The Grenada sentinel., 1889-03-16
GEN. s. D. LEES PAPERS.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANI-
CAL COLLEGES.
State Law Establishing the College
Conditions OF Contract Made In Re.
ceiying the Federal GIFT OF
Partial Endowment.
ARTICLE NO. III.

ARTICLE NO. III.
As stated in the second article the
State OF Mississippi, by Legislative
enactment accepted the benefits of the
Federal gifts establishing colleges ito
benefit agriculture and the mechanic
arts" and pledged its faith to appro-
pirate the funds to the endowment of
said institutions of learning, and to
comply with the conditions specified in
the law. Previous to the passage of the
State law establishing the colleges
(Feoruary %, 1882 the interest of the
fund accepted by the State had been
divided between the State University,
at Oxford, and Alcorn University.
During the years the State University
had the benefit of this fund, very few
students took the agricultural course,
but most all in attendance took the
other courses prescribed or provided
for. The farmers of the State protested
against this misuse of the fund. This
protest was repeatedly made by the
Patrons of Husbandry (Grangers, who
claimed that the condition of the Fed
eral gift made incumbent on the State
to see that the college or colleges
which might enjoy the benefit of the
gift, should make it 4 leading object
ito benefit agriculture and the me-
chanic arts" by "teaching such
branches of learning as are related to
agriculture and the mechanic arts"
They stated thatthe leading object of
the University at Oxford was to furnish
classical, literary and professional edu-
cation, and that the State should estab-
lish new colleges separate and distinct
from the State University to Ary out
in good faith the conditions imposed by
the Federal law. The late lamented
Capt. Put Darden, Master of the State
Grange, fought for this one object
many years. Itwas in compliance with
this demand of the farmers of the State
that the Legislature established the
Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges.
The State law establishing the col
leges, based on the Federal gift, quoted
from the law and enumerated among
the duties assigned to the Board OF
Trustees, 1.-THE establishment and main
ten nee of first-class institution, at
which the youth of the State may ac-
quire common school education and a
cientitic and practical knowledge of
agriculture, horticulture and the me-
chanic arts, and also the proper growth
'uand care of stock. They shall
regulate the course of study, rates of
tuition, management of experimental
farm, the manner Of performing labor
and the kind of labor to be performed
by Students
These extracts from the State law
show how the Legislature understood
what was required in accepting the
Gland scrip from the United States.
Successive Legislatures (till the ones of
1887 and 1851 have made liberal ap-
preparations to carry out the conditions
and in providing the necessary plant of
buildings, experimental farm, grounds,
equipment, apparatus. barns. sheds,
sios, machinery, improved implements,
etc, necessary to making the college
what it was intended to be-a tirst-class
institution-and have provided also
for its support from year to year. The
value Of the college property is now
S206, 9S6.35. This is valuable State
property, and stands in same relation
as the State House, Asylums and other
buildings at Jackson, as a State invest
ia mer boys in the State also as the
University buildings and outfit at Ok
ford-the leading institution and the
oldest. The value of the plant at Ok
ford is about $500,000. The expendi-
ture at the Agricultural and Mechanical
College (S206, 1885, is not unreasonable
when we consider that our State is an
agricultural State, and the farmers pay
so per cent. of all the taxes and its es-
tabishment and support was condi-
ton of acceptan ce of the partial endow-
ment from the United States.
The college near Starkville is essen
italy an agricultural college, the trus-
tees perfecting this department first,
because toUr-nrrhs OF our people are en-
gagged in farming, and this is the main
industry to be lifted up first to benefit
tho greater mum Der.
The college is now ready, and has so
reported to the last two Legislatures,
to add the mechanical department.
This can be done at slight additional
expense, sufficient to erect shops for
wood and iron, and equip them with
the latest tools and machinery for work
inc wood and iron. But little change
will be needed in any other direction.
The same faculty will answer with the
addition of mechanical engineer,
which the United States government
stands ready to furnish, in same way,
as the officer is furnished from the
United States army, to administer dis