The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-12
[For the Dispatch.I
Proposed Changes IN the Stale AGri-
cultural College.
ARE WE TO HAVE SECOND VIRGINIA MILL
Typv JxSTJT;vTE 2

ARE WE TO HIVE A SECOND VIRGINIA MILL.
TARY INSTITUTE?
The affairs of the Virginia Agricultural
and Mechanical College at Blacksburg have
for year or two occupied at times a con-
siderable share OF public attention. Not.
withstanding the almost unanimous voice
of the press OF the State in commentator
OF the work the College has done, it has
been persistently alleged that something
was wrong there. Our memory is still
fresh of the remedy, more heroic than wise,
suggested in the last Legislature, when the
Wholesale removal OF the Visitors and
Faculty was gravely proposed, and, but
for the influence OF an intelligent press,
might have been effected. The Assembly
has adjourned and the Visitors have NIT,
and now a change scarce less radical than
that which the former refusedto entertain is
proposed by the latter. A committee has
been appointed to submit plan for the
entire Reorganization OF the College. Not
content with the instruction in military
tactics, which, as required by the act OF
Congress relating to agricultural colleges,
has always been given, the project now is
to introduce q complete military system; to
have superintendent to whom professors,
az well as students may be subject as to a
superior officer; to have the students live
together in barrackS-in Il word. to have
Just such another State institution at Blacks
burg as was forty years ago founded and
stlli flourishes at lexington
Against this change we would enter dis
tinct protest. When few years since the
disposition of the fund offered to Virginia
by the General Government for the promo
ton Of education and agriculture was before
the Legislature a strong claim was put in
for it by the Military Institute. 1t was al
legged, il we remember Alright, and alleged
with much. reason, that this school already
had the military feature (Which was lndis-
pensabe), suitable buildings to begin with,
and an organization and course which could
easily be adjusted to meet all the require
mcnts, and that, everything considered, the
wisest and most economical! way to dispose
of the sum in question was to assign it, I'M
der, proper restrictions, to the Institute.
The claim WINS q strong one, but other coun-
sells prevailed and the College at Backsburg
was established. There was no talk then
OF having another State military institute
in the Southwest; for no more efectual
quietus could have been given to the plea
from that quarter. But now that the COLLEGE
has been founded and bias been for seven
years III SuCCSsSi OpSldtiOU uuuel .'hplhct
system it is proposed to revolutionize 1t
into an exact copy OF the school over which
General +. H. Smith has so long and ably
presided in the upper Valley.
II the Visitors really believe that the true
Interests OF education, as represented IN the
school at Blacksburg, require q compete
military organization, and really desire the
income at their disposal to be economically
disposed Of IL this behalf, let them recon-
mend to the Legislature its total dissolution
there and reestabishment in connection
with the Institute at Lexington. The peo-
Die cannot afford. and will not sanction, the
extravaganza OF having two military schools
under State auspices. Make them one, and
the services OF hall dozen, Il! least, Of the
professors now employed at public cost can
be dispensed with and much other expense
saved. This is time for retrenchmeut in
all things, and no public servants who turn
Il deaf ear to this demand caa expect to be
approved. A TAXPAYER.