The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-13

.No1I i III oAfIolL1 SoL1LEdE or
AGRICULTURAL AND ME-
CHANIC ARTS.
North Cardinals future is dependent
to a great degree upon the training for
agriculture and industry. THE chief
business of mankind" says Thomas
CARLYLE. sis bread and meat" The
power to produce things economically
and we'll precedes the highest culture.
The College of Agriculture n Me-
chanic Arts is teaching the young men
of the state both to know things and
to do things and when they shall both
know and do, then will they be
come true men, for knowledge and
doing constitute being n this Is
character. l cannot too cordially
commend to your favorable consid-
GRAFTON the needs of this great insti-
tuition which means so much to the flu
ture development of our reSOurceS. The
last general assembly put the care Of
the college in charge of the board of
agriculture, the purpose being to in
crease the interest in agricultural train
ing. The wisdom of their action is
manifest in the increased number of
boys who are attending the college for
the of studying agriculture. In
1901 seventeen young men too the ag-
ricultural course: in 1902 ~ninety-twO
took il. Our state must for many
years remain largely agricultural.
Eighty-two per cen of our population
live in the country n the College of
Agriculture n Mechanic Arts ought
to furnish instruction to as large a
number as possible for young men in
tending to pursue the business of farm
ing. The college is fairly we'll equipped
for industrial training but is in real
need of an agricultural building.
Whether the at your disposal
will justify an appropriation for the
erection of such building, is a mat
ter which must be determined by you
The building is necessary and would be
Of great value.
On the 2Sth day Of November. 1902.
Watauga Hall was destroyed by fire.
It became necessary to reconstruct this
building, or greatly cripple if not to
close the college. About sixty stu
dents IA to go home Immediately af-
ter the fire for lack of room. Upon APP
plication Of the board of trustees to the
governor and council of state for per-
mission to borrow money they were au-
thOriZed to do SO in order to rebuild
Watauga Hall on the old foundations
and to build a separate building for he
mess hall, kitchen and assembly hall.
The cost of these buildings and their
furnishings are set out in detail in the
reports transmitted with this message.
1t is necessary to make provision for
meeting the debts nus contracted. The
income of the college for running eX-
penses is but little if any larger than
it was six years ago when the number
of students were scarcely o~ne-fourth of
the present number In consequence
of the increased number of students
the running expenses for teachers, tools.
machinery, apparatus, fuel and service
have greatly increased. On this ac-
count there is a deficit for running ex-
penses unless the appropriations are
| increased, or the work of the college i5
| limited. The enrolment of the college
this yea is about five hundred and
would be much larger next year if
| there was room for more students. The
| time has been in the state when our in
| stitutions of learning had to seek pu-
! pills. We nave come to that good day
when all of our state institutions are
| crowded to their utmost and the prob
| lem before you is to find how prOvis-
ion may be made for the accommoda-
ton of the young men who are seeking
| education at the university and at the
| College of Agriculture and Mechanic
| Arts and for, the young women who
| desire to entar the State Normal and
| Industrial College. It is q sad thing
| for the state when any boys and girls
| are denied admission to the state in
| situations because there is no % for
them. l transmit herewith a memorial
| from the trustees of the College Of Ag-
| riculture and Mechanic Arts asking for
| the erection and equipment of a build
| ing for the promotion of the science OF
| agriculture.
! CULLOWHEE HIGH SCHOOL.
This school, located in Jackson coun-
". on Cullowhee creek, a tributary Of
| Tuckaseege river, is doing a most eX-
| cellent work at extremely small cost.
During the past year l had the pleas
ure of visiting this excellent school and
inspecting the work there being done.
I know OF no investment which the
state has made in the way Of education
which has brought larger results in
proportion to the amount expended. A
full report of its condition and work
will appear from the accompanying
documents.
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND
MECHANIC ARTS FOR NEGROES.
I commend to your careful considera-
ton the strong and clear report of the
board of directors of this institution
This board has been confronted witt
many difficulties. When they tooi