Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-15

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COLLEGE
received from all sources and expend-
ed for the years 1884 and 1885 the sum
of &89, 708.4l. OF this sun $75,OOO
was received directly from the State,
and the balance was from various
sources, including interest on land
scrip fund, m~atriculation and tuition
fees, chemical fees and proceeds Of
farm, dairy and nursery. 1t appears
that $8,352.40 was derived from the
sale Of surplus farm and dairy pro-
ducts. an increase of S934.46 over the
amounts received from same sources
for the three previous years. The cost
of the farm, not including student
labor, implements, machinery aud
permanent Improvements, was 49,
656.49. The cost of student labor was
SIC, 1881, a slight decrease from the
amount expended on this account for
the years 1882 and 1883. The cost Of
stock, implements, machinery and per-
manent Improvements was $4,o|l.o4.
1t thus appears that the farm has been
conducted at a pecuniary loss. In
view of the fact that experiments are
required to be made in the interest OF
agriculture, which yield no revenue to
the College, and of the further fact
that student labor is not, for obvious
reasons, as profitable as more regular
and systematic labor, it was not to be
expected that the farm would prove a
pecuniary success; but let us hope that
the loss will be less each year. The
advantage of employing students can
not, however, be measured by a pecu-
mary standard. The skill and practical
experience they acquire, the habits Of
industry and frugality they form, aud
the physical development they obtain
through manual labor on the farm
largely compensate for the pecuniary
loss sustained by the College.
The College has now received from all
sources the sum Of 100000, not in
Guiding interest on the land scrip fund,
which amounts to 81 928.75 per annum.
With this sum it has been supported
for five years, and has acquired a prop
erty which a recent appraisement by
Messrs. M. L. Jenkins and A. II.
French Vi lues at $203,401, an increase
of 1923, 599.84 over the valuation two
years ago. From these statistics, it
would appear that the annual average
cost of supporting the College has
been something over $25. 600. The an
nual appropriation for the past two
years, including interest on the land
scrip fund, was $37,478,75. The Col
lege is now admirably equipped in
every department, and ought to be,
considering the large sums Of money
expended on it, and for the next two
years the appropriation should be lin
tied to an amount sufficient to pay
salaries, student labor and incidental
expenses. The estimated salaries for
the next two years amount to VIZ =
S47.50 per annum, student labor $5.-
900 and incidental expenses $3.50,
making a total of $30,157.50 for the
support of the College proper per an
mum. But the College receives 3d.
928.75 from the land scrip fund, and
viii receive at least $1,000 from
m%atriculation fees per annum. De-
Quoting these amounts 1--WE have $24.-
ops rs, which is the amount the Legis-
ture should in my judgn 1T approprl-
ate for the support of the College.
The only other expenses, besides
those enumerated. the College will
have to incur will be for the conduct
Of the farm, dairy and nursery, but
these should lie self-supporting with
the aid of student labor, which Is in.
cluded in the above estimate, and the
money arising from chemical fees.
These fees aggregated $2,931.45 in the
last two years. il this recommends
ton is ADOPTED Ivy the Legislature it
will result in an annual saving of
$8,47l.25 to the State.
The attendance this year is 1863, an
increase of 70 over the attendance for
the second term of last session. The
expense of students is decreasing, the
average being less than 500 per ses-
sion. Some students pay all their ex.
penses by labor on the farm at eight
cents per hour. 1t is doubtful, how
ever, if this can be done without pre-
iudice to the literary pursuits of the
students, and some regulation on the
subject of labor might well be adopted
by the Board of Trustees. 1t Is es-
sential to the accomplishment OF the
purposes of the College that the
students should perform some manual
labor in each department, and it should
be made compulsory, but care should
be taken that students do not, through
mistaken notions of economy, devote
time to this that might be more pro
itably expended in other directions
A well regulated and less expensive
compulsory system of student labor is
M of the needs Of the College that
deserves and will receive, l hope, the
careful attention Of the faculty and
Board OF Trustees.
lam led to believe from private and
official information that the College il
in a lourishlng condition, and is dis
charging its important functions witt
gratifying success. The faculty ant
students are working together in entir'
harmony and with a zeal and enthu
siasm that must insure the best re