The Brookhaven leader., 1889-03-14
GEN. s. D. LEES PAPERS.
AGRICULTURAL AND MEcRANI-
CAL COLLEGES.
State Law Establishing the College
Conditions or Contract Made I'm Re-
eeivfng the Federal GIFT or
Partial Endowment.
ARTICLE No. III.

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 specihed in
the law. Previous to the passage of the
State law establishing the colleges
February %, 1881 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 iLcum bent on the State
to see that the college or colleges
which might enjoy the benefit OF the
gift. should make it y leading object
Ito benefit agriculture and the me-
chanic arts, hY teaching such
branches of learning rs are related to
agriculture and the mechanic arts. "
They stated that the leading object of
the University at Oxford was to furnish
classical. literary and professional edu-
cation, and that the State should estab-
li>h new colleges separate and distinct
from the State University to carry out
i'll 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 O,
Trustees, Che establishne ent and main
ten nee of a tirst-class institution, Mt
which the youth of the State may ac-
quire a common school education and a
c.entific and practical knowledge of
agriculture, horticulture and the me-
chanic arts. and also the proper growth
and care of stock. They shall
regulate the course of study. rates of
tuition, man; cement 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 1883 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.
silos, machinery. improved implements,
etc, necessary to making the college
what it was intended to be-a firSt-class
institution-and have provided also
for its support from year to year. The
value of the college property is now
S206. $50. 35. This is a valuable State
property, and stands in same relation
as the State House. Asylums and other
buildings a jackson, as a State invest
ment in the interest of educating the
fa mer boys in the State also as the
University build ,ngs and outfit at Ok
ford-the leading institution and the
oldest. The value of the plant at Ok
ford is about S300.000. Tne expendi-
ture at the Agricultural and Mechanical
College ($-06, $50. is not unreasonable
when we consider that our State is an
agricultural State, and the farmers pay
81 per cent. of all the taxes; and its es-
tablishment and support was condi-
ton of acceptance of the partial endow-
ment from the United States.
The college near Starkville is essen
TALLY an agricultural college, the trus-
tees perfecting this department first.
because four-fifths of our people are en-
gagged in farming, and this is the main
industry to be lifted up first to benefit
the greater number.
The college 10 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.
ing wood aud 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
cipline aud teach military science. A
slight readjustment of studies. varying
the course. according as a student de-
sires an agricultural or mechanical
bias, is al that is necessary in the cur
riculum.
The Agricultural and Mechanical Col
Iege is now fully equipped. has allathe
necessary buildings. plant. apparatus.