The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-01-25
Correspondence Baltimore Neus.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND
STATE AID.

To the Editor Of The Nelos Il see by todayis
papers that the Board of State Aid and Charities
has advised against granting 10000 to the Or
ganiZed Farmers Club of Maryland, which is
branch of the Agricultural College," for the
reason given that another appropriation pro-
vides for the needs of the college,"
Without going into the details of our appear
ance before the Board, in which the need for
this appropriation was carefully explained,
would say for the benefit of the readers of the
Neacs that the Maryland Agricultural College
receives annually from the United States Gov
eminent the sum of about $40, 600 under the first
and second Morrill, acts and the Hatch Expert
ment Station act
Under the statute by which these grants are
made this money can be expended only for spe-
cific purposes, and new buildings or repairs to
old buildings, or similar expenditures, are
barred by the act
AT meeting in June last of twenty-three of
the organizations of Farmers Clubs the state of
repairs of the college, its lack of dormitory ac-
cOmmOdations (nOw OyercrOwded. necessitating
the refusal of more than 70 students who had
applied for education,) its totally faulty dining
room and kitchen accommodations. its ancient
steam-heating plant and the overcrowded con-
dition of the Mechanical Arts Building, the lin
itations of the Experiment Station and the use
fulness of the Farmers Institute (which is a
lecturing body of practical men. visiting each
county in the StateO ell appealed to those pres
ent, and committee of nine. composed of the
representative farmers of the State, was APP
pointed to examine into the needs of this insti-
tuition most carefully and to apply to the Legis-
lature for relief. The total amount necessary
was found to be $4,000 for two years-a total of
$60UUO.
The first of the legislative bodies that passed
on this measure was the Board of State Aid and
Charities, with the result as given before, and it
is evident that it does not comprehend what was
asked for or the benefit to the State by granting
the appropriation.
There is no politics whatever in this move
ment, and no one will get cent except a State
institution, in which the Governor and other
State officers are trustees, and the money will
be expended under their direction.
Among the other states of this country the
improvements in agricultural training on scien-
tifc and practical lines are more thought of than
in this State.
While other states have given large sums to
furnish buildings and equipment to their ayr
cultural colleges, the last to do so was Wiscon-
sin, which made an appropriation of $3o3,0OO =
few weeks ago. ~
Two years ago Ohio gave 100000 and this year
100000 and dozen other states more than
100000
There is hardly state in which agriculture is
not treated better than in our State.
1t is an axiom that production per cspita IS in
direct proportion to education In banking,
rairoading. manufacturing and smihr lines a
single individual of superior intelligence may
bring great wealth to his state by tie employ
ment of large capital and the assistance of much
labor. This cannot be done in farming; but, by
the increased education in agriculture, the pro-
duction per acre can be increased. Agriculture
| is the basis of the prosperity of our State.
ASA B. GARDINER, JR,,
Secretary Combined Farmers Organization
Maryland Committee of Nine.