The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-09
ArrienIturaI schools.

Q0fHAlAEAk Aa-aaAsF sA-a@ a. t+--N--~- ---
educational Institutions.
Agricultural schools.
Georgia Is pre-eminently an agri-
cultural state. and while we are fost-
ering other interests, We should be
specially active 20 encourage that bust
ness in which the whole state Is most
vitality concerned. II here We lag be-
hind. the whole state suffers, and If
il this we can forge TO the front. all
the people viii b directly benefited.
So vital is our concern in agriculture
that We should not only comply with
all reasonable requests Of the farming
interests. but even so farther and be
diligent to search out means by which
the agricultural interests may be i'm
proved As legislators YOU may not
be able to do this directly. but you
can set forces at work that viii ac-
complish the desired end. Nothing
would be more helpful to this
great interest than the estab-
lishment and maintenance of an
agricultural school in each con-
gressional district Of the state. Such
schools would furnish an opportunity
for the intelligent teaching and train
ing annually of several thousand of
our young men and women engaged in
agriculture and kindred pursuits. Fully
equipped for their life work such per-
suits would be more attractive to them,
as we'll as more remunerative. Agricul-
ture would take on new life and the
desire on the part of many Of our noble
young men and women to leave the
farm for towns and cities would be
checked. The state. very wisely and
justly. provides suitable facilities for
the education of the youths who con-
template making of themselves teach
ers lawyers. doctors, machinists, cleo
tricians and the like. With equal wis
dom and justice, if not more, she
should provide suitable facilities for
the young men and women who will
engage in agriculture or similar pur-
suits.
The experiment has been tried else
where with great success, and mas
much as no constitutional objection
could be insisted upon should they be
made branches of the university, I urge
the General Assembly to enact such
legislation as will permit the establish
ment and maintenance Of these schools.
To do this no extra taxation would be
necessary. as they can be maintained
by the net fees arising from the in
spection of commercial fertilizers.
These fees are paid by the farmers in
addition to the ad valorem property
tax, which is required of all citizens,
and every principle of justice and equi-
ty demands that they be expended as
VIII best tend to the advancement and
upbuilding of the cause of agriculture
throughout the state. These fees are
now paid into the treasury to the credit
of the common school fund. The loss
which such an application would en-
tail upon that fund can be more than
supplied by an increase in the hire of
state convicts. This increase we may
reasonably expect from contracts nee
essary to be made in the near future.
THE discussion of this matter in va
rious sections of the state has con-
WINGED me that the several counties
in which these schools may be located
would donate sufficient lands and suit
able buildings for that purpose. In
order that the General Assembly may
be fully informed as to all necessary
details attending the establishment
and maintenance of such schools. I
recommend that at the present session
a commission be created, to serve
without compensation, with authority
to receive bids from counties in each
congressional district for the location
of such schools therein, and report to
the present General Assembly at the
next session.
! Compilation of Records.
"The preservation of the records of
the colonial period and of the Revo-
| lutionary and Civil Wars is a matter
Of much concern. The lessons to be
derived from these periods in the
states history should be taught to the
children in our schools. Private en-
terprise cannot be relied upon 70 per-
feet and preserve these records, neither
can we hope to obtain through pri-
vate enterprise a full and complete
history of these periods, as the de-
mand for such a work would be al
most entirely restricted to. Georgians.
The state should perfect and preserve
these records, and then cause suitable
publication to be made thereof for use
in the schools, or permit some histo-
rian to Gull therefrom such matter as
would be valuable in the training of
children. l, therefore, recommend such
legislation as will authorize the en-
ployment of some competent person
to compile and publish these records.
Conclusion.
THE subjects referred to do not. of
course, exhaust the matters of great
Importance which will come before
this General Assembly.