The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-12-24

before the people OF lutno Is HOW
shall we continue to maintain our
higher institutions Of learning? The
law makers soon to meet will be con-
fronted with deplorable situation
with a problem, he solution of which
will require ability and craftsmanship
Is it not better to call II halt and con
slider the future interest of our entire
state rather than to 60 from bad to
worse in the interest Of one or TWO
localities.
AS result of past legislation we
are in the unique situation of having
state university, state normal and,
by implication only, a state agricult-
ura college remotely situated
in the Pan Handle of the state.
The Hatch and Morrell fund has by
some twist of the wrist been used by
the management of the university
for number of years. 1t may be
all right to teach the principles of
irrigation under an umbrella in
theory: but notin practice. Practice
is essential to success. Moscow is
but eight miles from Pullman where
is located the agricultural college of
the state of Washington, which was
established prior to the university at
Moscow. Does any sane man con
tend that Uncle Sam will support
two agricultural schools III section,
where there are not students enough
for one, especially as the distance
southeast through Idaho is over seven
hundred miles from Moscow.
AS our future development in
agricultural resources will depend
entirely on reclaiming the millions Of
acres of arid land in the great Snake
River valley, the agricultural college
or training school should be in the
arid belt. For here only can students
acquire practical knowledge of
irrigation
In view Of the fact that a new
Impulse will be given to retaining
arid land, by reason of national aid,
now is he time to locate the agricult-
ural college of the state of Idaho, as
the law requires.
The place should be at or: near
Boise. Say within e sii,ngyl,,v miles of
Do'Se S.ss The place Offering The
sssa tss.nducements. accessibility, altl-
tude, sanitary conditions, soil and
water for irrigation being essential
requirements.
The university and til normal
schools, being children of premature
birth, will never have sufficient
vitality to be OF any great value to
the state at large. The university,
in Its present location, will not be
generally patronized, while Whitman
affords so many superior advantages.
The attempt to establish and main
tain two normal schools in Idaho was
sheer folly. These are not now nor
will there be in Idaho for several
years, a sufficient number of students
seeking a special training for teach
ing to supply one school.
The greatest blunder of all along
educational lines was the establish
ment OF state academy at Pocalello.
When we consider that only about
one in twenty is permitted 10 receive
any but c ,mmnn school education.
And further that special tax,s are
necessary in nearly every school dis
trict 10 build school houses and sup
port schools, We are ut Il los to find
any excuse for The state Stepping in
to adj, to the heavy burdens # ev ry
school district Of Idaho, an addition
al amount TO support an academy so
called at Pocuello or any other place
Boise City has one, Weiser has two
There are several others in different
parts of the state. All, am hap
py to say in lurlshing condition
without state and. But Pocaiello
having a political pull of some kind
must be specially favored
| suggest feeler to test public
sentimen, THAT the present legislative
body proceed TO locate the agricult-
ural college of the state of Idaho rs