The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-06-27

A44 S0 -
says they began to discuss the matter
of industrial education on May 26th,
1884. On the 18th of December, 1884,
they appointed a committee to get up
"a definite report upon the practica-
bility of establishing an Industrial
school in North Carolina" On the
18th of January, 1886, Mr.. w. Fl. Page
read the following report:
"ResoIUed, That a committee be ap-
pointed to memorabilia the legislature
in the name of this Club to establish
an industrial school in North Carolina,
and respectfully offer to the legislature,
or a proper committee thereof, all the
information or the subject in posses,
sion of the Club; that the committee
be empowered, if need be, to publish
such information also"
The resolution passed and a bill was
prepared. Rev. Tom Dixon was a
member Of that legislature and intro
duced a bill of his own. But the Wa
tauga Club bill was eventually intro,
duced by Mr.. Leazar, passed both
houses, and became a law on the 9TH
of March, 1885. The act provided
that the Board of Agriculture should
receive proposals or bids from the
towns or cities of the State desiring the
industrial school as provided for by
said bill. To this bid S., 900 was to
be added by the Board of Agriculture.
At that time bids were made as follows:
Charlotte, $4,000 and a site; Raleigh,
S., 900 and a site and the old Exposi-
ton buildings, estimated to be worth
from So, 900 to SIS, 900, the use of twenty
acres of ground and the free use of
convicts to tear down the Exposition
buildings. Kinston offered $40, 900 in
cash. But the Board decided to post
pone action on the matter indefinitely.
According to Mr.. Peele's own history
the Watauga Club was not satisfied
with the progress of things, and on No
vember 4th, 1885, the Watauga Club
called q mass meeting of the friends Of
industrial education throughout the
State to meet in Raleigh on the goth of
November. Capt. Cctavius Coke was
made chairman of this meeting. Tt
was addressed by DR.. CLANCY, of At
lanta, Maj. Bingham, w. H. Kerr and
others of this State. A committee of
twenty five were appointed to prepare
a report upon the cost character, ETC.,
of such a school. The thing still hung
fire. On the goth of January, 1886, the
Board of Agriculture donated S., 900
conditionally annually to the support
of the school.
An amendment was offered to the
Watauga Club bill in 1885, by Mr.. Lovill,
to take the land script fund away from
the University and give it to the pro
posed school, but it was lost, Mr.. Peele
says. Then Mr.. Peele says Col. Polk
rene we'd the fight through the columns
of The PROGRESSIVE FARMER and on
the 26th of January called a great
convention of farmers from forty coun-
ties in the State" The convention de-
cided that the land script had to come,
and on March Sd, 1882, the new bill be-
came a law. Mr.. Peele says: The
main features of this act are worthy
of attention here. 1t provides that the
name Of the school shall be-: "The
North Carolina College Of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts"
Now we r through. We have
shown by Mr.. Peele's own testimony
that the Watauga Club bill for an I'm,
dWstriaL school," and which passed on
the 9TH of March, 1885, fell through
and was abandoned. But the friends
Of that bill were and are the friends of
the bill passed in 1887, which really
created the college that has since ma
~terialized. Speaking of the convention
called by Col. Polk, Mr.. Peele says:
Events occurred which materially
changed the whole history of indus,
trial education in North Carolina"
That is true. The WatdugG Club bill
1Uas abandoned and the Agricultural
and Mechanical College bill took ats
place.
Without claiming credit not due or
failing to give credit to all deserving
it, we have tried to show that Col.
Polk was first in the fight, kept it up
all the time, and created most of the
sentiment that finally resulted in the
establishment of the college. The Wa
tauga Club was as much in earnest and
deserve as much praise, but were not
the original movers, nor did they sue
coed. By their own testimony they
failed and took hold again when Col.
Polk called the convention held on the
26th of January, 1886. The 'whole
history" was changed and the A. & M.