Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-02-07
[From the Columbia Register ]
Agricultural Education.


Are being "in the deep boooih Of the ocean
buricd."
There is capital III our midst, tho impor
tance of which we do not realiSe or appre.
cioto, and lies dormant; still it has poten-
tiality and Importance at our call, subscrvi-
ent to our use, and among the number IS
that of curiosity aud ali pcrvading organ.
isms, visible aud invisible. is it not posi-.
bio that we may not turn that quality to
our regeneratiop7 Curiosity may be
exploited to our inapprcoiablc advantage.
In the year 1860 the United States agri.
cultural bureau hsd nearly rnp out, aud was
struggling for existence, occupying kind
of hermaphroditc existence, as mcre ap-
pendage to tho patent Office. It's origin
and usefulness depended upon an annual
distribution of seed and report. The
distinguished scientist and traveller, Mr..
Fortune, was commissioned to visit tho
East and procure tea seed and plants which,
wero received in good condition aud propa-
gated in the garden appended to tho patent
office, and the plants distributed all over
the land A report, mainly ooncooted BY
''rcnny liners," was distributed to members
of Congress, whion often found its way to
the shelves of grocers for waste paper
The seeds, plants and report were considered
by members as great eleotioucerng pcrqui
sites. il nothing else. The Agricultural
Society of tho United States held its meet
ings in tho halls of the Smithsoni,n Insti
tutc, then aud still undor the direction Of
Professor Joseph Henry. Pending this
state of things, VIC were tendered the posi-
tion of Superintendent of Agriculture by
Mr.. Buchanan, still then under the patent
office, and that again an appendage to tho
Department of tho Interior, Jucob Thomp-
son.
We wero induced to accept the position
with the conviction that no could serve our
country and the cause of scicuce by con.
vcrting a nero seed shop into grand
central institution at the seat of government
for tho advancement of science, tho sole
basis Of prosperity aud civilization; some
thing on the plnu of the University Of
France, with its subordinate, the garden of
plants, the Sorboune, &c., whore public
lectures are delivered upon all subjects by
the most learned professors, ench in their
speciaIties. What an cfTuIgonco of light
has eaanated from the galaxy of names
which these institutions have fixed on the
grcit road to advancement. a more recent
creation is exhibited at the Bos dc Bologne
by the Society of Acolimation in admirable
usefulness in the immediate onvirons of Paris
which include Passay. where our Franklin
livcd-"E Efipnn cclum fulmcn septrum9uc
yrnnas." Hire exotics find home, sent
from all parts Of the earth by consular,
ri jr,lp tio of1
for the world, whc'c rich ond poor congre-
gate for vencration, health, amusement and
learning Wo felt assured that if VIC could
accomplish that purpose, so pregnant with
usefulness, standing out in such bold relief,
ii would soon be copied by every Ssase ia
the Union, open up mines of material and
immoterial wealth, tic the parts of this broad
continent together, and by that holy spirit
which is created by concentration and
emulation, go on to conquer new worlds.
1t was ut these meetings, held at the
Smithsonian Institute, that we first proposed
and insisted upon the utility and necessity
OF scientific education in overy State, hoping
that our plans would mature into application
and soon follow in all tho States. Our
efforts were received, not with resistance,
but division, and regarded as utopian. One
of the arguments against State institutions
was the impossibility Of filling number Of
institutions with professorships, such was
alleged to be the drought of scientists iu
tho land. By degrees the spark increased,
and finally Congress-, in 1862, voted land
scrips or its equivalent in money, according
to representatives ip tho different Stntes, for
the establishment of mechanical and agri-
CULTURAL colleges. The portion coming to
South Carolina, something less than $780,
200, was disposed of for other purposes by
the aliens who possessed themselves of the
government. Tho seed store is still in
operation. Most Of the States have taken
advantage of the appropriations, and have
organized institutions, which are in full
operation, but the general government has
done nothing. Mr.. Peabody, with his big
heart, felt deep interest for the South,
and had this State manifested an apprecia-
ton for his intentions, millions would have
been it's inheritance, and we should have
had models Of scientific creations in our
midst. The sums, in tho language of one
that knows, "the millions, as appropriated,
might as we'll have been thrown into the
ocean,"
Columbia, tho capital Of the State, with
its fino river and beautiful surroundings,
might inaugurato an example which would
hasten the desire of her citizens, and be a
practical benefit to the State. The Agri.
cultural society has strivep to that end, but
instead of coniining hof efforts to a six days
annual fair, which may not always be suo..
cessful, would il not bo possible for its
oitizens to form a chartered institution, to
purchase suitable location 10 her envirous,
and utilize it for useful and profitable
amusement and salutary instruction. The