The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-07
virginia Agricultural and Mechanf-
cal College.

THE NEW PRESIDENT-HARM0NY RESTORED.
Editors Dispatch: Most heartily do
CONGRATULATE this State upon the election OF
John l.. Buchanan to the presidency OF the
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege, and in conscIiptir- mn. for> he was
not an applicant. The Board OF VISITORS
have assured the success OF the institution.
THE new president came to BlacksbuiE last
Saturday evening, and was most cordially
received. He came merely TO take survey
of the field to which he had been assigned
to labor: remained until the following
Wednesday, when he returned to Emory.
He will enter upon his duties here in Feb
ruary-at the close OF the vacation. His
election gives universal satisfaction; ana
then every member OF the Faculty "a very
able one) is charmed with the man, which
gives assurance doubly sure OF the success
Of the school.
Then. again, the Board of Visitors have
been doing some good work in the way OF
retrencbment and reform. For several
Years previous 10 their meeting in Novem-
| Der last there was, in addition 10 the other
chairs. a primary department. with Thomas
| n. Conrad as adjunct professor, and whose
management Of the department has been
such as to make manifest to the Board his
eminent qualifications and fitness as an edu-
Gator. DR.. Charles Martin occupied The
chair of English The Board, at its meeting
| in November, for the purposes OF economy
| unanimously agreed to- consolidate THESE
two chairs-a proposition which the late
president, DR.. Minor, and Professor Martin
had heretofore suggested and advocated.
| This action Of the Board saved to the en-
dowment fund 81, 200-tbe salary OF The aG-
iunct professor. The Board then elected
Conrad to the proiessorship over DIR.
Martin.
Still onward in the march Of retrench-
ment, the Board transferred the stl1ce OF
treas urer from Mr.. Giles ID. Thomas,
against whom there was no complaint what
ever, TO Professor Shepherd, he to dis
charge its duties without additional CON-
pensation, as against $500 per year paid to
Mr.. Thomas. Such, Messrs. Editors, Is
plain, simple statement OF the doingS OF
the Board as the writer understands, and
the truth OF which will not be challenged
by any one. 1t Is to be deplored that while
there is such a delish feeling now exist
| Ing inside, that there should be any attempt
by any person or persons on the outside TO
produce the impression upon the public
mind that there are SchiSmS in the Col
lege. Certain persons have imagined that
certain other persons have been badly treat
| ed, and have gone into the newspapers COM
planning about the Board, and these MUIR
muriDgs have found their way to the Legis-
lature, and a resolution is introduced look
ing to an investigation into the manage
ment Of the College, with power to send
| for persons and papers," Nothing imprO-
per in such a step. The only damage il can
do is 10 produce the impression IN this State
and elsewhere that there is discOrd In the
management OF the school, when such is
not the fact. That there has been no one
can deny. The Board OF Visitors would
doubtless be very glad il the resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Eskridge prevailed. As
for myself hope it may, and then let the
investigation be completes
Again l congratulate the people OF the
State upon the bright future OF the College,
and The success il will attain unto with DIR.
Buchanan at the helm. Let ali the people
rejoice. NEM.