The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-08-11
LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE
O. CLEMSON AGRICULTURE
AL COLLEGE.
r-respondence of Tns PRoGREssIvE FARMER.l

Correspondence OF IHR P~ROGRESSLN Il AkMEk'I
Fort HILL, s. c..
This is a day to which South Carolin-
ians may look back with pride, for
from it dates a new industrial era. To
day the Free MasOns Of South Carolina
laid the corner stone of Clemson Agri-
cultural College. TO this institution
we look for the elevation of the agri-
cultural interests Of the State and for
the upbuilding of new and profitable
industries.
The College is admirably located on
the Fort Hill plantation, one mile from
the Richmond & Danville Railroad.
The climate permits a continuous SEES
sion through the summer. The mem
OriCs which cluster around every spot
of this classic ground, the old home OF
South Cardinals most illustriOuS son,
John G. Calhoun, should inspire every
student with zeal and fire with the
thirst for knowledge.
The buildings and equipment of
Clemson College viii be equal or supe-
riOr to those of any similar institution
in the South. Already the chemical
laboratory, two brick residences and
five frame houses have been finished,
the spacious mechanical hall Is nearly
complete, and the foundations of the
main building and of the dOrmitOry
have been laid. The dOrmitOry will
contain accommodations for SIX hun
dred students and already, SIX months
before the institution will open, there
are six hundred and tWenty-eight ap
plicantS for admission to the College.
1t was the corner stone OF the main
building that was laid today. The
- $1,000 49, FTIl,,a- S{,+N -,
atOr Buist, from Charleston, and Col.
J.. L. Polk. Gov. Tilman in his open
ing speech gave a brief history Of the
efforts to establish the College and 4
synopsis of It's purposes. He called at
tention to the need Of building up new
industries and stated that at present
the South had but few sons trained to
take charge of her machine shops and
factories. To prepare young men for
such positions, and thus avoid going
abroad for our skilled mechanics and
superintendent. is one Of the purposes
of Clemson College. It's other mission
is to teach by object lessons the best
system Of farming, Not students
alone. but citizen visitors, should profit
by this feature.
Senator Buist spoke Of the value TO
the State Of such education as young
men would receive here. He pointed
to our present parjlOuS conditional
million human beings dependent on a
single industry, the tlllge Of the soil
He advised diversitication ana 10 this
end recommended the training of
young men III various mechanic arts.
Col. Polk in his opening remarks
gave a concise history of the College,
telling how in the deep gloom of the
years Just following the war, Ms.
Anna Calhoun Clemson conceived the
idea Of founding an idustrial college.
The plan was developed 10y her hus-
band, Thomas G. Clemson. who a few
years ago wiIlcd the Fort Hill planta
lion and Il considerable amount Of
other property to the State on cOndi-
ton that the State should establish
here its Agricultural and Mechanical
College.
The speaker then considered the pur-
poses of such a college, first and fore
most Of which is the enlightenment
and elevation of the middle class. the
class which has ever been the bulWark
Of liberty and the vanguard of civil
walton. He pointed out the ruin and
dcSOlation of those countries which
have neglected the study Of laws
underlying farming. Such would be
u heritage if we did not provide for
teaching agriculture in its twofold as
pect, as a science and as an art. BY
the establishment of agricultural train
ing schools and experiment stations,
Prussia has made her barreus bloom
and has more than doubled her pro
ductiOn.
Col. Polk spoke with his usual
felicity, and despite the falling rain,
held the close attention of his audience.
Applause greeted him as be rOs to
address the large crowed. and his
speech was received with enthusiasm.
j. f. DUGGAR.