The evening times., 1898-06-16

The thirty-ninth annual commencement
exercises OF the Maryland Agricultural
College, at Hyattsville were concluded
yesterday with the presentation of diplo-
mas and special prizes, and an address TO
the graduates by Hon. James wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture. The exercises
were held In the college chapel which was
appropriately decorated with American
flags and the college colors. At half past
two the guests crowded into the auditor
ium and adjoining halls, many being un-
able to gain an entrance. The stage upon
which were seated the Secretary Of Agri-
culture, President r. W. Sylvester, the
members of the faculty and staff OF the
experiment station, the members OF the
board of trustees of the college. the regis
trar of the college, DR.. ]. r. Owens. and
members of the graduating class was
tastefLlly bedecked with flowers. The
ceremonies were begun with music by
Weber's Band, after which Secretary Will
son made his address.
The salutatory address was by {. v.
Allnutt and the valedictory address by
d. c. Barnett. In the absence of the gov
ernor of Maryland, Charles Calvert, OF
College Park, member of the board OF
trustees presented the diplomas ana
prizes to the graduates, who were Claude
V. AIInutt, Jacksonville, Nd: d. c. Bar
nett, Dailsville. Nd; r. E. Dennison.
Washington. d. c.; E. T. Dickerson, DICK
ersons. Md; Levin ]. Houston. Stockton,
Md: j. A. Liilibridge. Laurel Prince
George County Nd; George Peterson,
Wailville. Nd; r. P. Whitley. Branch
VILE, Md. The degree of b. s. was con-
ferred upon C r. Burroughs, Harris Lot.
Charles County, Md: George W. Cameron.
Bay View, Cecil County, Md; W. c. Nes-
bit. Brookeville, Md: c. H. Ridgeiy'
Sykesville, Nd: p. L. Robb. Port Royal,
Va. The degree of NJ. E. was conferred
upon ]. II. Mitchell. who has handled the
battalion of cadets since the departure OF
Lieutenant Overton, L. S. A, Prof. Rich
ard Alvey, vice president of the college,
having acted as commandant Messrs
Peterson and Whitley were not present
to receive their diplomas, having left
some time since to join the First Resi-
ment of Maryland Volunteers and having
been promoted to the rank of sergeant.
The degree of Master of Science was con-
ferred upon w. S. Weldon, of Baltimore.
Speciai prizes offered by the alumni
association of the college were awarded
as follows: For excellence in department d
of mechanical engineering. TO J. c. Bland
ford. of the Junior class: for best thesis
III SCltntlIlC utp1i " oNoa6S W.
Cameron of the senior class; for best
deba.e in Mercer Literary Society, to
Edward Barber, of the sophomore class.
Prof Givinner offered a prize for best
examination in mechanical engineering,
which was awarded to ]. Ii. Mitchell, of
the senior class. Gold pens were awarded
d. F. Shamberger. of the Junior class.
for best examination in general engin-
eering. and E. S. Choate, of the sopho-
more class. President Sylvester offered
a gold medal for best years work in jun
ior class, and ii was awarded to ID. L.
Shamberger. A gold medal offered by
Prof. II. NJ. Stricken. for best general
athlete. was awarded to A. NJ. NJ. Gait.
and a silver medal for second place went
to Levin Dickerson.
The following promotions of captains
and lieutenants in the cadet battalion
were announced by Prof. r. II. Alvey,
acting ccmmandant: Major, Cadet
Whitehill; captains Of companies, A, b,
c, respectively, StrauShn. Blandford,
and McCandlish; first lieutenant to adju-
tant, Robb second lieutenant to quar-
termaster. Shamberger; second lieuten-
ants of Companies A, B and C. respect
lively, Combs. Price and Thorn; first
lieutenant of artillery, Eyster: second
lieutenants of Companies A, B and c.
respectively, Henley, Collins and Gait;
second lieutenant of artillery, Shipley.
Secretary Wilson, of the Agricultural
Department. in his address, said. in part:
''The State of Maryland can well afford
TO sustain college for the farmers boy,
for the sole purpose of keeping her soil in
fertile condition. She can afford to main-
tain college for the purpose of en-
abling the sons of the soil to increase
their earning capacity. The uneducated
man earns on the farm from $40 to $40 a
month: the educated man easily earns
from $50 to 800. An improved pasture re-
quires several acres. The native horse,
without blood or development. in some of
our Northwestern States is valued at 80
a head: well-bred, well-developed horse
is worth from 500 to $1,000 The native
COW in some of our newer States yields
$3.50 worth of products in a year: the i'm
proved COW, in the hands of a skilled dali
ryman, yields s15 worth of products in
the same time. Corn in Iowa some years.
is worth ten cents a bushel, where it is
the one crop of the farm, but the skilled
feeder makes ii worth 40 cents a bushel. |
The native pineapple weighs from three
to four pounds, and sells for 10 to 20 cents |
apiece; the scientist hybridizes the same
pine. and makes its weight from eight to
twelve pounds, and sells IT for 10 cents to
81 apiece. The uneducated laborer pro-
duces cotton as his sole crop, and sells
it for cents a pound; the educated la
borer diversifies his industry. and puts
high-selling products on the market. The
young mans labor when he comes to col !
lege is worth no more than that of the
uneducated farm hand; but If he studies |
the sciences related to some one industry, |
his labor is in demand everywhere. His |
earning capacity was equal to one labor !
er when he entered; It is equal to half a |
dozen when he graduates.
Agricultural education. when it was
provided for in our country, had no uni |