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


of the Union 70 maintain not only common
schools, where every child may receive insiruc
ton in the elementary branches, free OF charge,
but schools for training The youth of both sexes
in the higher departments Ct human learning
Some OF the more ropulous States are MAINTAIN
ing all The various classes Of schools for higher
training, viz: High schools normal schools,
technical schools, colleges and universities.
Others are sndeavoriDg to accomplish the same
, ends by one or two schools OF complex organi
cation. Not a few Of these schools are hand
somely endowed and equipped with ali neces-
sary buildings and appliances-valued at hun
dreds OF thousands, and even millions of dollars,
and receive besides The interest on their endow
ment funds large annual or biennial appropri-
atoms from the Legislature.
The Congress OF the United States has greatly
stimulated these efforts of the States TO promote
higher education. by the liberal appropriation Of
lands to aid ia founding Schools OF Applied
Science, but no State has succeeded in build
irg up colleges and universities of high order
that has relied chiefly on Federal aid Florida
is conspicuous example OF this, having done
least of all the States for the higher education of
her youth. The history of her higher ns.itu
tons is sad one, and should afford food for re-
Fiction TO her legislators and lead them to the
adoption Of measures which will place these
Institutions on basis commensurate with the
needs of her youth and with the dignity Of
great State.
The story 10 soon told Prior TO 1857 she had
90 State schools In that year two seninaries
were organized. designated in the &C, Of incor
poraton as the Seminary East OF the Suwsnnee
River, and the Seminary West Of the Suwannse
River They had their Origin in an sct of Con-
gress donating certain sections Of land for the
purpose OF maintaining Q school In each of the
districts Of the State separated by the Suwan
nee river, and their charter vas broad enough
TO allow OF their development into Universities,
though it designated tue teaching Of Agriculture,
the Mechanic Arts, the Fundamental Ld,cs and
uhdt regdrds the rights and duties Of citisenshso,
together wtM tie art of teaching 90 the principal
Objects OF the proposed schools. 4 subsequent
act authorised their Board. Of Control 10 or
gsnize them upon "a collegiate ana military
basis"
II seems not to have entered into the minds
OF the Legislators who voted these schools iato
being, or Of the men who composed the score OF
succeeding Legislatures, that they would ever
q ed any aid from the State, and not dollar cas
appropriated to either Jor thirty years. The
Seminary East Of the SuVaHnee River, at
frat located ~ PalAtka, subsequently, at
Ocala, and more recently at Gainesville, has
had chsckered experience but FOR the past
ten years has been comparatively prosperous IS
secondary school to prepsrs youth for
College. Two years ago C1887) il received an
appropriation OF $13 900. $4,000 Of which was
Used in paying of debi incurred in building a
dormitory. and the rest in supple,aenting i,s
slender snnaity. It's Board OF Control ask the
present Legislature for small appropriation
and should promptly receive it.
The Seminary Yves, of the Suwannee River.
locatsd at Tallahassee, enjoyed ito highest pros
peri,y during the nrst four years of its exist
ence, just prior to the civil wsr, when the ihen
wealthy citizens OF the capital city gave il
liberal support. It's patronage in the winter OF
1851 reached two hundred ana nfty students,
and ito income-malnly fYJm tuilion-suppor.sd
a Faculty Of six teachers.
lN experience since The close OF the war has
been characterized by continuous struggle to
exist and 10 maintain the principal departments
o. instruction recognized az essential % liberal
culture. 1t has never received an appropriation
from the L,ysl ,'ure o. the State, for any
purpose and it is now sadly in need Of one Us
main building has for three years been % much
out Of repair a. to be unfit for USE the school
being taught in a frame building u.ed in former
years by the female 1epArtment-a building en-
tirely inadequate Tor The purposes OK instruction
alone. There Is n" barrack or boarding house
connected with the institution, the board never
having had the means to supply one-while the
appliances for illustration are neagre indeed
OAe ray OF hope has encouraged in board OF
coasrol 10 look forward TO brighter day. About
two years ago, judge J. D. Wescptt, by his last
sduary legatee, and there is reason to believe
that the annuity that will be realized from the
beqleit VIII ba sufficient to support one or more
teachers
But the income derived from this source and
from the interest on the Seminary bonds is in
adeq lac {" mlntain it upon liberal basis Its
crying need at present. however is a new and
commodious educational building, a dormitory
sufficient 10 accommodate fifty or more students,
and the furniture necessary for these buildings
together with suitable apparatus for illustrating
the various departments of science.
pointed to examine carefully into the con ition