Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-14
GOV. ROSS ACCEPTS.
His Formal Acceptance of the Presi-
dency of the A. and II. College.
High Rank of the College Among Other Kim
bred Institutions of the Country-All It
Can Accomplish for the Youth.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX. Aug. 8.-The follow
ing letter to the board of directors of the
Agricultural and Mechanical college ex-
plains itself:
AUSTIN, TEX, Aug. s, 1890.
To President Rose ard Members of the Board Of
Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College:
GENTLEMEN-Respect acknowl-
edging the high honor, l make this for
NAL declaration OF acceptance of the
presidency of the Agricultural and Me-
chapical college. l hope to meet your
reasonable expectations by assisting the
harmonious, intelligent and combined
efforts of the officers and teachers in the
several departments to make its efficiency
such as to give it high rank among the
kindred institutions of the country. That
the proper care. training and education
of the youth of the state
is of vital Importance to its welfare,
needs only to be mentioned to be appre-
ciated, and 1 have always believed their
minds, hands and hearts should be
trained in unison, and that this trinity in
unison must be recognized and applied to
prepare them for freer, wider and more
intelligent choice of pursuits.
In order to accomplish the wise
ends for which the institution was es-
tablishe6, it should properly equip our
boys for their future cares by the fullest
development of their powers with refer
ence 10 their wants of life, and acquaint
them thoroughly, both theoretically and
practically, with the duty, the
dignity and the nobility of labor.
There is great field opening
in our state for practical
technical employment and o growing de-
mand for the services OF those fitted for
labor In every branch of scientific knowl-
edge, and We are now compelled to draw
upon the skilled labor OF other countries
to fill the most lucrative, honorable and
important positions in every indus
trial enterprise. In face of this
fact, there can be no exaggeration
of the value of an institution which will
afford the direct advantages of conduct
ng the student from the simplest me-
chanical principles TO the complex order
of artistic ingenuity by enabling him TO
combine principles, construct models
and call into activity his ingenuity for
designing. While a practical knowledge
of the use of tools can be acquired
i'll one half the time necessary
under the ordinary method of obtaining
a trade knowledge, as an apprentice is
kept at such work only rs he proves most
profitable to the employer. Agriculture
in our country is the admitted basis of
public wealth, and We must look to 1t as
the chief source OF our prosperity. The
machinery of prosperous agriculture
once put in motion brings in its
tram vast number of other public en-
terprises, creating new demands for
skilled employment and the skillful hand
gives dignity to these pursuits and places
a higher estimate on their value. In
structions in agriculture and horticul-
ture, how to plant, tend, harvest and
store the products of farm and garden,
how TO care for the various
kinds of stock found on well
regulated farms, will inculcate a
taste for these pursuits and induce the
young men to seek employment in the
country to the development ola self-re-
liant manhood instead of wasting their
lives, as is frequently the case, in the
overcrowded professional ranks in
the cities by being educated
into fitness for such employ
ments only Us require an abstract
mental training and ignoring altogether
that which is practical. The young men
of the state can acquire at this institu-
ton a knowledge that will prepare
them to achieve the highest and
best results in any station. In
addition to this the military
feature of the college is of transcendent
Importance, though probably not fully
appreciated. The arguments in its favor
are numerous, but far in advance of all
others, and what is of sufficient i'm
portance to at once decide the matter,
is its conduciveness to health. The
outdoor exercise, the erect position
and expanding chest gives the lungs
the free play SO essential after the
cramped position necessary to the school
rooms. The pleasureable excitement
accompanying the drill, the striotness of
attention required to secure precision
and accuracy of movement in perform
ing the evolutions are highly conducive
to bodily health, grace and strength,
and perform q very active part, also, in
the medication of habits of promptness,
regularity, order, and aid ma
teriallY in preserving proper discipline.
To you, as directors and personally,
am heartily thankful for this evidence of
your confidence, and invoking O contin-
uance of your corporation TO secure for
the institution a commanding emineuoe
that will make it the pride of the state,
1 am, most respectfully, your obedient
servant, L. 5. Ross.