that {
stitution in which the theory and PRACTICE OF 3
aud the sciences pertaining thereto +
. most thoroughly taught In the Glass rooms. !
| means OF text books, models and lectures, =
here experiments in agriculture are conducted q
skillful diligont and thoroughly competent +
ientito sgrioulturists; and whore the students a
ny have constantly before their eyes, and have | {
cess To-, well ordered, we'll stocked farm, In 9
0 highest state OF cultivation, and under sys-
matIo management. a.
The usefulness Of such an educational insttu- :,
n would be greatly enhanced by the facilities !
'orded 10 u university for general literary o
ientiac aud professional instruction.
SAMUEL JONES, President. 4
President Jones Is graduate Of West b
ONT, formerly al officer In the United e
ates army, and late Major General In s.
% Confederate army.
ScHooI or MINES,
Rollo, No., Nov. 16, 1s7d.5 q
. +. Boyd, ESQ.,, Louisiana State University: fo
Dear Sa'--In reply to yonr letter Of inquiry =.
ncerning the organization OF agricultural col y
reg; will State that my experience is decided n
IN favor OF the connection OF the same with well '.
ganized literary institutions. While we hero Y,
ye been nominally connected with the State ~
,iversity, we have had all the disadvantages "
expense Of an isolated and distinct organza- =;
n. al
Had this school been located at Columbia with NJ
other schools OF the university, there would pa
70 been SAVING to this institution OF the sal w
g o. tne matnemsncai, English and analyti &C.
laborstories and expensive apparatus and in tu
uments.
organization Is necessarily az. iii
1sive, and without other endowment than that M
.ved from the agricultural land grant, will n,