The Portland daily press., 1878-02-05
THEAGRICULTUaAL COLLEGE.
Visit of the Committee on Agriculture.

AUGUSTA, Feb 4
The Committee on Agriculture, of which SEN
ator Prince is chairman, made visit to the Ag-
ricultural College at Orono on Friday last. Not
long since an order passed the House directing
the committee to inquire into the propriety of
abandoning the College and transferring its
funds to some one of our colleges which would
establish chair of agriculture. Because of
this order, and on account Of frequent expres-
sions in the press and among the people that
the institution costs moro than 1t comes to, the
Investigation into its affairs and methods of in
structions was very thorough.
COST OF THE INSTITUTION.
1t appears that since 1867, when the first ap-
preparation was made, the state has given in
all $l73,718. While there has been no construc-
tion account kept, it is estimated that the build.
ings cost $l12. 900, and the balance, therefore,
must have gone to keep the school running. ap-
paratus, stock, farming utensils, SC.
In addition to the amount given by the state,
Bangor, Orono and Oldtown caves $4,000, which
was use to purchase the farm of the college,
the conditions being that if the college is aban-
doned the state shall pay back $11 200, with in
terest from 1867. Hon. Abner Coburn also
gave $1700 for library, Sc, so it will be seen
that the whole amount received from the state
and donations from towns and individuals
amounts to $197 ,418. This sum represents about
what it has cost to start the enterprise and run
1t, and also about what it would cost to stop,
for but comparatively little could be realized
from forced sale of the property.
The endowment fund, donated by the United
States, amounts to $134,000 and the interest,
$4,000, goes to help support the school. By the
terms of the gift this fund reverts back to the
government il the college is given up.
IT'S DESIGN AND COURSES OF STUDY.
There seems to be wide spread feeling that
the institution is doing but little in educating
the young men who avail themselves of its
advantages, in agriculture, and that the in
struction there given varies but little from that
of other colleges. and that its graduates, like
those of other colleges, go into the professions
rather than agriculture. To enable the people
to judge for themselves, I present the follow
ing statement: In 1872-73-74, the first three
classes numbered nineteen graduates, and they
are engaged in various professions, as follows:
Farmers, 4; teachers, A; civil engineers, 4;
mechanical engineers, 8; merchants, 2; physi-
clan, /; and editor /. In 1875-76-77, sixty-seven
graduated and are engaged in the following
pursuits Teachers. 20; mechanical engineers,
13; farmers, 4; civil engineers. 4; lawyers, g.;
physicians, 2; general business, 3; editor, i;
dentist, l; other pursuits, z. n
Many ere teaching now to pay their expenses
incurred IN procuring their education, but will
finally select some other business. The design
of the college is to give liberal education to
the Industrial classes. 1t is claimed that nine
tenths of those who have graduated and who
are now receiving instruction could not have
got an education at any other college, The
methods of teaching are BY practical illustra.
tions rather than by textbook, with view of
fitting the student for agriculture and mechan-
cal pursuits rather than the professions.
Five courses are provided, viz: In Agricul-
ture; in Civil Engineering; in Mechanical
Engineering; in Chemistry; and in Science and
Literature. The studies of the several courses
are nearly the same for the first two years.
Lectures are given to the Freshman class on
Physics, Meteorology, Physical Geography and
Botany; to the Sophomore class, on Chemistry.
horticulture and Practical Agriculture; to the
Junior class, on Anatomy Physiology Astron-
omy and E0glish Literature; and to the Senior
class, on Rural Law, Mineralogy, Geology,
Stock Breeding, Cultivation of Grasses and
Cereals.
The students the first year are required to
labor on the farm fifteen hours a week, for
which they are paid ten cents an hour, if in
dnstrious. The school year consists of 36
weeks, and the cost for board, washing, Sc, is
about $3.50. Many students pay their entire
expenses by work on the farm, the vacations
being arranged so that they can work the entire
summer at haying, and winters at teaching.
1t will be seen that the design, methods Of
teaching, and the facilities it affords are entire
ly different from that of any college in Maine,
and that its graduates select the agricultural
and mechanical pursuits to a much greater
extent than those of the other colleges.
There are now 118 students in attendance
at the college, greater number than any pre-
vious year. There are seven professors, ia-
Guiding the President, their salaries amounting
to $11 500, the President and one of the profess
ofs receiving $4,000 each, and the others 81, 500
a year and house rent. The entire expenses Of
the college, including those of the farm amount
to SIG, 900; $4,000 is derived from the endowment
fund. leaving balance of $4,000 to be made up
by the state.
THE FARM OPERATIONS.
The operations Of the farm have not been
the past year, and believe it never
has paid running expenses. 1t appears that it
has cost to operate the farm the past year So
1880, and the products sold amount to only
S2 113 28, leaving deficit of So, 800 49, A very
small part of the deficit might properly be
charged off to farm Improvements, but just
how much is uncertain. Th3 farm is very much
larger, it is said, and the operations very much
more extensive than is required for the purposes
of instruction, and it would seem that unless,
with all its facilities and Improvements, it can
be made to pay expenses or even a profit it
better be let to some one who will furnish IA
cilities for instruction and at the same time run
it as other farms are run for profit. If farm
that has cost $50, 900 cannot bs made to pay ex-
penses it is not right to tax the farmers Of the
state, whose farms will not average $4,000 in
value to pay its losses.
With $4,000 income from interest and the
farm self-supporting, the college would require
but very small, if any appropriations from the
state especially if the salaries were slightly re-
duced.
The college is doing a noble work and fills
place in our state which is not and cannot be
filed by any other institution, and therefore it
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