The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-12-27

rest, thus giving for the use of the College only
| about 5000 per annnm. Hence 1t VIII be per
ceived that the State has furnished no means for
building, purchasing a farm or necessary aPPa-
ratus library, and museums and payment OF Pro-
fessors' salaries and other expenses necessarily
incident to the successful operation of such an in
stitution as this should be- The State, in justice
to its honor and material prosperity, and IN
Justice to the agricultural mechanical and other
laboring classes should make a liberal appropria-
ton at the next session of the Legislature tor the
purchase of land and erection of houses for Pro
fessors. boarders, and employees of the College,
for enclosures barns and stables for live stock,
etc., for setting the College speedily as possible
on such working basis should be creditable to
our State. This will probably require $I25 900,
to be used during the ensuing two years. ms
would be permanent investment, and would not
have to be renewed at subsequent sessions OF the
Legislature Then there should be an appropria-
ton, payable needed at the rate of $I2 $500 an
nualy for salaries of Professors; also, fund will
be needed to pay Steward, farm ouPcrinteno-
ent. and other employees.
| Our honored State University is receiving an
nually for current expenses $4,000. Should not
the Agricultural and Mechanical College be
equally favored2 Alcorn College received $4,000
| for purchase of the College property, and $4,000
per annum for three years, and receives 1000 IN
| terest the fund previously donated, and about
$1,000 for current running expenses
| We should demand of our Senators and Rep
| resentatives to use their best endeavors to have
these appropriations made by the Legislature at
| its next session. Members of the Order present
/ in this Grange should also induce the Subordinate
Oranges to get up petitions to the Legislature re-
/ questng said legislation, and obtain many sig
/ natures as possible of farmers, gardeners me-
chanics, and all others who feel interest in the
building up of great practical educational insti-
tuition such as that in contemplation-such as will
be an honor to the State, and furnish the means
of obtaining, free of charge, practical scientific
| education to every son of Mississippi, however
i poor.
THE GRANGE PRESS.
i The subject of increasing the efficiency and ex
tending the usefulness of the press devoted to our
Order is one that demands our serious attention
i and prompt, energetic action. No organization
4 and no class of people stand SO much in need OF
4 public journals to explain and advocate the princl-
/ pies and measures of the one and to defend and
promote the rights and interests of the other The
/ farmers need to be constantly informed, through
j reliable mediums, of the work and progress OF the
Order and when they are SO informed they be-
coae active, alous, efficient supporters OF the
cause.
THE PATRON OF HUsBANDRY,' published at
Columbus, as its Official Journal, and it was
hoped that the effort of this body to provide the
membership throughout the State with a reliable
and vigorously conducted weekly journal, devoted
exclusively to their interests, would be promptly
and literally sustained, but | regret to say this
hope has not been realized. In some counties, a
few earnest Patrons have labored zealously and
with fair to increase the circulation of The
PATRON but in many counties nothing has been
done It seems impossible to get the farmers out
of the old habit of subscribing for and reading po
litIal papers that are opposed to their organiza-
ton and are controlled by classes that rob and
Cypress them without mercy. The more thought
full farmers, who believe in the truth and justice
of our principles and the great objects seek to
accomplish have found their great mistake, and,
while dropping their political papers, using
their best efforts to build up the Grange press.
| cannot speak too strongly of the great and
good work which our organ is accomplishing, and
by its jealous advocacy of our principles and
measures and its fearless defense of leaders on
all occasions, it has supplied its readers with in
formation of the work and progress of.the Order
in this and other States. Last year, but little
known in other States of what the Order was
doing in Mississippi This year, work has
been given to the public through the columns of
THE PATRON, and from Maine to Texas and from
Florida to Michigan the members of our grand
army of progress and reform have been advised of
our doings, and have received encouragement
from the information thus obtained that the Order
H&:~e'ssittr anu ACTIVITY.
rally to the support of organ, and give it such
support IS, with the cooperation of our brethren
in the other Southwestern States, will place it in
the front rank of Southern journalism.
CONCLUSION.
The work of the State Grange lies before you,
and there is no doubt of its importance. / sin
cerely hope members have thought seriously of
the situation, aud are prepared to make sugges-
tons and devise means for the upbuilding of the
Order during the coming year. My experience
the present year convinces me that the Grange
spirit was never better in this State. This spirit
needs now to be given direction, and farmers thor
oughly informed, for them to rally to the Grange
as they did in the early days of its history. We
need an accession of membership to extend the
bounds of our influence, and should legislate and
labor to the accomplishment of this end. There
is nothing to fear to the permanence and eff
cheney of the Grange. 1t stands upon firm foun-
dation, and is well adapted to wants. that
its work needs but to be pressed forward to bring
great and satisfactory results. And we should not
rest satisfied until we obtain recognition of all the
rights and privileges to which we, class, are
Justly entitled