The Dawson journal., 1883-07-26


truth. With the highest appreciation of
| the usefulness of the branch colleges the
trustees were forced ID reduce the appro-
priation to Dahlonega by 81, 800, and { ach
of the other colleges by $500 each, at its
session just closed. 1t was further under
stood that the board pat the colleges on
notice that it could not continue even tire
diminished appropriation longer than the
present year unless the legislature makes
an appropriation for their benefit.
Before making this appropriation the
Legislature ought to satisfy itself on three
points.
1. Is II absolutely impossible to keep up
both the maiversitys and the branch colleges
GU the present income?
2. Is there no waste of the funds in the
administration OF either the university or
branches?
3. Is it desirable to keep the branch col
leges i'll operation, for if either the univer
81 ty or branches must suffer, it is clearly
the duty of the trustees to protect the uni
versity?
as to the first question there can be two
opinions. The funds fell short last year by
nearly $1,000, which deficit goes over.
The income will be decreased this year by
$500, owing to the substitution of z per
cent for per cent bonds in 1896, 900 of the
bondsscrip fund. So that to have continued
the same appropriations of last year would
have made shortage of $500 in the
coming year beside the 81, 500 brought
over. 1t was also necessary to appropriate
5000 for repairs to the university build
ings and grounds. 1t was therefore impos-
sible for the board to continue its apr ropri
atoms to the branch colleges There were
three parties in the board after the situation
was disclosed by the detailed report Of
Chairman Thomas of the finance committee.
One favored cutting off the branch colleges
altogether-the other halving their appro-
priations, and the third cutting them OFF
only $4,000 each except Dahlonega. The
latter view prevailed and only ON the I'M
derstanding that the colleges were put on
notice that they must look for further re-
duction in the future.
As to the second point there is certai My
no waste in either the university or branch
es In the former the professors are over
worked and notoriously ill-paid. Their
salaries are 1000 when other universities
pay from $4,000 to $1,000. Thebuildings
are wofully out of repair. The plstering is
down in many halls, the roofs are leaky
and it will require 81, 900 annually to keep
them habitable and decent The branch
colleges certainly waste nothing with fac
ulty employed and only $4,000 year Civ
en- them. Indeed their representatives say
frankly that they cannot continue in oper.
alton on the 1900 appropriation.
We may remark in passing that the trus.
tees have not favored the university at the
expense of the branch colleges. Indeed
they are open to the charge that they have
sacrificed important interests of the univer
sity in their desire to MAINTAIN its branches
When these colleges were first established
the university had full professor of agri
culture; when he resigned his duties were
given to the professor of history and polit
ical science. Upon his death his chair wa
abolished and the teaching Of agricultur,
saddled on another professor. 1t had
military teacher at $500 year. When he
resigned, his work was put on q regula
professor. Now that he is from overworl
unable to perform these duties, the military
drill is abandoned altogether In short
since the branch colleges were established
the university has yielded 81, 800 per anun
to their maintenance-mofe than 1t gave a
first.
As to the importance of the branch cole
ges to higher education in Georgia Their
can be but one opinion. Each one ha
been centre of light. the effect of whicl
can hardly be over-estimated On mer
pittances they have done nobic wo.k
With less than $4,000 they educated las
l year over 900 students that but for thei
free tuition would have remained uneduca
| ted. The same amount of money does not
l in our opinion, do more good work auy
: where
1t is now proposed by the friends of tn
university and the friends of the branc
colleges to ask the legislature for porto
S of the fund arising from the inspection G
a fertilizers for the maintenance Of thes
branch colleges. They are agriculture
colleges and this is an agricultural fund
With Sl2, 800 annually each of the college
r can be sustained better than ever before
4 and the So, $50 Of the university fund nov
b given to them restored to the universit
/ proner, and its efficiency vastly increased
! If the legislature would give $25, 600 o
It this inspectors fund-less than half of it
Y to the trustees they could establish fou
more branch colleges, as at Hamilton
+ Waycross and elsewhere.
The matter is with the legislature. TIL
f trustees have done their best. They cal
G not MAINTAIN both the university and tn
colleges with the fund at their disposal
. Eheir first duty is to the university. If thu
Legislature wants the branch colleges main
e tanned it must provide the funds. fit vii
4 not o'tliis the respons Utility of their dis
: continuance must rest with it.