The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-02-06


STATE, was reinvested by order Of the Legisls
ture, and the aggregate annual ir teres
running The college, has been for In
, past Year Slf 2SQO0, whereas the present an
nual cost for professors is Si5, 800 90, show
ing an annual expenditure OF Ssi2a 90 yyhicl
| he permanent fund does not cover and ThicI
has oeen provided for by the revenue arisins
from scholarship, the election Of two ad uuc
PROFESSORS as assistants aud the Inauguration oi
new Professorship during the past wear hayinC
carried the requirement for psy OF faculty he
yond he capacity Of the permanent fund. Here
after the permanent fund will WELD aunually
Sl4, ,2S0o0, ard the requirement for nav OF facpl.
" IN consequence of reduction of salaries az
this meeting OF the board, will be only SIS 500 90
I'm, Inc stste erected, by successive appropria-
dwellings, for the president and five professors,
| at n cost of SlS7, 900, all OF which eXcept the
SiOOVO Appropriated by the Fifteenth Legisla-
| ture, was expended prior TO our charge oI the
| insti ution.
This last appropriation was for building dwell.
nnss tor professors, end for furniture for the
dormitories and mess hsl,-not dollar OF it for
| running the college, which has not at any IiRle
drawn one dollar from the State treasury for
| running expenses. The institution was ,,ut
| in operation by the election of a p-esident
| and nye professors, end on the first Monday
| IL october, 1870. The opening OF the college was
inangurated by an address by Governor Coke
president Of the board. there being six students
IN attendance, and At the end OF that term only
| fnrty-elght. AT the close OF the annual session
lhis number mad increased to one hundred and
| SIX. The opening term was not encouraging
| but the examinations had been so satisfactory
ana the raPic Improvement of tina students so
palpa9le that when the college session com
menced IN the October following the students
present numbered two hundred. This number
increased until on the first of December there
were two hundred ana ifty-three and the presi-
dent declined 10 receive more for lack of rooms
10 put them IN. Two hundr ID and fifty of these
continued 10 June 1918, the period OF the an.
nual commencement exercises
The president and faculty had afforded satis-
Factory evidence OF fitness aud capacity, and the
closing exercises were enthusiastically received
by large audiences. Four hundred and sixteen
apphcA ions FOR scholarships had been fled
but they could not all be received for want OF
room, although extraordinary efforts had been
MADE 10 meet the emergency by erecting two
substantial wooden buildings in resr of the
main college building, each or which accommo-
dated seventy-two stedents with bed and study
rooms, fitted with the necessary furniture
THESE buildings were cred and furnish he'd
out OF the revenues OF the college derived from
the scholars, and have been paid for at cost OF
between SIX and seven thousand dollars, with
out calling on the State Legislature for dollsr.
The directors OF che college have
ielt gratihed in a, eminent degree
by the m .teral improvement and de-
Velopment OF the students, and they have the
as urance OF past success, that with the assist
ance OF the Legislature they could build up a
great State institution, from which no boy in
feGas, VINO could compass the small amount re
quired for board, instruction, clio hing sur
geon's fee, and all incluentals (S2OO), should be
turned aside by any plea whatever, if he had
TO 90 elsewhere, for any class OF education, from
the preparatory to the highest grades known TO
uniVers ties, and by which we could retain with
IL our borders the large amount of money here
tofore sent abroad Tor educational purposes
and build up elevated State pride ard
an exalted patriotism. This has been
our hope, but it cannot he realized without
adequate buildings and adequate apparatus
and respectable library such as are possessed
by all colleges of note. These are indispensa-
BILE and needed now, for we have no library nor
any apparatus worth mention.
