The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-03-13
R1trac.. non HOUSE Jeurnals

By leave. Mr.. Henderson OF Smith, chairm =,
/ or selsct committee. 10 vtsit the AgricoltufAl
/ and Mechanical College OF Bryan and the ArEFls
youth. near Hempsiesd, suSniiSsS the foilswisS.
/ re1orts.
IOur joint committee Of three members Of
itouse OF Representative and two member"
the Senate. appointed TO Walt the Agrlcnltn
and Mechanical College Of Texas and the AZ
cultural and Mechanical College for colo1
| their present condition and the manner IN Viii
they are conducted, etc, have Visited the q
institutions and made thorough essminafil
houses, and respectfully report, e the jnd
ment and oplnien OF The celamitteel tnat q
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Tcxal
presents condition which reneets credit npols
the State and upon the i1dicions management
OF the board OF directors Of that institution aud
upon the faculty OF able prsfessors there en-
We examined all the appointments OF the inafi
tuition and carefully inquired into the characiel
and methods OF instruction and dieeipline. We
board OF directors and faculty under iheIs 81,
pefvtsion has been 10 make the college faS.
meet the requirements or the ID
lat on thereto. and The tcrms
our statutes accepting. the aid OF CongFa
and providing for the establlshment OF the col.
ing object shall be, without cxclndiag other
scientific and classical studiea and tnclndlng
military tactics, TO teach such branches g
learning as are related 70 agriculture and met
ehanic arts. AZ regards the exercises in military
tactics now re4Uired ~ eaid COLLEGE. We are
satisfied that the same 10 conducive 20 ins good
OF the institution In exercising the stndents and
promoting order and proDFiety OF condnct and
protecting the diligent In the hours OF etudy. Il
has been avowediy not the intention Of the
labor school. but 10 use the practical farming
carried on in connection wit1 the college ac 1
neld OF illustration OF those branches Of le4rils
ing related 10 agnicultnre taught In the college.
The college Is not, as yet, furnished with anV
sufficient laboratory OF chemical materials aud
scientific apparatus and these are greatly needed
tifc principles embraced in thorough knoWl-
edge OF agricultural and mechanical afta The
college 10 also destitute o. standard works OF
the students al confined In their Investigations
TO the text books OF the cEsncuium sns the
lectures of the professors. The recitation rooms.
except the hospital and halla FOR the
debating and literary societies are good.
ana the management Of the whole.
patent to our observation and as Il Wss fnily ex.
aimed TO us both by the faculty and students
worthy OF unqualified approval. The college
ings, suitable for the proper care OF the s:ck.
where they Will not be disturbed by the noise
and other incidents OF the regular exercises OF
the students II is the decided opinion Of this
committee that students looking 10 the acquisi-
tien OF proficiency In the pursuits OF agf1cul-
tural and mechanic arts should be furnished the
advantages to be derived from the exercises IN
debating and literary societies, and that to pro.
mote proper emulation az least two such socie-
ties should be sustained In connection with the
college. and that 20 this end two halls, each
capable Of accommodating from seyenty-hve tn
one hundred members, should be provided ee
soon as practicable and dedicated TO the use OF
such societies. From matriculation fees and
the necessary margin Of pronts ON the aubeis-
tence OF the students now borne by the manaReI
ment on account OF the State, a shiail ann1
fund arises which might be used In proyidinf
suitable hospital building ano starting ~
From an Investigation We are satEded that Il
AN appropriation should be made eqahl
terest on the university fund now IN The
treasury, and the interest which win accrue on
said fund between this time and the next ser.
OF directors Of the college, in the manner pro
vided for by the House bill Ne. i3l the boards
VIII be able to supply In REASONABLE measure
the deficiencies We have pointed out. and w
therefore recommend that such appropriation
be made for the Agricultural and Mechanical
near Hampstead, intended for colored youths,
where we found Professor Minor but no cnluref
youths seeking instruction. From q thorough
Inquiry Into what had been done and attempted
right In connection with this enterprise, as well
as from our own knowledge and information
derived from many Intelligent citizens, we ale
satisfied that the cOlored race In Texas IL not
yet sufficiently advanced In the love OF learuirH1
or in the acquisition OF wealth 70 enable ~
practically 10 avail themselves Of the BtateL
bounty as offered Ia this institution.
From a careful examination OF the premises.
and like knowledge Of the condition OF the
colored citizenship OF Texas, We are satisfied
that no system looking 70 the support OF this
school In part by the manual labor of the sfn,
dents can be devised which viii lFnAkeaiht'I
school success.
We see NO reasonable charesof rendering the
investment already -:rniss Practically nvnilabIe
except on the'Ass1sof full benlncence 20 the ex.
tent OF tuition, lodging aud snbmstence 70 The
The great need Of that portion Of our citizen.
ship 10 q sufficient number OF trained teachers Of
their own race; and after careful study Of this
problem, we recommend that this propesty near
Hampstead be used ~ place for conducting
normal school for colored youth. We are ASSURED
that thirty one pupils can be properly taught.
lodged and fed for an annual outlay not exceed.
ing ak thousand dollars. We believe that the
funds necessary 10 support said normal school
could be taken from the available school fund,
not only without detriment TO the efhciency of.
that fund. but greatly IN aid OF its prartica benz
encial application 20 the colored race. anu th|
q proportionate amount, having regard 70 ff70'
scholastic population Of each race, nlght Be fa-
ken from the available school fund for the sap
port Of . normal school for the white Scholastic
population. We are assured that various eligible
localities in this State would actively eompcte
for the privilege OF donating TO the State sniia
Bile buildings and grounds Tor the use and en-
dowment OF such normal school for the white
scholastic population.
Respectfully submitted.
J. B. HENDERSON,
NJ. ID. X. TAYIoR.
A. n. DoUaLAss,
Committee on the part Of the House.
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