The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-01-28
FOR TWO COLLEGES
OF AGRICULTURE
Bill Dividing Institution VIII
Be StOutly Resisted
Reason For the Proposed
Measure And Arguments
Of The Opposition

Shall Oregon have two Agrlcnl'ura'
colleges? Bills have been already IN
troduced by Representative McAlls'er
and Senator Wade providing for an
Eastern Oregon Agricultural college TO
be located on land owned by the state
near Union. The provisions include an
appropriation for buildings, an annual
allowance from the state treasury Tor
expenses and a division OF the lunds
received each year from the Federal
government for experimental stations
and Agricultural college.
Despite the fact that the new bills
have the endorsement OF the governor,
in fact we're suggested by recommends
ton contained in his message to the
Legislature, there will be bitter fight
on when the measures come up for pas
sage. The Corvallis delegation are pre-
pairing to fight to the last ditch in
opposition to the proposed division. One
Of the officers of the college, in protest.
ing against the bills said "The college
as IL now stands commands the respect
of the Agricultural colleges and stations
OF the United States. 1t has standing
with them that is constantly advancing.
Make two institutions where now there
is one and this standing is gone. 1t will
mean two incompetent colleges where
there is now one good one.
"The division will make each local
affair and the board significance of be-
ing a state institution will be forfeited.
They will descend to the level
OF normal schools, without PRIDE of
past or hope of futures. OF the forty
five states in the Union not one has
more than a single Agricultural college,
and but five have even established sub
experiment stations. Replying to the
governors statement that experiments
made at Corvallis were of no value to
Eastern Oregon let me call your at.
tention to the fact that it was through
experiments conducted under the di-
rection of g.. W. Shaw, head OF the
chemical department Of the college, that
the fact was demonstrated that Union
county beets were the richest in sugar
contents of any beets grown in the
world"
The statement referred TO above con-
concerning the alleged lack of value OF
experiments made at Corvallis for the
farmers of the eastern part of the stae
is the prir cipal argument advanced by
the legislators and citizens who are sup
porting the bills for division. They
claim that their climatic and soil condi-
tions are 10 at variance with the Will
annette valley that the establishment Of
a separate institution is an absolute
necessity Il the farmers of Eastern Or
egon are TO receive any practical benefit
from an Agricultural college and expert
ment stations. 1t is further stated in
their behalf that Of the lands appropri
ated by congress for the State Agricul'
tural college nearly seven.eighths wal
selected in Eastern Oregon. The pend
ing bills ask for 100000 for building
10000 annual appropriation for main
tenance and a division OF the Federal
allowance.
Which ever way the solons decide the
fight is bound 10 be bitter. One Of the
arguments against division will b,
that u sub'experimental station fol
Eastern Oregon has already been pro
vided TO be under the direction OF Prof
LecKenby, one of the ablest men in the
country. The site for the proposed new
college is the tract Of land near Union
purchased by the state in 1898 for the
erection of branch insane asylum, th,
plan being abandoned upon decision by
the supreme court that state buildings
| must ba erected nj the stata capifaI