The act OF Congress, while it proposes to as
sist IN providing "a LIBERAL, practical education
OF the industrial classes in the several pursuits
and professions of life," indicates unmistalla-
by that a leading object shall be the teaching
OF such branches OF learGing as pertain to agri-
culture and the mechanic arts" This admOni-
tiOn hiss not been forgotten, but the daily ex-
penses OF the college, coupled with the erection
Of buildings, construction of cisterns etc
have pressed so closely upon all receipts indeed
anticipated them that not much has been &C
cCmplished. More land should be enclosed
WORKSHOPS shonld be erected, machinery OBJ
talned. farm implements, mules, etc Then
systematic and practical instruction in
agriculture and mechanics may begin on a suita-
BILE scale, and opportunity be afforded to such
expenses. in whole or in part. A little has bsen
done. One hundred and sixty acres have been
enclosed with substantial plank fence, nifty
acres have been broken and cultivated. One
thousand apple trees have been set out and
most of them are in good condition. and orna-
mental shrubs and trees to beautify the grounds
have also been set 1t is undeniable however,
that not enough has been done to carry ont fully
the main objects of the grant and for this short
coming coming 1T the directory can only justify
means, which they hope may be fur
nished to their: successors. Could they
have used for agricultural development the
money put into tte new dormitories much might
have been done, but without dormitories we
could not have scholars, and without scholars
we could not build up great State institution
oflearning, and those who have applied for in
struction so far have not demanded instruction
In agriculture or mechanics. We would like to
have the capacity given TO the college to instruct
thoroughly in these practical branches, for we
are well aware that what are usually termed the
learned professions are over-full OF practltlon-
Srs, while agriculture and mechanics in the
South need learning and skill to elaborate them
into prosperity. We have said that there has
been no demand by scholars in this direction;
but if we had attractive facilities and could dem
opstrate palpably valuable results, then as |
we think, we should have numerous applicants |
for agricultural and mechanical education I've
feel proud OF what we have accomplished. We
know that we have been carefully economical Of |
our means from the beginning OF our admins |
tration, having reduced salaries OF professors |
more than year ago to correspond with the in |
creased purchasing power OF money. and having |
at this meeting In conjunction with the new
oAcial members, agreed upon another reduc- |
u9n; put we know that the great work is net |
by precunlary aid from the Legislature, yet we |
want it fully understood that the college is self
supporting as it is-more than self-supporting. |
ment OF permanent teaching facilities that |
1t may have the usual attachments OF |
a great institution OF learning. and |
be enabled to perfect its mission in all the |
branches indicated and to give entrance and edu-
cation to every son OF Texas who may knock at /
its portals and ask for It,.
The military department OF the college is a |
necessity growing out OF the terms OF the grant |
by the general government, but costs literally |
nothing to the State az the general government |
furnishes the military instructor and pays his |
salary as an officer of the army, and also fur
nlshes the arms necessary for the exercises.
This officer also teaches class in mathematics,
and is subject to the orders OF the president OF |
the college. The military system OF govern
ment has been found a valuable assistant in en-
forcing the discipline of the COLLEGE, as it is un-
d9ubtedly greatly beneficial in intoxicating de-
por .ment and Systematic action through life |
This officer was detailed by the Secretary of |
War upon application of the board, which in
procuring this detail saved to the permanent |
fuUd the entire cost OF professorship.
During our administration the board had con-
cluded that by abolishing the office OF steward
there might accrue material addition to the
college fund. The building occupied by the
stewards family had been built for the presi-
dents family, and there were not residences for
al the professors. and are not now. These two
ind ucements combining, the board, in January
1o7S, resolved to dispense with the Office OF |
steward, and substitute an unofficial culinary
superintendent, who ehOHid be a practical la
borer, in connection with that department The
object was to increase the available college
fund, and it has succeeded. The fund has
". W.
ing out OF various constructions, ahso.utely
necessary to the success of the institn- |
tuition, Is nowsvirtually extinguished. and the
college out OF debt. The president occupies his
proper residecne. and another professor obtains
a residence thereby. The change from an Off
cial stewardship, created by the board, without
experience, to an unofficial Culinary manager |
and laborer, employed and subject 70 discharge
at any time when unsaiisfaciory TO the college |
assures prompt and acceptable discharge OF
fully justified the judgment OF the board Gnan-
cislly and otherwise.
In conclusion, this committee requests that
your honorable body Will appoint a Joint com
mittee % investigate closely the condition OF
The college as to efficiency and economy Of man
relation to the administration and progress,
Its enlargement OF capacities depends upon
you without another permanent dormitory
building, a library. a laboratory, workshops and
machinery and Agricultural implements, IL ls
lOt IN the power OF the faculty 70 place the
state college on the attitude which IL ehOuld
occupy 10 make IL an honor to the State and a |
great permanent benefit to its yoang men, who |
are soon 10 assume our places and become the
people Of the State and the rulers Of the States |
and either do honor 10 II, or perhaps Lessen It's |
p5 csent rank as member Of tie Union. This
committee has no interest in this matter other |
han your interests. common tS the people of
~ ate Oar OH -ial terms viii Eoon cease |
nd We reel-lh.4t We have done our whole duty
,ur hope Is, NslAt Our suoccssors, Nah
oar aid may be able t6rtSO more than We have, ,
nd tUag the State college Of'9Sexas uay become
aour rec Of continued pride 20 nlf-1issP yfs<l e o.
be state and cause ifs vaias 20 be felt 70 he r.
hottest corner OF our territory. !
Respectfully,
.HARLES DEAoRSE, B. ~ DAVIS
: NJ SCOTT, T. b. PIt KETT,
: j. PEELER-