The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-09-01

[NLeridian NeNsl

Meridian NewSl
The people of South Carolina are
discussing the propriety of establishing
an Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege in their State and BY some means
they have COTTON In possession of the
views of the demagogues in this State,
who are attempting to make capital
for themselves by sort of ill-advised
opposition to both the \. 4 NJ. College
and the !. |. 4 &. of Mississippi,
With view of finding out the true
status and benefits of these creditable
State institutions of learning. valued
South Carolina subscriber TO this
paper has addressed letter of inquiry
as to the facts in the premises. This
letter was turned over to the talented
young editor of the New South, who
was educated at the A. 4 Nj. College
of this State, and who is doing good
service both by prccept and example,
in demonstrating the value of this in
stitution to the young farmers OF Mis-
sissippi, with the request that he should
give the South Carolina subscriber the
information sought for.
Thanking Mr. Welborn for his able
advocacy of the real merits and value
of the work being done by the A. Il
NJ. College, his alma mater, the News
takes great pleasure In placing his
views before its readers, which are set
forth in in the following interesting
article:
"This institution has been in opera
ton about eight sessions. Its benefits
have been both direct and indirect.
Owing to the cheapness of the college
it has drawn largely on the patronage
of the State University and other insti-
in and out of the State. The average
attendance has been about 800, ma
jority Of whom are poor boys, many
being unable to attend school else.
where. There is u system of compul-
sorry labor for which students are paid
This enables many OF them to come
pretty near paying their way. In this
way u college education has been
placed in reach Of every industrious
young man.
| SO far about eighty students have
graduated. Some Of these go TO the
farm, some engage in teaching and
others study the professions. All have
u practical knowledge Of the principles
that underlie agriculture aud cannot
help but exert good influence in this
direction wherever they go. Suffice II
to say that the A. Il Nj. College gradu'
ates are oil doing somcthingsand arc
successful In what they undertake
quite as successful as college students
from other institutions. Independent
of the influence tac A. II M. College Is
cxcrting on agriculture, II is doing as
successful work in educating the young
men of the State as any institution In
the United States.
| Tho indirect effects of the A. n NJ
College are great. located as II was
on an old washed of cotton field, II
took time and means, skill and patience
to make the soil anything like produc.
tive.
Now about ! 300 acres of that same
land is under fence, and has grown up
in lespedcza. and furnishes pasturage
and hay for 400 head of cattle kept on
the College farm. These old lands arc
producing about So an acre net profit
and they will pasture twice as much
stock as when they were turned to
pasture four years ago.
The first silo made In the State was
done here, and now feeding stock on
silage is quite common. The first
creamery, we believe, erected In the
Gulf States went up here, aud now
there are twelve or twenty in the
State.
All the most important breeds ol
cattle are kept here, and crossed on tc
the common stock. The people from
various sections come here for practi
cal demonstration of what can be done
with stock, creameries, ensilagc, etc.
Many other things might be said in
favor of the A. Il NJ. College.
To sum up the A. Il NJ. College o
Mississippi is doing quite as successful
work In the line of education as any
of our universities; it is doing II .
less expense to the State and to th'
student; besides IT is furnishing al
object lesson to all farmers who vii
take advantage Of it.
w. G. WELBoRN.