The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-16
From Hotchkiss, ylrgintas.
The University Of virgluia--How it
Proposes to aid Development in Vir-
GINA and the South.
4. u Notehltas, Edltor !.

proposes TO AID Development IN VIZ
GINA and the South.
3f J. J=st Hotfl,kiss, Edttor:-
The important service which your Journal has
rendered TO the states ofVirgnia and West virgin
Ia in making tho public acquainted with their vast
mineral resourc 8, mafits, and donbtiess Will re-
ceive the grateful acknowledgement OF their peo-
ple.In view Of this fact, 1t seems to me that your
Journal Is the appropriate medium through which
the people should be informed of the efforts which
are now being made by the Rector and Visitors OF
the University OF Virginia towards the same OBJ
ject
The enlightened liberality of the late W. Lewis
Brooks, OF Rochester, N. ", in establishing at the
University, splendid museum OF natural history,
at cost of about $700o9 and the generous donation
by Mr.. W. ". Corcoran,of $50000,to endow profess
sorship of Natural History In connection with thai
museum have created new relations between the
University and the industrial Interests and natural
resources Of the commonwealth.
In former years the system of instruction In the
University was shaped, mainly, with view to the
education uf accomplished scholars, in the depart
nents OF classics and mathematics, modern Ian
guages AMI literature, and the preparation OF young
men for what are ordtnarialy called the learned
professions
the changes which the last two decades have
wrought In POLITICAL social and industrial sys-
tens have rendered a change necessary In our
course of instruction, whereby more prominence
shall be given to those branches of study connected
with the deVelopineht Oh our lnlnlng aSrieuitutai
and manufacturing interests. The Rector and
Visitors OF the University, recognizing this mpor
tant fact, wisely determined year ago, to avail
themselves of the new Professorsh1p endowed by
Mr.. Corcoran to meet, to some extent, this requir
ment. They selected, to fill the new chair, Prof
VIM M F0ntalno, a gentleman Of national reputa-
ton as Il geooglst and mineralogist and they have
instructed him to make the new school, mainly, a
school of geology and mlneralogy. Their principal
object In doing to contribute, lar posi-
BILE, to the speedy development of the mineral
wealth of Virginia and the neighboring states, by
educating class Of young men who would be COM
petent TO explore the hidden mineral resources Of
our country its iron md other ores, GOALS, states,
buildingstones, clay and other natural deposits
which may be made the sources of wealth and pros
perity.-Another purpose was 10 open to the educa
ted young men Of the country new, honorable and
probable occupation, as mining engineers miner
aloglsis and practical explorers and miners.
Prof. Fontaine has therefore been instructed not
only to teach geology and mineralogy in their the
ore ical and scientific aspects, but to take his
classes into the field and afford them the advan
tages of practical instruction and observation,
whereby they may obtain a familiar acquaintance
with all the processes by which mineral substances
are discovered, developed and made to possess com
merclal yalue.-By the present regulations of the
University the of theoretical instruction
commences on the 18th day of October In each year
and Is continued by lectures, illustrated by refer
ence to specimens collected In the museum and by
parallel readI up TO the 18th day of April In each
year. AT that date the Professor and his students
expected to commence active operations In the
field which Will continue until the close of the
sion, the Both of June. During this later period
1t is expected that many portions OF the state will
be carefully examined and oral instruction given
the pupils explanatory Of the geological structure
and the tndica which point to the deposits OF diff
ferent minerals.
By this system of instruction it is hoped, and
confidently believed, that In few years number
Of young men will be sufficiently instructed to pur
sue, successfully, Investigations on their own &C
count and thereby obtain honorable and lucrative
employment as practical biologists aud mining en-
gineers.In a country like ours which abounds in
many natural resources, young man possess ing
such knowledge as he can acquire by years study
under the instruction of Prof Fontaine could ard
ly fall to obtain profitable employment
The professions OF law and medicine fill
ed to repletion, while this new and interesting
field OF employment is comparatively unoccupied
In Illustration OF this fact need only refer
catalogue OF the University, from which it appears
that there lit students In the law school, 81 In
medical class, while only have matriculated in
the school of natural history.
This condition of things Is greatly be regretted.
A young man entering profession has long per-
iod of probation to pass through before he can
sOnaby xpect to more than bare subsistence,
while one properly instructed In mineralogy and
mining can hardly fail to obtain profitable employ
ment in any of our mining districts, and II he
chooses to go to the Pacific States bordering
on the Rocky Mountains. may reasonably expect, In
few years, to acquire competency, If not a for
The yirginias are destined at no distant day, to
become the theatre Of immense mining opera lions,
and there must inevitably be an active demand for
the services of those who possess the requisite skill
In these branches OF knowledge. The Rector and
Visitors of the University have, therefore, felt
be their duty to employ all the means at their dis
pc sal to supply this demand by turning annu-
ally class of thoroughly educated young men,
familiar with these subjects.
1t Is much to be regretted that the people of yi-
ginia and her sister states Of the South do not yet
seem to have properly appreciated this of in
stuction. They still seem disposed to along In
old ruts, forgetting that the days of subtle theory
the present generation need more practical edu-
cation that will qualify them deal successful
ly With physical and material facts.
Your widely circulated journal seems to offer
channel through which the people may be made
acquainted with the act al condition OF THUGS and
therefore avail myself of 1t to appeal to parents
and to enter prismg and vigorous young men, who
nave vim and energy enough to think and act for
themselves, to lose no time in ayailng themselves
of the opportunities TO obtain useful and prof
liable knowledge in these branches of physical
science, which is offered them by the University
Almost every range of our mountains Is pregnant
with mineral deposits of some kind and we hardly
take up a newspaper without seeing notice OF
some discovery of ores, clays, marbles and
among us class Of educated biologists and metal
lurgists, would long since have been disclosed and
made to furnish profitable employment to the labor
of our people.
write this article In the hope of arrestng the at
tenton OF the young men, especially of Virginia and
West Virginia, and inducing them TO qualify them
selves for the great field of operation which lies be-
fore them In the immediate future. Now, If we want
an examination made of mineral resources we
are, In the main, compelled to seek for competent
experts In other states; men who, while they are
competent enough in their own states, are not IA
m1liar with the geological conditions OF ours This
Is reproach to our people. 1t Is that should be
promptly removed. II we had but single man in
each county who competent geologist and
uineralogist the pecuntary and industrial condi-
zion Of state would be revolutnnized before the
close OF another decade. The University of Virgin
la now opens her doors and invites the young men
OF the commonwealth to avail themselves of the
theoretical and practical instruction which she is
prs pared to offer them, that they may become lead
efs III this era OF material development that is
dawnlng upon US. ALEX. H. Il. STUART.