The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-09-04
HON. JAS. II. STEWART,
Director of the West Virginia Ex=
pertinent Station.
JAMES H. STEWART.

ing upon new era. Its a1ralrS are In
the hands of non-partizan board of
regents in whom the people of the
state have confidence. 1t includes a
larger number Of college-educated
men, fewer politicians, and more men
of business experience, and of broad
and liberal ideas than ever. The char
acter of the men whom they have
called to the service of the University,
and the larger plans which they have
formulated are the convincing proofs
that the Governor made no mistakes
when he appointed them. Those most
generally known to the public were at
once accepted and approved as singu-
larly well adapted to the work that
they mist perform, while Others less
generally known have shown them
selves worthy and well equipped by
scholarship by high ideals, by con-
scientious convictions, and an ardent
interest in the higher education Of the
State for their duties.
Elsewhere will be found a sketch OF
the new President, and herewith we
give sketch and portrait Of the new
Director of the Agricultural Expert
ment Station.
James II. Stewart, late regent of
the University is the eldest son of the
late DIR. James Stewart, of Put
nam county, who was also a regent,
and for many years identified with
educational affairs in the Kanawha
valley. Born June 20, 1859, he was
raised to the work of the farm on one
of the finest tracts of land on the
Great Kanawha river, where his father
carried on agricultural operations and
stock raising on large scale. He
graduated at the University with hon
or in 1882 in the academic department
and in 1885 in the law department.
While contemplating the law as his
life occupation, he was associated
with the United States Attorneys
office for four years and evinced a
ready aptitude for that profession
which gave assurance Of success, but
the failing health of his father and
the exacting demands of the farm
compelled his return to the cares
and management of the ancestral es-
tate. He resumed farming operations
on a large scale, raising large crops of
wheat, corn, hay and tobacco, under
draining large areas and testingthe best
and most scientific methods of fertil-
izing, rotation of crops, preparation of
SOIL caring for products, and studying
the problems of the farm and stock
yard, and with great success, demon
strating that farming and grazing
may be done with financial profit in
West Virginia. In 1892 he was elect
ed to the State Senate, where he at
once took high rank as judicious,
conscientious and painstaking legisla-
tor. At the recent meeting of the re-
gents he was unanimously elected Di-
rector of the Agricultural Experiment
Station over many candidates. He
comes of an old Virginia family, long
accustomed to dispense a generous
hospitality. He married the youngest
daughter of the late Col. A. S. Vance,
of this county, and with son will at
once establish his home among us.
We expect long step forward in the
work of the station under Director
Stewards supervision. His scholarly
attachments, coupled with his practi-
cal experience in farm life and occupa-
tion on large scale peculiarly well
qualify him for his new duties His
unpretending manner and social ways
will keep him in touch with the farm
ers and stock men of the State. His
business experience and practical COM
mon sense will cause the placing of
every department of work in the Sta
tion upon an economical and sound
basis. His high sense of honor and
well known integrity will inspire
public confidence. His experience as
a legislator and studies as lawyer
will be helpful in providing wise leg
lslation to make the Agricultural sta.
ton greater aid in promoting the
prosperity of the agricultural interests
Of the state than ever.
One who knows him intimately de-
scribes him s'as modest without IT,
Nudity; progressive without rashness;
scholarly and studious without pedaAl-
try; democrat without partisan big
otry; the soul OF honor genial and
unpretending in social intercourse, Urn
in conviction without obstinacy,
prompt in action when his Judgment
is convinced, and loyal to friends and
the right, and inspired with a high
ambitlon for usefulness to his State
and its interests"
With these qualities and great in
dustry and executive ability we pre-
predict for him brilliant and highly
successful career in his new field of
| labor