The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-01
The A. and II. College.

cnanlc2l Noliege OF MlSslsslPpi IN IeU-
ruary Last. and has written and published
the result of his observations. Prof.
KNAPP il not only an expert In sgricul-
ture, but one Of the ablest writers in
the Northwest, and commendation from
50 competent g source is certainly very
encouraging and gratifying. Here IS
an extract from his published letter:
A glance at the map shows that Missis-
sippi and Iowa are similarly situated, in
one respect; they are each bordered by
! large river upon the east and the west. 1t
is not, therefore, unnatural that the central
portions should be similar in general for
nation. The soil is different, from the
fact that the timber il largely soft pine
The tall straight trees, though not regarded
Of much account here, would be considered
valuable at the North. Starkyille Is sit
uated in the southern portion OF what is
known az the Northeastern prairie region.
The soil is red clay loan, underlaid with
rotten Limestone; the surface is quite un-
Gulating.
We found starkville a pleasant and
I thriving village Of 2000 inhabitants. In
addition TO the Illinois Central Railroad
it has a branch of the Mobile q Ohio The
hotel at which We stopped was a very plain
building, outside and within, bat our land
lady was hospitable, and the dinner served
was better in variety, quality and cooking
than Is provided at most village hotelssi In
Iowa.
Alter dinner we went out to the Mis-.
sissippi Agricultural and Mechanical
College, situated two miles from Stark
0 II Z
the College, met us and gave US a hearty
welcome 70 the South. lie stated that it
had been arranged to invite the leading
farmers OF the State to meet me, but owing
10 delays in correspondence the lectures
would be before the students, the faculty,
/ and such stock men as could be reached
| by shorter notice, an exceedingly attentive
and intelligent audience as il proved.
.dy first Impressions Of the College are
exceedingly favorable. The farm is un-
daiatng prairie with occasional groves of
oak, hickory, walnut, etc. 1t was an old
worn-out cotton plantation, before the war
The grounds, when folly ornamented with
trees, will be quite picturesque Here
have been erected ample buildings, includ-
| ing chapel, laboratories, lecture room,
museum, dormitories, mess-hall and resi-
dences for 250 students, and the necessary
managers aud instructors
Opportunity was given to visit the
classes aud observe the methods OF instrue-
ton. Every department is conducted
with marked ability. The energy,
thOroughness and practical tender ncy of all
the instruction shows a single purpose in
the e terprise, the education of men and
women for the worlds work.
The President said to me "We think it
. - I II Il.
only partially succeed in several We be-
leve the object Of these colleges should be
to educate young men for the life Of a
farmer, and we propose to fight it out on
that line Il it takes all the summer"
The College owes much of its success to
Gen. S. d. Lee, the President, a man of
most comprehensive views and OF great
hrmness OF purpose. In the selection OF
Professors regard has been had to practical
an well rs to scholarly men. The members
OF the board of trustees have been selected
Tor their success in practical agriculture.
Col. Montgomery, who has largely been in
strumental in developing the dairy inter
est OF the College, is owner of one of the
| largest and best bred Jersey herds in the
world-200 registered cows-and is an en-
thusiastic advocate of the new education
for the new South. The 250 young men in
attendance represent all portions of the
State and are in theory and practice most
enthusiastically devoted to industrial edu-
cation. Every student is required to work
a given number OF hours per day, from
which he is paid from two to eight cents
| per hour, according to the excellence and
| the amount of his work, which is deter
| mined by a standing, as in class work
! Like all National Colleges, there is no tut
/ i,a I II fOit a
room rent, is eight dollars and fifty cents
per month, from which is deducted the
| amount earned by each student. Some
| students pay all their expenses; a majority
pay one half, reducing the cost TO less thar
| fifty dollars each, per annum, not includ'
| ing books. The government is military
the boys are required to fall into line ion
chapel and meals; both chapel and mess
hall are separate from the dormitories.
l should be glad to state many more
things about this grand College, which il
not only educating the youth of the Soutl
to admire and accept an industrial life
but is moulding and leading public opin-
ion in the direction OF the industries
and to an appreciation of the nobility o
labor but you have not space and | viii
limit myself to agricultural matter.
In Mississippi, with but few exceptions
farmers consider the sky sufficient coverlnI
for stock, and | have not seen a pasture o
improved grasses in the entire State. Th
grasses in the fields appear brown and dry
resembling those on the native prairie o
the North. Cotton and corn seem just a
universal to the observer, as in the Older
time. The progressive planters, however
of which there are many, are making con
siderable effort to diversity agriculture
am informed that taere are over 6ft
breeders of thoroughbred dairy cattle
mostly Jerseys in the State.
On the 7th March, Prof. KNAP
wrote Gen. LEE as follows:
"We Preached home this week, after
most delightful tour in the South, muc
refreshed, and / trust with better know
edge Of your people and institutions. Th
South has enlisted my deepest sympathy
and | shall do all in my power to Undue
n right understanding of the situatio
among the industrial classes in the Nortf
Your grand College has grown upon M
as | have pondered your problems an
work since leaving. 1t seems to me yo
have accomplished wonders in a brief TIM
. You have grand faculty.
The State of Mississippi should "hol
up your hands" in everything. The mai
ses cannot yet comprehend the magnitud
OF your work, but they will yet see tn
: result. Your trustees doubtless see IN
provements that can be made in all depar
t ments, but they do not want to forget thu
you have College nearer the true line
e work than any other with which l am a
: quainted."