The rustler., 1891-10-16
1 PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
AdEnniarrs Oncrrd By the CsIlcrr sf
AEricultHrr and The Mechanic Arts e
Nee Mexioa.


''omnibus bal = locating several terri
torial Institutions scattering them
broadcast - Il wcrr. over the territory.
giving each section . sop. they builded
better than they knew. They provided
for = University. . School Of Mines and
College Of Agriculture and Mechanical
Arts A the iegisiaturc of fsss left
the subject the educational system Of
New Mexico presented most grotesque
appearance. twas decidedly top heavy.
The various Institutions OF higher cdu-
cation had been called into being
and grated upon the dwarfed body
Of a wholly inadequate common
school system. However. before
but one Of the institutions then
created opened IL doors 70 che
children Of the territory. the legisla-
ture of 1871 enacted common school law
which makes, with the institutions ere
ated before, a symetrical whole; and
to-day New Mexico has a school sys-
tenn adequate 10 the education OF the
youth Of the territory and which places
us In the advanced line OF progress in
the matter Of educational facilities
THIS a matter Of more than ordinary
Importance. A want Of these facilities
has retarded our growth and prosper
ity, and has deferred many who would
have made desirable citizens from
taking up their residence here.
Now that this obstacle has
been removed, no head OF a family need
hesitate To locate in New Mexico for
fear of depriving his children Of educa-
tional advantages. This change has
been too recent TO have made any i'm
preston, but in years TO come we may
look for marked results in a rapid in
crease in Intelligence and a eonseq quent
decrease In the per centage OF Hitter
aey, which has been and is our shame,
aud which has heretofore barred the
door TO our entrance into the Union as
a state.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
The first territorial institution of
higher education 10 commence active
operations was the College of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts This institu-
tion is located at Las Cruces, in Dona
Ana county, in the far-famed Mesilla
valley. Its location was made condi-
tional upon gift of a suitable site of
not less than one hundred acres. The
enterprising citizens of the valley made
the gift two hundred acres This land
is used not only for the loca-
ton of the college, but for
the u. g. Agricultural Expert
ment Station, which Is established by
the Hatch bill in connection with agri-
cultural colleges and to maintain which
the general government makes an an
nual appropriation of $4,000. The land
donated To the agricultural college of
New Mexico and accepted as its site is
located amidst the farms, orchards aud
vineyards about two miles south of Las
Cruces and adioins the Mesilla Park
tract, and is reached in short distance
from Mesilla station on the A. r. & S. +.
r. II. This body of land consists prin-
cipally of rich bottom land which is
under ditch and a gently rising mesa
upon which the buildings will be placed
overlooking the valley.
The agricultural college and the ex-
pertinent station are under the control
of board of five regents, appointed by
the governor, and the governor and
superintendent of public instruction are
members ex-officio. The following
gentlemen compose the board:
L. bradford Prince, governor, ex-
offieio.
Amado Chaves, superintendent of pub
lie instruction, ex-ofiicio.
Robert Black, Silver City; term ex.
pires 1891.
Jayne A. whitmore, San Marcial;
term expires 1892.
Numa Raymond, Las Cruces; term ex-
pires 1893.
William l. Rynerson, Las Cruces;
term expires 1894
John L. McFie, Las Cruces; term ex.
pires 1895.
The officers OF the board are Judge
John L. McFie, President and Col. w.
L. Rynerson, Secretary and Treasurer.
No change has yet been made in the
personnel of the board Judge j. r.
McFie, the only member whose term
has expired, having been reappointed.
The board upon its organization took
immediate steps for putting the college
in active operation, feeling that only
by so doing could they discharge duties
devolving upon them. As a result the
college was formally opened in leased
building, January 81, 1890, little over
two months after the board held its
first meeting. Hiram Hadley, A.
NJ, an experienced educator, was
chosen president of the faculty and ].
p Owen, principal of the preparatory
which IL was found neces.
sary TO establish and which will be
until such time as the com.
mon schools, under the new law, have
reached such Il standard of excellence
that they can tit pupils for the college
proper.
The hoard than .nada o.rao,,o.x.s...