The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-06-11

REPORT OF Tue LEGISLATIVE COMMIT
TEA COSTLY INSTITUTION THAT
is OF LITTLE Use.
HAERIsBuRG, June 5.-TIe follow
ing is the report of The committee to
Investigate the Pennsylvania State
Agricultural College, presented to
the House Of Representatives yester-
day by Mr.. Ackerly:
In submitting the evidence the
committee beg leave to report, as the
result Of their investigation into the
affairs of the Pennsylvania State
College, that while the evidence does
not show actual fraud or disclose
corrupt management of the funds re-
eeiyed by said institution, yet your
committee are of the opinion that the
testimony does connectedly indicate
that the Institution has been very
badly managed; that the location is
q verv undesirable one; that The
building IS entirely unsaited for the
purpose for which 1t was erected ;
that the agricultural department,
which was intended to be the leading
ebjec: of the Institution, has never
been a success, and that the State
has never received, and Is not now
receiving, BENEFITS at sll commensu-
rate with the mount Of money
which has been appropriated to said
institution by the United States aad
this Stg,e.
We also End that The Congress Of
the United States granted To this
Sta.e 10000 acres Of land, which,
by bad management, neited the Stale
only Si39,0 600; that the act Of Con
gress granting this vast amount of
land required that ,be proceeds there
Of should be used Ly the State main
~ 10 the interests Of agriculture and
the mechanical arts that the interest
sccruing from this fund, in addition
to some $780, coo appropriated by
the State Legislature, is used and
controlled by the trustees Of said Ag-
ricultural College; that ia addition
thereto the trustees aforesaid sold
the bends Of the State, bearing six
per cent. interest, dated February 2,
1872, calling for $500. 900 and falling
due 80 years from date, from which
the said trustees derive a evenae or
$4,000 annually. Your committee
ind the evidence dlscloses the fur
Their fact that the deeds for all the
freehold belonging to said Penasyl-
vania State College, including the
experimental farms, are held by the
aforesaid trustees, not in irus: for
he Commonwealth, but for the
aforesaid trustees and their sueces-
'ors.
Your committee also fad tbal The |
Experimental farms owned by said I
rustees, which were TO be conducted /
ioleiy 10 the interests of the agIlcul- !
nrsl classes of tie Commonwealth,
utterly failed TO accomplish the
intended. ibis is mel only
he case Of The Western farm, located
u Indiana countv, which is not nov '
third.class farm. nor in as coed i
condition as when purchased. Your c
.ommittee also Cad that at tue D =
nj session of the college bat 46 stud !
ints were in attendance, many Of ;
whom were non-residenis of the :
State, and that there is now in the
of the college IL professors,
which we deem cut of all proportion
With the number of students 10 at
enhance. Finally, your committee
5 of the opinion that the trustees
ave signslly failed to carry out the J
for which the magnificent land 4
rant was given By the United States !
md which was further sought to be I
.ccomplished by most liberal appro- i
'riations on the part Of the State.
A. /. AcKERLY, CHAIRMAN,
j. 7. SHoENER,
JACOB PRoyINs,
THOMAS ST. CLAIR,
ALLEN CRAIG