The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-08-23
WHAT TT IS DOING.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
MECHANIC ARTS.


Something About What it Has
Undertaken and the Work Be-
ing Done--An Interesting State
ment From the Board of Trus-
tees.
In the capacity of committee, ap-
pointed by the Board of Trustees for
such purpose, we are glad to put the
College before the public.
The Institution has now completed
its fifth year. It's development may
be best noted by the number of
students matriculating each year
Seventy-one in the first, "a in the
second, no in the third, rs in the
fourth, and I9I in the fifth year.
The scheme of education, as decided
on in the beginning, has not been
changed, but it been enlarged. 1t
was an innovation on the methods of
the past. 1t is true that some of our
institutions of learning contemplated
certain industrial features in the begin
ming of their career, but these features
were, however, soon abandoned.
The College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts promised the youth of the
State an education which could be
procured at no other institution in
North Carolina an education broad
and thorough in its basis, emitting the
classics and metaphysics, but including
the principles OF production by skilled
labor, with the essentials of develop
ment and improvement in such things
as constitute the basis of all true pros
perity to the commonwealth.
A brief glance at the curriculum
will, perhaps, best exemplify the work
undertaken in the beginning, and
now carried on in the several depart
ments Of the College. The intelligent
reader can judge whether such work
promises practical results, and then
will carefully consider how much has
been accomplished in this short time
as detailed below. See if it does not
promise we'll for the State.
A four years course is necessary to
graduation; but shorter courses are
being prepared for special cases.
In the first year the course is not
elective, but arbitrary, In the second
year the student must decide which of
several courses he will take, viz:
Agriculture, Science, or Mechanics
The students in the Agricultural course,
however, are allowed one more year in
Mechanics.
The Agricultural course embraces
the theory and practice Of advanced
and economical farming, drainage,
improvement of land, crops, care of
stock and cattle, feeding for beef, and
butter making, creameries, etc. In
this general division Horticulture is
taught. Attention to orchards and
small fruits, gardening and practical
Horticulture, forestry and entomology,
botanical Investigations, with or with
out microscopes. This division con-
tains, as also do others, good course
in English, history, mathematics,
physics, and chemistry, pure and agri-
cultural, and in bookkeeping.
The Scientific course includes all
such studies as lead to the B. S.
degree. But in this Institution the
student must take much practical work
in laboratories along with the course,
the botanical work in the Senior year
of this course leading into Bacter-
ology.
The Mechanical course includs the
technical study of buildings and build
ing materials, steam and all kinds of
steam machinery, graphic statics,
bridges and roofs, and applied me-
chanics generally.
To these technical studies the course
adds a four years course in English in,
pure and applied mathematics, course
in history, in physics and electrical
engineering, in chemistry, and in
moral science.
The practice work of the course con-
/ ssts of the use of all sorts of wood
working tools, offorging and tempering
J and making iron tools, of the use o
the various machines in wood-turning
and pattern making, of machine work
in iron, together with a thorough
course in mechanical drawing, survey
ing, civil engineering, work in physical
and electrical laboratories, etc.
In the College Of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts it is not designed tC
teach single trades or occupations
Especial reference may be had to some
particular line of work, but the student
who desires to graduate must take the
entire course in one of the three
departments, and thus obtain a good
knowledge of the principles underlying
all of the work taught.
1t will probably be asked, is the
work of the College practical? Is the
worth OF the education at all com
mensurate with the outlay in providing
for the same? Such questions Will
occur to all thinking men. 1t coulC
readily be shown that in the industria
development of the resources OF tht
State, that the agricultural and me
chical pursuits (including all kinds o
manufactures easily outrank all other
combined. OF course we have mines
fisheries, lumber interests, ETC., which
add to the wealth OF the Stale
| Preachers, teachers, lawyers, physicians
bankers, merchants, etc, etc, go Il
make up the remainder o! the popula
ton. Yet it will be readily conceded
that all products upon which mankind
the professions and all trade, subss
come as the result of manual labor
which. therefore, should be well trained
and directed. AS a matter of cours
only fraction of the population cal
learn to be experts, but these can b