The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-23
RAILWAY CLUBS VISIT.
What he Gentlemen Saw at the A. and N.
College.
vops or THAT SPLENDID INSTITUTION
now Farming II Made = Science.
The Mechanical and Military
/. Trainiug-scme Incidents.

halfway clup, VINO maze tne trlp 10 WI
kge Station with that organization last
Tuesdsy-he was an official OF the Hous-
tsn and Texas Central, by the way--"and
have frequently Heard OF the good work
done by the Agricultural and Mechanical
college: but never until my recent visit
there did l have any adequate conception
OF the thoroughness and effectiveness of
tho curriculum Of the institution of the
immense amount OF detail handled. nor
Of the modern and up-to- date methods
in use In all the various departments. The
college is credit 10 tis-a.ate in the full
est possible degree implied by that term.
and II the people OF Texas could be made
10 realize lust what the school Is doing
they would certainly see 10 1t that the
YEARLY appropriations are made more near
~ adequate to the needs OF the institu-
tion than are the present allowances.
rhe sentiments of this gentleman are
Endorsed by every member OF the large
party which visited the college last week.
To those who knew Of the institution and
Its work only in the vagtiest sort Of n way
the information CLEANED from a visit to the
various departments came In the nature
OF revelation. Most of those who &C
cepted the invitation of President l.. l..
Foster and made the trip In question knew
only that there was some kind OF school
In consequence moro than surprised 10
md an enclosure of some 1000 acres under
the charge of the management OF the col
Iege, a pretty little village made up of
buildings containing class rooms, work
rooms, dormltories, mess halls and offices,
together with stables diaries, granarie5
and all OF the other buildings necessary
TO the conduct OF well regulated farm.
The gentlemanly cadets showed the Wis
itors through the different departments
and explained their workings, from the
laboratory where the most difficult OF
scientific problems are solved, and the ma
chine shops where students are fitted to
fill the most responsible positions In the
mechanical world. down TO the stables
where the interesting process OF raising
calves by hand Is carried on. proved con-
clusively the excellence of the courses OF
study In use and the thoroughness with
which everything Is done, by the intel
iigent manner In which they explained the
details Of their work and by the familiarity
they displayed with subjects OF which
the majority Of young men OF their age
know nothing. In support Of the state
rient that everything is done thor
oughly. II may be said that the students
IN the laboratory are not only able to as
certain the exact amount OF nutrition con-
tained In any given kind OF food for anil
mails. but that, the subject being followed
10 along Its various ramtcations. the men
IN the dairy department can state accur-
ately the amount OF milk that fooA VIII
produce when fed to the cow TINS NAV
appear somewhat exaggerated to the prac-
tcal farmer. but IL Is true nevertheless
and it all goes to show that farming may
be made a science and fine art instead
of mere experiment with the chances
against successful results.
~
The history OF the school and the work
now being done by 1t was very clearly
outlined by President Foster in his ad'
dress before the visitors and cadets a
Assembly hall. The college was, Colone
Foster stated, established in pursuance
of an act of congress. approved July ?
1852 on April II, 1871. the Legislature
formally accepted the provisions OF the
act OF congress for its establishment. and
on October 4. 1876, It's doors were opened
for the reception of students. For twenty
Two and half years 1t has been engaged
IN doing the work 1t was established te
perform
The act which brought It into being
stipulated that three things should bI
neutrality-suspicious.. mechanics ana mill
tary tactics. Al first thought instruction
in military tactics appears inconsistent
with the leading purpose OF the instiVl-
tiop which the law declares to be to
teach such branches Of learning as are
related to the science of agriculture and
the mechanic arts" but careful study
OF the system OF government Will show
that II is not. The spirit of the constitu-
ton is opposed to a large standing army
and the people generally have ever re-
garded II as menace to the porpetulty
of free institutions, Recognizing the
need, however for some knowledge OF
military tactics among the people in cases
Of emergency, the militia was organized n
the several States and, up 10 the outbreak
OF the civil war constituted the only means
OF disseminating a general knowledge Of
military science. But the civil wal
demonstrated the need of men better
trained in the arts of war and developed
the weakness OF the then existing military
system. The idea of combining military
training with instruction in the science o.
agriculture and mechanic arts involved
no Increase in the standing army and helC
IN respect public sentiment against mill
tsrism, at the same time providing In In,
most thorough and effective manner mill,
tary men IN every State OF the UnioT
capable of organizing and equipping ar
army for National defense in time OF war
That congress made no mistake in thil
respect is shown by the part taken h!
students in the recent Hispauo- American
wsr The inspector general OF the army
IN late report. summed up the matter a
follows.
The objects of this instruction are wei
understood, and II would. therefore, b'
Interesting to learn the practical result
OF the military work accomplished at thes
institutions in connection with the re
cent struggle against Spain. They ma.
never be fully known, and inquiry on thi
subject ELECTED only partial information
but the statistics given are suggestive an
seem rather below than above actual con
ditions. The presidents OF forty-six col
ieges. whose military departments mum
bered about TOO students before hostilltle
began, reported that tweniy-nine OF thei
military students and ffty-nine alumni
had been commissioned In the reguls
army, and 157 students and 2s6 alumni Il
the volunteer Srmy-a total OF 5i1 Off
oers, or enough for about twelve regi
ments and that 1854 students and Elk
students had Joined the forces as non
commissioned officers or privates.'
The students and ex-students OF tn
Agricultural and Mechanical college gal
lantiy bore a part in the recent struggle
Eighty nine enlisted in the service. sixty
three OF whom were commissioned or non
commissioned officers.
~
The chief glory Of the college. however
does not lie in the number of men It ha
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