Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-21
CHANCELLOR WALTER 3. HILL.

vantage-some during the war and some
Immediately after the war-of the provis-
ions Of this bill. The educators Of the
state, although aware Of the bill, took no
action in the matter pending the existence
of the reconstruction governments. but in
1872, when Georgia had been redeemed
from Republican misrule, Governor James
NJ. Smith took up the matter with the ma
tional government, and arranged for Geor-
gia to receive annually her share of mon
ey under the Morrill, bill.
IAN important clause of the bill, in this
connection, is as follows: No portion of
said fund shall be applied to the
purchase, erection, preservation or repair
of any building or buildings
AT that time the state was impover-
ished, and had no money with which to
erect buildings in which to provide for the
teaching of the sciences specified in the
bill, or to provide dormitories for stu
dents. Governor Smith therefore propos-
ed to the trustees of the University of
Georgia to place the fund in their con-
troll, so that the buildings of the univer
sity might be used in order to carry out
the purposes of the act. 1t was true, how
ever, that the buildings of the university,
although inadequate for the purposes Of
the literary course taught in Franklin col
1ege, at Athens. were not wholly sufficient
for the purpose, and at this Juncture the
citizens of Athens. in order to secure the
college, held an election and issued bonds
to the amount of $4,000 and erected the
building known as Moore college, to be
used for the special purposes of the State
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
elm order to understand the nature Of
the institutions created by the act of con-
gress, we must examine carefully the
terms and provisions of the Morrill, bill,
for that bill is the charter Of every one
of these institutions. 1t describes the
oh Of these COLLEGES a follows.
g The leading object of these colleges
shall be, without excluding other scien-
tific and classical studies, and including
military tactics, to teach such branches
of learning as are related to agriculture
and the mechanic arts in such manner as
the legislatures OF the states may respec-
lively prescribe in order to promote the
liberal and practical education of the in
dustrial classes in the several pursuits and
professions in life
"The amending act OF 1890 provides that
the fund paid Hereunder shall be applied
only to instruction in agriculture, the
mechanic arts, and the various branches
of mathematical physical, natural and
economic science. with special reference
to their application in the industries of
life and to the facilities of such instruc-
| ton
THE Morrill, bill created a new class OF
| institutions and required a new class Of
1
| languages, mathematics and some Of the
sciences, but there never had been a pro-
| fessor of agriculture. Undoubtedly the
forces Of education encountered great diff
| fculty in shaping the new institutions and
| their course.
Much of the difficulty, however, met
with at the beginning has been removed
| by the conferences of the Association OF
/ the State colleges. The presidents and
! faculties of the colleges hav met with
the secretary Of agriculture. who is the
responsible officer provided by law to ex-
/ anime the work. They have shaped the
| curriculum which has been adopted in all
the states leading to the degree Of bach
/ elor of science in agriculture. Certain
/ OF the colleges have. also framed and Of
fered courses intended for the benefit of
those who are not fully prepared for the
/ college work.
Now the resolution of Colonel Peek
proposes to remove this institution from
/ the University of Georgia. 1t now, to-
Il gether with Franklin college, makes up
] the academic part of the university, the
/ one giving a course on which the en-
| phasis is literary, the other a course on
| which the emphasis is on science. Let us
| see what must be done before this remov-
al is effected. First, of course, as every
| honest man would say, the state must re-
| fund to the citizens of Athens the $4,000
| which they paid out of their own peck
! cts to secure the location OF the state col
| lege at Athens, and to erect the building
| for this special work. Secondly, in view
| of the act, already quoted, that none OF
| the federal funds can be used for build
/ ings II would be necessary for the state
| to provide buildings in which can be
taught all the studies, both classical and
! scientific, which are required by the act
| to be taught, and, also, to provide dor