The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-13
Committee Favors AgricuI-
turaI Building for A, 4 M.
THE HEARING LAST NIGHT
Students Plead With the Committee Pres
Winston, Profs. Burkett and Stevens, Or.
Butler, Com'r. Patterson and Or.
Hines all Speak.

The committee heard on the matter
President Geo. T. Winston, of the col
lege, representatives from the faculty
and student body, Commissioner of Ag-
riculture S. l.. Patterson and DR.. p. L.
Hines all in favor of the bill. A feature
of the hearing was the presence of a
committee from the agricultural stu
dents of the college asking for the build
ings, each one separately addressing the
committee, telling the needs of the de-
partment. and answering questions.
DR. Winston first presented the subject
and briefly told of the pressing need for
such a building. showing what could be
done if the college had the opportunity.
Prof Burkett explained the plans OF
the proposed building, and showed how
much could be done that was impossible
now on account of lack of room ana
equipment.
There would be no difficulty in getting
ten or fifteen thousand dollars worth OF
machinery from manufacturers donated
to the college, If they had suitable
building.
AS it is now, agriculture is taught at
the greatest disadvantage, by running
about from one room to another, and
naturally not giving the full measure
of instruction that could be given under
proper circumstances.
To show how teaching agriculture paid
he told of the great results in Wisconsin,
brought about by the establishment OF
agricultural colleges. Idaho likewise,
and Iowa were cited as giving large APP
propriations to agricultural colleges. The
speaker claimed that it was the duty OF
the State TO educate all young men who
wanted TO study agriculture. 1T meant
great things for the State
This was the first time that the farm
ers of the State had asked for anything
for the education of the boys VINO want
to learn scientific farming.
| President Winston said that Missis-
sippi had appropriated $4,000 for an
agricultural college, and had invited Mr..
! ID A. Thompkins, of Charlotte, to the
dedication exercises. The States OF south
Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee all had
agricultural colleges worth not less than
| $40, 900.
Prof. Stevens, addressed the commit
tee next on the work being done at the
| college in the study OF plant life, and
what could be done He called attention
to the intensely practical side that was
taken up in the work, the study of the
diseases of plants, and the insects that
destroyed them.
| He told of the terribly crowded condl-
ton of the rooms at present, and how
difficult it was to do good work. The
students were compelled to sit too close
! together And it was also very DIM
cult to keep the over crowded rooms
l in no H.
| ling of germs Moreover there is no
means of keeping stored the specimens
necessary to exemplify the work done.
Prof Stevens emphasized the need OIL
more classroom space, cleaner rooms,
and museum room for the specimens.
Next year the conditions would be still
more intolerable, for there would be q
very great increase in the number of stu
dents. There ought to be about three
times more room than there now is.
But the present building would not adj
nit of enlargement and it would be too
expensive to put separate Biological
building The solution that seemed most
PRACTICAL. therefore, was to give the de-
partment floor space in the proposed Ag-
ricultural Building.
DIR. Winston then introduced DR.. TAFT
1
instruction in veterinary science at the
| college.
! DR.. Butler said that no attempt was
made to educate veterinarians at the
college but merely to instruct the stu
| dents in the proper care and treatment
or live stock. so as to prevent disease.
Nearly all diseases of stock on the farm
were preventable diseases. He estima-
| no saved
the State every year by preventing dis
ease.
There was great need at this time for
education in the best ways of raising
live stock, for that was the highest
branch of agriculture. And how could
Won expect successful stock raisers
among men who did not know the struc-
iiture and characteristics of the animals
they raise.
The college possessed absolutely nc
equipment for this kind of teaching, AND
there would be no place to keep it ii
they had it. There was not even skele-
ton. He had taught classes whenever he
could get hold of a room and black
Hoard ana piece of chalk. He had even
taken his class to the barn frequently
There was absolutely needed a room
1 Where Q1SSccIlOu COulu NC dohSt ioA ~
was impossible to learn anything about
an animal without practice upon The
lanimal. little equipment in the way
of skeletons was absolutely necessary.
That it paid was evidenced by the tac1
that other States had appropriated large
sums of money for this purpose. Soutt
Carolina had done something on this
line.
President Winston then said that at
meeting of the agricultural students o
the college committee had been ap
pointed to memorabilia this committee
These young men were present, and Mr.
Colt. of Rowan, was called upon first
as chairman of the students's commit
tee.
He stated that when ne first went t
the college the instruction in agriculture
was not very good. but later on some
good men had been secured. who pre-
sented the subject of agriculture in al
Interesting and very instructive way.
| In reply to questions Mr.. Colt said HI