The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-02-28
The WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
.AGRICUL7URAL" COLLEGE.

I0 lOCdb VII VI Lo oo N"tAo~ AAS
lural college. 1t claims that the
bther institutions need not be pro-
8ided for now and that more time
3hould be taken to consider the ques-
lion of their location, at the same
ime arguing that the agricultural"
ollege, perhaps the most important
I f them all, should be located in the
ark, as it were, without the least
knowledge on the part OF the legisla-
1ors of the scope of the institution or
Ne important considerations that
Aould govern in its location, In
ther words, according tu the INDIE
endent, we should wait two years
Before determining the proper site
lor the deaf and dumb institute, but
his institute Of learning that may be
babe to overshadow all others in the
Northwest should be squatted down
IA the Gallatin valley where they
taise big pumpkins ard brewers bar
ley, without giving to the subject
pore than a passing thought! There
H. an apparent lack of consistency in
Ne position taken by our esteemed
cap tai contemporary.
But it is laid by those who make
an exception of this institution and
who would locate it in haste Ito prob
ably regret the action at their leisure)
that the state will lose money if action
III the premises is postponed. This
IS not quite clear to us Congress has
appropriated $4,000 annually for an
agricultural college in each state and
by recent act an additional dona.
ZION of $1,000 each year is made for ten
years, after which the appropriation
will be $25 900 annually. without in
Guiding the endowment for expert
mental stations in connection with
these institutions. Now, there is no
back action to these statutes. The
appropriation accrues, not from the
date of the enactment of the law, but
from the time the state in fact has
such an institution as is contemplated
1 the several acts on the subjec and
10 ready to enter upon the work Of
education. The state, having no
funds, can not now undertake the pur-
chase of grounds or the erection of
bu Idings, and until that is done we
doubt if a dollar of the appropriation
can be touched. But how are we to
lose money when this appropriation
is perpetual? If the college is not es-
tabli he'd until 1893, $4,000 will be
received from the government that
year, SO 600 the next, and SO on until
$25, 600 is reached, which will then be
the regular Offering from Uncle Sam.
This comes every year, and there is no
loss, except the loss of time, whether
We begin next year or this, and time
is no more essential as regards the
agricultural college than with refer
ence to the state university, school Of
mines, etc. If it is proper to take
MOI time to consider the location of
one it is of all.
But the Independent, as we'll as the
author of the bill to locate the agri-
cultural college at Bohemian (Senator
Hoffman,, hardly appreciates the scope
OF the institution which the govern
ment 80 literally endows. If it were
an agricultural college pure and sim
pie it might as we'll be located at
ULet or Hole in-the-Wall as in the
Gallatin region for all the good it
would do or influence it would have,
Congress broadens the scope of this
institution, however. so as to in
clude instruction in all the English
branches, in mathematics, in engi-
neering, and sin the mechanical arts"
The words in quotations, especially.
constitute the hope of this proposed
institute. 1t car be made a great
school of manual training and me-
chanical arts, in connection with other
courses, and what more appropriate
location for such an institution could
be found than Great Falls, the manu-
featuring and industrial center of the
state? Here this broad based college
would become an institute of which
Montana would have reason to be
proud, while as an agricultural" col
lege solely, as contemplated in Sena-
tor Hoffman's bill, it would pass a
sickly existence mid the oats, barley,
anu potatoes of the Gallatin valley.
MnnNona = ~ -.-z-llI- f----