The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-28
PROF. EMERY'S DEFENCE.
Says His Department Has Not Been
Expensively Conducted.

The News and Observer late last
night received the REPORT of Professor
of Agriculture and Agriculturalist to
Experiment Station, April 26, 1899 to
the members of the Trustees Commit
tee by Professor Emery. of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College.
Accompanying this report, which is
quite lengthy is the following letter to
the editor:
ITO the Editor: The accompanying
report has been written in response to a
call from a Committee of the Beard of
Trustees.
1T is sent out to the State press only
for the reason that the committee had
tried and con lemned the writer Of this
report unheard, before il calird for the
report. and the chairman Of tho en-
mittee gave to the daily papers what
changes had been agreed upon here at
the Agricultural and Mechanical College
and Experiment Station and thus made
it necessary for each professor if he had
any defence to make to show it before
the public whom the committee have by
their reports taken into their council or
rather prepared for the changes pro-
posed.
1.-THE Department of Agriculture was
charged with having spent $4,000 APP
proXimately in the past year. and for
having been thus extensively conducted,
the committee decided to drop the Pro-
fessor of Agriculture. or, in its own
words: TO declare the position of
Professor of Agriculture to the College
and Agriculturist to the Experiment
Station vacant To this the News and
Observer interjected for the benefit of
those who did not know that this posi-
ton is now held by Mr.. Emery Three
others were to be similarly treated for
various causes.
This is the first serious criticism
which has been made of this department
during my nearly nine years of service
as Agriculturist and as assistant pro-
fessor seven years, and two years as
professor in charge Of this department
This charge is not well founded.
s'We claim that the Agricultural De-
partment of the College or Station has
not been extensively administered.
There must. of course, be a much larger
expenditure where we have teams to
feed, and men to be paid than in de-
partments in which the only costs is for
janitor work. or for greenhouse fuel in
addition. The Department of Agriyul-
ture has kept the grounds and done many
services for other departments, the cost
of which appeared in its expenses, ant
several hundred dollars in credits for
these services were withheld from the
trial balance from which the committee
drew its inspiration for action. Not only
was this true. but nearly one thousand
dollars was due, and uncredited, from the
Boarding Department for dair.T products,
which form the larger part of our in
come.
with the income properly credited W.
make no mean showing.
Instead of this kind of harsh crit:
cism and being subjected to attack or
turned out of our position, we believe
the College, its governors and friends
owe us debt of gratitude for taking up
the disease we found there in the herd
of cows. and stamping it out of existence
before it had communicated itself to the
students and others who We're in certain
danger of contracting a lingering dis
ease when we took hold of thu Depart
ment
This part of our work has been
onerous and constitutes the bulk of the
extra expenses for incurring which the
committee propose the punishment of ex-
pulsion from the College.
From my point of view this is rank
est injustice.
This writer asks no favors and only
fair consideration and credit for his acts.
We may make mistakes sometimes as
others are liable to do, and then we are
always willing to frankly acknowledge
same as we ask our friend to do, and
this committee work comes under this
head. and we think the gentlemen will
serve the College well and do themselves
credit and come nearer the ends of JUS
tice by Il revision of its recommended
tions to the full Board when it meets
FRANK e. EMERY