The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-31

nov belong to this class, and will probably
always belong to it. 1t would be wise 70 FUR
nish them the means Of education and adj
ysncement.
We have good reason to know that
they are looking 10 the successful estab-
ment Of this college as the means by which
they are TO acq uire the education necessa-
ry TO elevate them In life, and TO improve
their condition.
But if all philanthropic motives are dis
carded, and we are 70 look at the money
applied for as a financial investment alone,
it will pay. 1t is not going too far TO say
that the education which has made Scotland
and Switzerland-tne two poorest countries
in Europe-rich doubling and trebling
their productions, would add at least ten
per cent. TO the annual production of our
crops Certainly this is not large advance
for educated skill over ignorance and mere
brute force We see every day the great
differences between the productions Of the
intelligent and the ignorant The annual
cotton crop of Mississippi is about 100000
bales, worth, at S45 per bAe, $36, 600, 900; all
other crops combined including fruit, yege-
! table and live stock, would amount at least
10 half that, say $l8,000,000 annually, an
aggregate Of $54, 100000 Ten per cent on
this would be 5,4OO, 900, clear gain to
theState each year Of fifty times more than
| we ask for this institution. But the gain to
! the State will not stop at ten per cent.
| Wien we look at our WORKOUT fields,
which a more intelligent agriculture
would restore, and at the large body of
/ land ia the hill counties which, though
units for the production Of cotton and corn,
! is well suited for the raising of grapes
and other fruits and for pasturage Of sheep
and other live stock, we see that very
small portion of the area of this State has
been put to use That more skilled ag-
riculture would reclaim the exhaused fields
is certain 1t is equally certain that with
| the life, energy and progress produced by
the retaining and successful tillage of
! these worn out lands, would come the en-
terprise which would utilize the poor lands
not yet reduced TO cultivation.
France has five millions of acres in grapes
alone, from which millions Of her wealth
are derived. We have larger area fitted
for that crop than France has, leaving us
still waste land enough to grow wool to the
full extent of the value Of our present cot
ton crop. No State has greater natural
advantages Why is it that we still linger
behind our sister States? Why is it that
there is no progress, no enterprise, no hope
The answer will be found in the inability
of our people, occasioned by an ignorance
Of the best methods Of agriculture, to devise
the means of regeneration.
We have made our estimates on the most
economical scale We are sure that nothing
less than we have asked for will give any
assurance Of success. 1t is far less than any
other State has given, so far as we are in.
formed, whose college is a success Small
and insufficient appropriations will be more
than useless If we may be allowed to do
So we feel that it is our duty to appeal to
the iberality and generosity of the Legis.
lature IN behalf of class of our fellow
citizens constituting large majority of the
whole, by whose labor and enterprise the
means are produced from which the taxes
of the State are paid.
j. NJ. STONE,
j. NJ. CAUsEY,
J. Il. GEORGE,
FRANK BURKITT,
l.. b. Brown,
w. b. AUGUSTUS,
ID. L. PHAREs,
VIM b. MONTGOMERY,
THos G. DoCKERY,
G. l., GILMER,
Trustees of A. and NJ College.
-.