The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-17

ERsDAY,: JANUARY" IL, 1s
,ii;.i., :. -. ....;.,.. ..,:. -, =. -
gate variously estimated; at from thirty to
forty million bushels.
i The four leading cereals produced an esti-
mated total Of seventy-tive; million bushels,
while the total value Of the products Of agri.
million dollars. Although the soil has, Weld.
Cd as generously in some. former years, the
increased breadth of the several crops, as well
US their bountiful product, distinguishes the
season OF 1877 as the grandest agricultural year
Of our history
The value Of the flour manufactured in the
State in 1877 is estimated at fifteen million
five hundred thousand dollars, and that Of the
manufactures ofall kinds at $4,000 600.
| The Jealous inquiries Of the commissioner
have elected information respecting a variety
OF sugar cane which is being cultivated on
s small l. scale ,, with great profit, and which
an invaluable addition to the general products
OF the State, The cane is said to yield from
i one hundred and Ifty to two hundred gallons
OF syrup per acre, which is readily granulated,
experiments having shown it practicable to
grow sugar and liquid products valued at one
h%ndred %s1; and iiity dollars per acre, while in
! weight and value crops Of the best hay as
food for stock. The article has excited wide
spread interest for its many uses, and it is the
prevalent conviction among enquirers that
farmers can profitably produce their own su-
gar and syrups OF a quality equal. when skill
fully manufactured, to those of Louisiana.
The bountiful crops of last year. coupled with
| fair prices, have stimulated an extraordinary
demand for the cheap and productive lands of
the State. Official reports from the several
| United States Land Offices show for the year
total absorption of the government domain,
under the yarious modes prescribed. amount
| ing to $4,000 acres Of which 100000 were
taken during the three months succeeding
harvest. The same accelerated eagerness for
| lands is exhibited by the sales of the several
railroad companies, which comprise total
| OF ~, ,4l9 acres, more than two thirds of which
| were sold since July last. Adding the sales OF
School, Internal I'm provement and other
State lands, amounting to 1881, a grand
total Of about ], 100000 acres is shown to have
been transferred to private hands during the
year 1877, a much larger proportion of which
is intended for immediate cultivation than was
ever before devoted to practical use in sin
gle year. The effect of this land movement
has been rapid increase in the population Of
the State which is now estimated from reliable
da!a to approximate 100000 The returns of
vital statistics show total of 21,205 births
and 7,O43 deaths, being continuance of the
rare proportion heretofore exhibited of more
than three births to one death, which is a
measure of natural increase Of population
marking vigorous and healthy people. These
| returns moreover show the deaths to have in
cluded no case of small poX for two years
; prior to 1877, while of those of the lat
ter year 2l3 were caused by old age 1 can
not close this reference to the bureau of Statis-
tics without an expression Of deep regret at
the untimely death of its honored head, the
late DR.. John B. Phillips, an accomplished
gentleman and estimablc citizen, whose pub.
lie services were crcumscribed chiefly by the
modcsty Of his rrctcnsions to public notice.
EDUCAT1oM.
University o. u. ,.::::csota.
Among the many resources upon which the
people of this State may confidently rely in aid
OF the common prosperity, there is perhaps
nothing about which they have right to feel
ffSn df he @ Hay49v %a the condition
Whatever else may be requisite for the
perpctuity of free institutions, it is certain that
their maintenanccis is not possible without
varied and ditfused popular intelligence
Other things being equal, that is conceded on
all hands to be an essential requirement of a
government alike "of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people," Toward the promo
ton of this first condition of durable welfare
| no state of the union possesses the material
| for more ample facilities. With such endow
ments and due appreciation of the response
bilities which arc implied, the character and
condition OF the institution which is the head
Of our educational system and which should
be the common goal of scholarly aspiration
are justly matters of deep interest to all con-
cerned. Its early struggles are doubtless
known to you. In consequence of the perhaps
premature erection Of a costly edifice, and the
| financial collapse of 1857, which rendered its
lands unavailable, the institution became so
much embarrassed, that by an act of the legis-
lature approved March s. 1862, the Regents of
the University were "authorizcd and empow-
cred to convey any or all Of the lands" of the
congressional endowment in liquidation of
the crushing debt with which it was then
loaded. Governor Ramsey, in his annual mes
! sage to the succeeding legislature, referring
to the progress made in such attempted set
tlement, expressed hope for the early con-
summation of SO desirable an end, willie so
hopeless seemed the struggle under the FORM
liable burden, that in the general estimation
of its sorrowing friends the institution was
to be deemed fortunate if its cxtrication could
be effected by the sacrifice of its entire landed
endowment. To-day our University stands
not only free from debt but with an accumu-
lated permanent fund of $3.50 900, while with
the lands remaining of the original grantland
the domain subsequently derived from con-
'icss, the property of the University may be
deemed fairly worth one million dollars. But
hopeful as is this view of its condition, it is in
| the practical achievements of the institution
in the noble work for which it was established
nat we may most indulge an honest pride.
The devoted efficiency of an able faculty, the
assiduity of a superior class of students, and
the generally harmonious working and invit-
ing outlook of the institution are all matters
for public congrat,llation. The University
will this year complete its first decade of prop
er college work with an actual enrolment of
803; of whom $50 are students of full collegiate
r1nE From tho fret pomr1afod i'm,
in 1873, degrees have been annually conferred
in the several courses, showing steady progress
both in the number and scholarly rank of stu
dents, the class of 1877 comprising sixteen
graduates whose character and attainments
reflect credit upon the institution and the State
to whose liberality the result is largely due.
It may perhaps be said that those who have
! most labored to laudable end are most sensi-
BILE of the room that still remains for improve
| ment; and among the jealous and thoughtful
| friends of the institution, there is profound
conviction that the time has come for taking a
| cannot be an economical or advantageous
policy to employ the superior and costly ma.
chincry of the University in the mere labor OF
preparation for the legitimate collegiate pur-
poses of the institution, and that pursuant to
the true theory of our educational system, all
under agencies should be officially aided and
shaped in such a manner rs to point inevitably
by an ascending scale of continuous prcpara-
| ton to the crowning summit of the University
Accordingly at a recent meeting of the board
| of regents, after m elaborate discussion of the
subject. a resolution was adopted requesting
me to embody in this message to you an "enl-
"phatic recommendation that provision be
made by. law to encourage the formation of
"high schools in The counties where they are
met yet established, to articulate with the
curriculum Of the University, by adequate
appropriation of money in aid of that object,
ITO be distributed under prescribed conditions.