Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
LAND GRANT OF '62.
No Measure Disposing Of the Public
Domain Resulted Better.
1T is EDUCATING THE FARMERS
Forty-Eight Solid Agricultural Colleges
Doing a Great Work.
THE THREE NEAREST TO PITTSBURG
lup1rrrs roR THE DISPATCH. ]

between scientific men and the farmers. The
annual appropriation of $3.50, 600 for the sup
port of these stations is an indication OF the
growing Importance of agricultural science,
and although hampered by serious Obstacles
it is fast becoming the leading industry of
the nation.
1t Is estimated that the farming lands,
farm implements and live stock OF this
country have a money value of S12, ,000, ,000.-
900, and that one-half of the population are
| directly dependent upon agriculture for
their support. These farm workers are
everywhere organized for mutual benefit
and support, and their influence upon the
legislation and itics OF the nation can no
longer be ouesu0Ded. The establishment
of the agricultural colleges in the several
States, during and after the war, was one of
| the most important enterprises ever under
| taken by the Government, and through these
| colleges agriculture has been given place
in the educational system Of the country
commensurate with its dignity and import
| ance.
THE EARLY EFFORTS FOILED.
Before the passage of the land grant act of
| 1862, attempts had been made in different
parts of the country to establish agricultural
schools, but the funds being limited, and the
support being meager, these attempts were
mostly unsuccessful. In 1859 bill having
the education of the farming classes in view
was passed in Congress, but it was vetoed by
President Buchanan. Three years later the
bill was again presented. and under the
| leadership Of the Hon. Justin S. Morrill,, of
Vermont, it was passed, and was subse-
quently approved by President Lincoln.
Then, agricultural education in the United
| States was placed on permanent basis, and,
henceforth, farmers sons were to have an
opportunity to fit themselves for their special
pursuit in life. By the provisions of the act
scrip to the amount of so, 900 acres for each
| Senator and Representative in Congress was
appropriated, and the money realized from
the sale of these lands was to be used for the
endowment of colleges for the benefit OF
agriculture and the mechanic arts. In some
States the grant was used in the endow-
ment of a single institution, while in
others it was divided between two
or three. In Is States the grant
served to augment the courses in universi-
ties or colleges already in existence, or to
establish courses in agriculture and applied
science in the same, while in the remaining
States the funds served as basis upon
which new institutions were founded.
THIRTY MILLIONS INVESTED.
The total number of acres of land granted
was II, ,4S0, 900, and the money obtained
from the sale of this land amounted to
81, 545, ,4O5. This fund has, from time to
time, been increased by State and indi-
vidual donations, so that the entire property
of these institutions is variously estimated
at from S25, 900, 900 to $50, ,000, 900. In one
conspicuous instance the grant was SO
wisely managed that it was augmented by
IS of nd
Cornell University was the direct outgrowth
of the grant, an institution whose name is
well known on both sides of the Atlantic,
and which to-day Is doing a splendid work
in aid of agricultural and industrial educa-
ton. So extensive is the organization of
this institution that at present no less than
81 pro: :essors, instructors and students take
part in the instruction OF those agricultural
students who enter for the full course.
In Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Vir-
ginia Institutions were established, and
these are now in successful operation.
The Pennsylvania State College, located
about u miles southwest of Bellefonte, in
Center county, began originally in 1859, al
the Farmers High School. After receiving
the proceeds OF the act of 1862 its organiza-
tion was enlarged, and its present faculty
consists of Is regular professors and 9
assistant professors and instructors.
OHIO WELL TO THE FRONT.
The Ohio State University at Columbus is
one of the most extensive public institu-
tions in the country, and has faculty of 10
professors and IS assistant professors. in
structors and assistants. The West Vir-
ginia State University, located at Morgan
town, which is now more prosperous than
ever before, has faculty of II professors
and assistant professors and instructors
and, like the institution: above named, is
the outgrowth of the land grant act OF 1862.
Thus these three institutions, located within
easy distance OF Pittsburg, were founded espe-
cially in the interests OF the farmers and the
| industrial classes, and at the present time
| employ no less than A regular professors
and 80 assistant professors aud instructors.
! The salaries OF these officials are paid partly
| by the interest on the endowment funds and
partly by funds appropriated by the Legis-
| latures of these States.
These institutions, as well as those in the
| other States, are conducted on broad and
| liberal basis, and furnish opportunities for
| acquiring an advanced scientific and agri-
| cultural education, not surpassed by the
| older and wealthier institutions OF the coun-
try. Their leading object is, without ex-
| cluding other scientific and classical studies,
| to teach such branches as are related to ag-
| riculture and the mechanic arts, in order 10
promote the liberal and practical education
| of their students in the several pursuits and
professions of life. 1n the founding OF
these institutions, Therefore, there has beeu
provided instructions in the English
| branches and classics, while in the sciences
| two great lines OF education have been
marked out. one embracing chemistry,
botany, physics and other natural and ply
steal sciences, and the other the mathemati-
| cal, the laws o. which underlie the prob
| lens Of modern industrial life.
IT WAS A WISE STEP.
In the entire country there are no less
than 4S agricultural colleges which are the
| direct outgrowth of the land grant act OF
1862, and, in some of the States, several
preparatory schools are directly connected
| with these higher institutions. So complete
is the organization of these institutions, and
so thorough are the courses pres cribed tn at
at the present time about 500 regular pro-
fessors and about 400 assistant pro- iessors
and instructors are found enrolled in their
various catalogues, aud many thousand
students are in daily attendance.
Thus it will be seen that the proceeds
from the sale of part of the public domain
have been wisely applied, and a measure
conceived 80 years ago in the broadest
spirit of craftsmanship and public policy
has resulted in the establishment of these
higher institutions oil learning for a wise
ana benefcent purpose. The influence of
these schools on the national character has
long since been widely felt, and the nation
has trained thousands of young men for
use,ul Dnhlc service by contributino q