Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-16
HAS A WRONG TENDENCY
Agricultural Colleges not Doing the
Work Intended.
Educating Boys for Professions In
stead of the Farm.
Sickness Prevents John Enander from
Going to Denmark.

WASHINGTON, May S.-W. o. Atvater,
who is in charge of the work at the ex-
pertinent stations established by the ao
ricaltural department., is preparing a
bulltin which will be published this wear
giving statistics OF the progress of edu-
cation in agricultural colleges and
schools. 1t is acknowledged that the
pur pose for which agricultural colleges
were established in several states and to
which the government contributed by
liberal grants of land and money, has
not been realized. The colleges
40 not educate men for the farm, but for
profes sions, and the tendency of their
teachings have been to draw young men
from the farms instead of fitting for
work on them. The curriculum in most
cases Is too extensive fer the average
farmers son to meet. The consequence
IS that the class for whom che colleges
were assigned have received almost alb
solutely no benefit from their existence.
In connection with the state university
of Minnesota an agricultural school was
opened last fall, the course of studies
comprising two years of twenty four
weeks each. The graduates of the common
district schools of the state are entitled
to enter, and they are taught the practical
things of farm lifs In addition TO liter
airy branches CT learning. The school
had been opened but few weeks, when
its accommodations were all taken, while
the agricultural college proper has been
struggling along for years with barely
eneugh students to form single class.
At the Indian and colored schools at
Hampton Va, which are supported by
the government, even q more elementary
course of agricultural instruction is pur-
sued, and nearly 100 pupils ere engaged
in it. Experiment stations of the de-
paTtment are located at all these schools
aud because of the great practical bene-
fits ACQUIRING, the bulletin will strongly
advocate the extension Of the system.
Secretary Rusk is also deeply interest
ed In the establishment of a short winter
course of lectures to Young men on farm
topics relating TO tie successful conduct
of their labors.
The following appointments were made
today:
Arthur l.. Thomas, of Salt Lake City,
Utah, to be governor of Utah; Elijah
Sells, of Salt Lake City, secretary of
Utah; Ellsworth Daggett, of UGah, sur
veyor-general of U Jah; Michael A. Leahy,
of Wisconsin, agent for the Indians of
La Pointe agency, in Wisconsin; James
NJ Beacon, of Kansas, referee and chair
man of referees under the act of March
2, 1887, entitled, san act to grant a
right of way through the Indian terri
tory to the Chicago, Kansas a. Nebraska
railroad, for the purpose of appraising
the com pensation to be made by the said
railroad com pany TO the Cherokee nation"
WASHINGTON, May Tine president
today appointed the following post
mas'e rs:
Charles A. Walker, Wilton, Ia; George
Crane, Dubuque, Ia; L ymau s. Williams,
Esterville, Ia; Silas w. Kidder, Verm1l-
lion, D.; Lyman j. Flowers, Osseola,
Neb; Mortimer J.. Stewart, Madison,
Benz amin F. Tn mas, Wymore, Neb.;
Funan B. Carly, ChadroD, Neb.:
VIM. II. Widaman, Norfolk, Neb.; VIM.
Ashrecs, Holdrege, Neb.; John L. Ross,
Litchfeld, llls.; James Lynn, Carrollton,
lis; Az3l d )rothy Hndsale, Ills; AloDzo
G. Sluss. Tuscola, Ills.; Eli O, Sneffer,
Look port, Ills; Richard ID. Smith, Pekin,
Ills; Dewitt 9. Harr, L4Salle, Ills.