Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-17
The Maine State Agricultural
College.

| DOJS enter luis luoLitutiOh, 10 ~ "SSA"'S
they hear but little OF II? There are
places 10 which the people hardly know
that there is college in Ocono. Pcr-
hsps This is the case with many OF The
towns in this County. People have wrong
ideas of the State College. and do not try
to correct them. They mus. not thiak,
because it has an agricultural name, that
there is no other course here. than that oil
agriculture. tor they will be greatly mis-
taken.
OF course we all know, that many OF
the people in the western part oil the
State are against this institution. This
prejudice is slowly being overcome. as is
plainly seen by the friends it had in the
last Legislature. AS the people become
more acquainted with the college, they
begin to consider its wants. They lind
that the trustees do not ask for any more
money than they really need. The reason
the people are so down" on the college
is because they know comparatively little
about 1t.
There is farm Of $40 acres connected
With il, upon which various experiments
are performed. The new barn is con-
yenient and well filed with stock. There
has always been the need OF new larm-
house, as the present is not convenientor or
large enongh The last appropriation
allowed enough for this purpose. and 1t
has been decided To build il this summer.
There are three principal buildings;
Brick Hall, in which are rooms ior stu
dents; White Hail. which contains few
rooms Tor the students and number OF
recitation rooms Laboratory, in which is
the chapel aud recitation rooms. The
chemical laboratory is connected with
the latter. A gymnasium is to be erected
the coming season. There is considera-
bic apparatus for the performing OF ex-
periments, and quite large cabinet.
The expenses are comparatively small.
board being only $3.50 per week; the
student furnishes his own fuel. lights and
furniture room rent is free. The library
contains between 2j00 and 5000 volumes,
which can be taken out free OF charge.
The first year the Freshmen are required
TO work on the tarm three hours per day,
receiving pay tor it, each according to his
laithlulness. The entrance studies are
Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Geogra-
ply, Grammar and History ol the United
States. Itrequires tour years 10 complete
the iull course, but arrangements have
been made tor Special Course, for those
who 90 not wish 10 attend The whole four
Years. The studies Tor The first two years
are the same for all courses; the principal
studies OF this time are Pbysica! q Geogra-
ply, Algebra, Geometry, French. Chem
istIy, Trigonometry, Pny and Ana
lytici Geometry. In the afternoons oil
the second year Free Hand and Mechan-
ical Drawing are required by all students.
Cnere are five iull courses. viz: y
course in Agriculture; in Civil Engineer
ing; in Mechanical Engineeringi in
Chemistry; in Science and Literature.
At The end of two years, the student IS
required 10 select one OF these five courses
to pursue during the remaining two
years. German, Ply siology, Logic, Min
eralogy and Geology are common to all
courses. Astronomy is common 10 all but
the Chemical course. The rest OF the
studies OF the several courses are
adapted to each particular course
The Agricultural course is very good
one, even Tor those who do DOT IL
tend to follow farming as business
but there are not many taking this
at the present time. The studies OF this
course are made practical as lar as pos
sible By working in the chemical la6ora-
tory and experimenting upon the farm
The members study, besides these CON-
mon to all. Entomology, Zoology. Mental
and Moral Science, Anatomy, Dairy
Farming and Architecture. On the farm
are various machines. from which the
student may get some idea as to their
value.
The studies of the two Engineering
cou ses are nearly The same IN them are
al, the higher IN athe m maties and all studies
pertaining to engineering. In the me-
cbanical course the students are required
to draw in the afternoons, while those IN
the ci,i course are working iu the field.
The latter lay out curves and during The
last year, lay out railroad between one
and TWO miles long and leveled it, so we
see they have the real work, just the
work they will have after graduating -
As il is now these in The mechanical
course cannot have the real practice, bul
We are in hopes 10 have this soon.
The course in Chemistry has but lew
students, but it is all the better Tor this
as the less there are the more time the
tutor has 10 pay TO those who 60 take
The udents work in the laboratory II
the afternoons, thus becoming capable o
performing some quite delicate tests.
The course OF Science and Literature
is one in which q student can get gen
eral knowledge. This is good course