The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-05-14

endowment fund at $155 800. the present value
81 lis buildings grounds and appliances at S52,
300-msking the total assets $20S 1905 $4,000
of which was appropriated BIZ the Legislatures of
1885 and 1885,. They report the present needs
of The institution TO Be $35 $50, which sum they
ask the present Legislature to appropriate. This
college has been IN operation since 1854 There
Is connected with il experiment station
which receives an annuity OF 5000 from the
general government, TO be expended in expert
mentaiion in the various Departments of scientific
agriculture. In view o. the fact that the primary
OBJECTS to be pro noted by tue establishment of
This institution are almost Identical with those
enumerated in the charter establishing the two
semlnaries it is strange that the amount real
lied from the land script apprc priated by Con
gress IN 1889 for the further promotion OF agri-
culture and the mechanic arts was not divided
between the two semnaries, whose charters
were ample in their scope for the fullest deyel-
opment OF college or university, or that
II W as not combined With the assets of both sem
inaries and one great school established on the
aggregate amount at some central location
Whether this object could be effected yet we
cannot say Ii feasible it would certainly be for
The beat Interests of higher education in Florida
But II these institutions cannot be- combined.
surely the State should furnish the means to
build them up on the basis contemplated by the
formulators OF their charters thus supplying the
eastern and western sections Of the State with
the best facilities for the higher training Of their
youth. Instead Of allowing the two seminaries
cd 10 he nh ofe
lett 10 shit for themselves because, forsooth, the
funds which would have handsomely endowed
them were invested whether wisely or unwisey)
m q third school having similar objects, lie, the
Legislature redeem the pledges of the State
10 the towns and sections where they
are located and place these Institutions
by adequate appropriations, on an equal
footing with the Agricultural College a,
Lake City. granting 10 their Boards the sumo
asked for now, and adding thereto at subsequen.
sessions, such additional sums as will effect this
object and promote their hghest usefulness 10
the State
Let the necessary appropriations for the col
lege at Lake City be m .1e rs well rs An AL.
equaie provision for the normal schools iftbe
policy of sustaining Tins department, OF higher
training separate, be deemed best, and we NAV
confidently look forward TO neg era in ,he
history OF higher education in Florida The
prospective advantages TO be derived from well
organised and equipped schools of all grades
are 30 great that no amount of money should be
considered too great 10 put the system on the
highest plane of efficiency The common
schools of the State already challenging
with those cf older and weathier
though .he system is vet in its
infancy. Let the proper superstructure be DO,
upon this foundation by III Liberal endowment
Of our schools for higher training, shat oar soos
and daughters may no longer nud ii necessary
70 20 10 distant States for either ,he general or
technical education they need, bet may find
provided for them in their own Otke schools
every educational agency necessary 20 fit them
for their life work, and where they will come
10 daily association with those among whom the
majority Of them are destined to labor in future
years.