St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-31
be adjusted. and an effort will be ma de
to finally dispose of this ancient ac-
onuut
WHAT IS NfaEEnED.
A New State Farm and New Stats
Capitol.

Capitol.
To the Editor of the Globe.
"A New State Farm'-''A New State
Capitol" Such are the headlines we
throw to the breeze to-day. Our state
legislature for '91 is soon to meet, and
we propose something useful for them
to do. Hence this communication is
particularly directed to the governor,
members of the legislature and regents
or the state university. Beyond these
official classes we appeal directly to the
people of the two cities and to those of
the state at large. Minnesota needs a
new capitol building, and extensive
capitol grounds. The best and most
suitable location for such capitol is be-
tween the two cities, and upon the Uni
versity farm. There. upon a command
ing eminence overlooking the cities, the
capitol could sit. the glory of the state,
as Rome sat upon the seven hills, the
glory of the world.
This farm of 235 acres could be sold
by the university to the state for a
good price, and then after retaining
ample capitol and park grounds and
building suitable state house, the bal
ance of the grounds could be reSOld for
perhaps enough to reimburse for the
original cost and have one half the
ground free for capitol and park pur-
purposes.
% Then transplant the university farm
TO Blaine township, Anoka county, and
let 1t occupy nine sections Uhree miles
sQuare) or 5,760 acres of land. Hele
as much might be retained for pure eX-
detrimental farming as the whole of the
present farm, and then leave as fine
ground plant for beet sugar, sorghum
n nd
kindred new farm industries as could
be desired. This would make it prac-
ticable for the state to place itself at
the head of these new profitable agri-
cultural industries, and confer the full
est and most complete agricultural
training to the young men OF the state,
who are ambitious to be workers and
learners in this inviting field. 1t is to
our ability as state to get wealth from
the soil that we shall owe our promi-
nence and occupy the grand rank that
nature evidently intended for tine North
Star state.
1t is supposed the present University
far m could be sold for one million or
more of dollars, and the new one, of
more than twenty-fOur times its size,
could be purchased tor a little more
than one-Quarter that sum. Nearly
equal and convenient accessibility to
both cities would still be had with the
larger property by that grandly sue
ceSSful agency, the electric motor NOW
so pleasantly uniting the two cities upon
University avenue), as well as by stand
ard railroad lines. The distance from
either city would be about twelve miles.
The state would then be building up
great property, as we'll as industries of
national Importance and pecuniary
profit, thus making the institution of a
great Estate farm" self-sustaining. and
and at the same time promOtive of the
most thorough and complete agricult-
ural training. Young men could he
paid a fair compensation for their la
borS, could be short hour daily students,
could have the benefit of the best lect-
ures and practical oversight, and of
military training. if desired, so as to be-
come fitted in every way for nOblest
citizenship.
This would place Minnesota in the
front rank of ali the states, and of ali
the world for an Industrial Agricut-
tural school, and in the worlds fair
year of 1913 she could well invite the
nations to come and see what an inStitu-
ton she had founded. Meantime the
two cities can be promoting "BrOtherly
love-" can be cementing themselves
together by two or more additional
Electric Motor lines, one of which will
be very sure to touch the present Uni
verSity farm. These three electric
lines and the added and cheapened
facilities sure to come from the Stand.
ard Railroads will bind these cities so
closely together, ''that no power on
earth shall loose them" and that of it's
self will be great good if these out
lined plans are never realized.
1t is perhaps too much to expect that
they will be. To pass from the present
system of Agricultural Education to
one as above proposed where hundreds
and thousands might avail themselves
of noble culture would he as much of
step i'll advance as to pass from one
horse sweep-mill in flour production to
the 'PlIlsbury Az that leads the world
or from the Tiny Academy of early
years called then by complement the
ent Grand Institution with the same
title.
If any one desires to know the finan-
cial significance of such a change of
landed property, and enlargement of
the farm to the university, should say
it might, under right management,
reach to millions of dollars. The posi-
bilitieS are in the soil and in the loca-
ton. The earth never knew richer gar
deus or more fertile fields than can be
created here. From the deep black
earth of the meadows, to the sandy
loan of the uplands, all tell of soil
the land yeritable gold mine, from
year to year, in the bounteousness of
its harvests. Here the garbage ques-
ton from either city might find its solu-
ton, and all that highest agricultural
art could do, might be realized. Some
of the celery growers of Kalamazoo,
Mich, have seen these meadows and
pronounced them fully equal to any
they have ever seen for such purpose.
That wOHld mean in yearly product, a
sound interest upon a sum equal to
$1,000 per acre, and sometimes in an
nual growth of possibly that value.
gardening. Peter Henderson, of New
York, has often produced $1,000 per
acre per annum, and more.
But the question recurS, can such
management be secured? We believe
that it can-that the highest ''theoret
icaP' can be united with the highest
'practical'' in agriculture and in agri-
cultural education.
We believe the time has come to solve
this problem as it has never been solved
before. The world moves forward upon
all lines that indicate progress. and
brings to her aid the cunning wisdom of
mans creative anddeyising genius. She
harnesses to her ear of advancement
steam, electricity and the forces of the
air." and bids them all be the servants
of those who draw from mother earth
her bounty and help to make even the
North land'' as a "Garden of the
Gods" Il. ELWELL.
Minneapolis. Dec. 80.