The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-25
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

TACOMA. April "a. 1891.
To THE EDITOR: The best thing that the leg.
isature could have done with the lands granted
for "the use and support of an agricultural
college" and "for the establishment and mainte-
nance OF . scientific school," would, perhaps,
have been to devote them to the development
and support of the state university. There is
nothing in the granting act to prevent such an
appropriation of these lands; every state receiy-
ing this national aid is left free to determine in
what manner the grant should be developed.
Congress only intended that each state should
have ample encouragement for at least one
scientific school, from which literary and
classical studies were not excluded, but in
which provision must be made especially for
those branches of learning which are related to
agriculture and the mechanic arts, or in other
words, for the various departments OF applied or
technical science.
But under all the circumstances it could
hardly have been expected that the legislature
would give these lands TO the state university.
The next best thing it did do in appropriating
these separate grants for the establishment and
support of one institution. If the resources of
the state were not TO be concentrated on single
college or university, it is much the best that
they should not be divided between more than
two. The multiplication of colleges has been
one OF the greatest hindrances in the cause of
higher education In the United States The
same general educational conditions existed
in both sections OF the country down
10 the beginning of this century. The
Episeopalians of South Carolina and Virginia
and the Catholics OF Maryland agreed with the
Paritans OF New England in the policy of sup
porting the higher schools as well as the lower
at the expense of the state. But the higher
education was less prosperous at the South be-
cause of the earlier adoption OF that policy
OF the multiplication OF colleges, which, In the
present century, has spread over the whole
country. The furitans were wiser in this re-
spect, in their generation, than "the children of
this world" IL is almost affecting to read in
these times OF "local development" in Presi-
dent Dwight's sketch of Yale college, that AT the
general court, held AT Gulierd, in June, 1852, il
ceeidei, after fun consideration of the cues
,ion that New England could not suppor, two
colleges. and, therefore, in order that thew
might not by founding new college embarrass
Harvard, the foundation OF Yale was indefinite
Is postponed. IL was not until fifty years later
that Yale was actually founded. on the other
hand Maryland early raised three of its high
schools 10 the rank of colleges. but iealousies
snsued, and in the course of few years IL cana
TO be seen that schools which, as academies had
been admirable, colleges were insignificant
aud thu public dissatisfaction was so great
that in lSaS the state withdrew its
aid sitogether-its colleges at that time
having dwindled into sh;ect feehleneSs.
South Carolina barely escaped the fate of Msry-
land. At first IL committed the error of estab-
Listing four colleges where but a single one
could be supported, bat in 1901 the legislature
concentrated its resources upon the College Of
South Canslins snd the other colleges at once
descended to the rank of preparatory schools
Some 500 90 were given within few years 10
the college at Cogumhia-a magnificent eudoy-
ment fer that time. But no state ever made A
better investment. The statesmen educated at
tia, institution during the frs; half OF the pres.
ent century were the iust pride OF the state, as
they would have been OF any state.
The national endowment of 10000 acres Of
land, If timely secured aud wisely spilled, will
lay the foundation for a large and well furnished
institution OF learning in this state The bust
of securing and dispesing of the granted
lands. tie location and building and orgsuiza-
ton OF this institution are among the most In.