The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-02-17
EDUCATION.

V INDUSTRIAL
Iii dur last isSue we(gave, in brief,
what work is beNg>accomplished in
our sister States irginia and Geor-
gia in the matter OF Industrial Edu-
cation, by the aid okthe Land Scrip
Fund, donated to each State under
the Act of Congress, JAY End, 1862.
1t was shown that Georgia sold her
Land-Scrip for $24O,0OO, and that
the interest at 8 per cent. amount
ing annually to $4,000 was appro-
priated to the establishment OF four
'branch" Agricultural Colleges, all
of which are now in successful oper-
alton. 1t was shown that Virginia
sold her share for the sum of $780,
1853, and that the State is paying
six per cent. interest, regularly on
that amount. With this, the State
established two Agricultural Col
leges, to the support of which it pays
annually the interest amounting to
$32,62S.OS. These institutions have
connected with them farms and
workshops for the purpose of train
ing the pupils in the use Of machin-
cry and tools and for practical il
lustrations of all departments of
work on the farm,-for the eXempIi-
fication of the lessons they + taught
in their rooms. In short, the sys-
TENS adopted are in compliance with
the requirements of the act of Con-
gress granting the fund-that 1t
should be applied "to teach such branch
es Of learning as are related to 4grirul-i
ture and tAe-leehanic Arts, IN such
manner as the Legislatures yff the States
respectively may prescribe, IN order to
promote the liberal and practical educa-
ton Of the Industrial classes m the seq
eral pursuits and professions Of life"
HOW THE FUND HAS BEEN MANAGED
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Our Legislature, session 1867,
by resolution, accepted the grant
from the Government, which under
the apportionment, amounted to 27O,-
600 acres. This fund, on February
18th, 1867, derived from the bounty
of the Government was by the Leg
islature transferred to the Trustees
of the University of the State for
the purpose of ~effecting the object
of the grant" "Proriied, that the
University shall comply with the
Act of Congress and make it's lead
ing object to teach such branches of
learning as are related to Agriculture
and the Mechanic Arts without ex-
Guiding other Scientific studies and
including Military tactics"
The fund was invested in especial
tax bonds and of course, lost. But
the Legislature of 1915 made
good the loss by ordering the State
Treasurer to issue to the Trustees
certificates of indebtedness to the
amount of 1925, 600, bearing interest
payable semi-annually at 6 per cent.
The "wOrthless securities" or ''spe-
cial tax bonds were ordered to be
burned. 1t appears there were 9th
"bonds" (not especial tax bonds'O
Of the assets, left to the disposition
of the Legislature, which if ever dis
posed of does not appear. K
Thus it is seen that this fund do
mated and set apart by the general
government to our State, for the
special objects, mentioned above, has
been appropriated and applied to the
support of the University of our.
State. No intelligent man, we pre-
sumo, will claim that the curriculum
or systems Of teaching at the Uni
versity, are in compliance with the
Act Of Congress, or with the Act of
the Legislature making the trans
fer, which specially 'tprouided that
the University shall comply with
the Act of Congress and make its
leading object to teach such branches Of
learning as are related to agriculture
and the Mechanic Arts"
We have naught to say against
the curriculum or systems, as adapt
ed to high grade or classical educa-
ton. We have naught to say against
it's officers, OF against it as a State
University. With it's character and
prosperity as our State Institution
have nothing to do, in this con-
nection, except to join all loyal pa
triotic citizens in the earnest wish
that it shall rise higher and higher
in the grand and noble work of ed
ucating the youth of our State. 1t
should be the pride of every native
son OF the State. It should be fos-
tered and encouraged by the State.