Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-13


agricultural college, and other lecturers In all
parts OF the state. am happy to be able to state
that these two great branches Of instruction in
agriculture, the superintendent and the univer-
sty, have labored in perfect accord during the
past two years. must refer you 10 the report Of
the superintendent for further information
There was time when the state had board
of manufacturers and mining as well as of agri-
culture. When the superintendent Of agricul-
ture was appointed, did the state lose its interest
in manufacturers and mining2 We have already
great interests in marble and slate quarres and
copper mines, and ought to have in manufactures.
Something should be done to encourage manu-
featuring interests, and TO tempt men to invest
their money in such enterprises within our Dor
ders
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRIcUI-
TURAL COLLEGE
The report of the trustees Of this state institu-
ton always makes one satisfactory statement
Notwithstanding its income is small, its expenses
are always kept within that limit. Iquote few
words from the report at this time: An insti-
tuition which can year after year resist the temp
tation to overdraw its income, and which contin-
ues to exhibit careful economy in its admins
tration, makes strong appeal for confidence and
patronage both to the legislature and to public
spirited individuals. But the means of the insti-
tuition are inadequate to the work which it is
called upon to do II 1t were required to furnish
only the old-fashioned college curriculum its pres
ent income with its present number of students
might be sufficient But an institution combining
itself to this narrow line of work cannot meet the
demands OF modern education. The university
in undertaking TO fulfil the obligations incurred
by the state through the acceptance Of the con-
gressional land grant namely TO provide liberal
education which should fit men for all the pur-
suits and professions In life, assumed additional
amount of work which the additional income is
inadequate to supply. The satisfactory balance
sheet must not be suffered to disguise the fact
that the higher education In Vermont Is suffering
because the state university has not sufficient
means to do its work as that work is done in other
states. The administration Of the institution can
claim the credit of economy; the state at large in
its dealing with the institution can claim only
parsmony. The present condition Of the uni
versty is such as to furnish reason for the en-
largement of its means. Ii is free from debt;
every dollar added to its funds can be devoted to
the work of the future. It's financial policy Is
adapted to secure confidence and attract invest
ments. The fundamental work OF college instruc-
ton is already provided for all additional means
can be devoted to visible extension and improve
ment. The spirit of the institution has shown
itself to be progressive. The fathers of the COM
monwealth pledged the institution to enterprise
and the state to its support when they gave 1t the
name of a university"
The university has received some donations
during the last two years of not large amount.
Henry Z. Hickos of Burlington, has conveyed to
the university "A lot Of land of three hundred and
fifty acres in the town of Stowe, of the estimated
value OF $1,000 Mrs Celinda A. B. Lilley OF
Montpelier has paid into the treasury the sum Of
5000, to be available after her death and that
Rev. c. G. Parker ID. D., formerly Of Waterbury,
Vermont, late of New Jersey, made provision be-
fore his death, for the endowment of the Parker
Scholarship" by the payment of $1,000 which
sum has been paid into the treasury by his
ecutor. Some smaller donations to the library,
cabinet and laboratory. are also acknowledged
| During the year 1889 there were in the aca-
demical department eighty-two undergraduates,
and in the medical department one hundred and
forty students; during the year 1880 there
were eighty-one undergraduates and one hun
dred and forty-three medical students.
The number of students in all departments
might easily be increased by some fostering care
on the part of the state towards the child of her
own creation During the academcal year Of
| 1878, there were in Dartmouth College sixty
academical, fourteen scientific and twenty -four
medical students from Vermont. large portion
of these ninety-eght students should be in some
of our own colleges.
The work among the farmers done by the uni
versity in connection with the superintendent of
agriculture has proved successful, as well as the
veterinary lectures Of Professor Cressey and the
lectures of Professor Atwater Professor Perkins
and President Buckham, at the meetings through
out the state.
at became manifest at these meetings, and in
creasngly as they went on, that the work
which has been done during the past ten years
by the board Of agriculture and the university Is
resulting in a great awakening OF thought and
quickening of the spirit of improvement all
through the agricultural classes OF the state.
For the results OF the experiments with ferti-
izers, refer you to the report of trustees
More than three hundred boys from one hum
bred and forty-six towns have entered to compete
for the prizes offered by the trustees OF the uni
versity of Vermont, to those under seventeen
years of age, who shall raise the largest crop Of
corn and potatoes on one-eighth of an acre of
land There are ten prizes from s2j to So, and
two scholarships in the university of Vermont
and state agricultural college, offered to the
competitors
The report suggests that free scholarships be
/ nv N branches
tanning to agriculture, and | would recommend
that at least much be done in this direction as
is done for the normal schools
There are to be three trustees of the university
of Vermont and state agricultural college elected
| TO fill the vacancies occasioned by the expiration
of the term Of those trustees whose office expires
in 1881, and one to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the death OF Ex-Governor Peck.
INSANE ASYLUM
Two years ago the legislature created the office
Of supervisors of the insane, and the gentlemen
appointed to that office make their report for the
past two years They make one very important
suggestion which should receive your considers
ton. Some provision should be made for the
convict insane Now there is no provision by
which they are separated from the ordinary in
sane Of the asylum Such persons ought not to
be treated like the ordinary convicts OF the state
| prison, and vet 1t seems wrong To place them
among the innocent insane II not violent in
their conduct and dangerous TO the persons OF
those with whom they associate their influence
would be bad Men may be insane, and yet not
| be willing to associate with criminals.
There are throughout the state a few persons
| violently and dangerously insane, whose friends,
| from mistaken motives OF kindness, are unwilling
to have them committed to the asylum. The
supervisors ask that they have power TO commit
such persons on proper proof of their condition.
| This is stepping upon very delicate ground. Ger
tainly the public is entitled to be protected from
dangerous assaults so far as the law can do so,
but at the same time the right of an individual
| to his personal liberty must not be lnfrlDged upon
for slight grounds.
| The supervisors were appointed to examine into
the condition of the insane asylums Of the state,
hear the grievances of the patients apart from
the officers and keepers and especially ascertain
whether persons are therein confined who ought
70 be discharged, and report to the governor and