The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-27
THE A & NJ. COLLEGE.
How to Secure Money to Construct the New
Building at the A. & M. College.

Building at the a. q nj. college,,
To the Editor: l have read your article
in yesterdays News and Observer under
the above heading with great deal of in
terest. In that article you remind me of
one of the States most astute lawyers
who sometimes commences his case by
agreeing with his opponent and points
out several things in which he is right,
but then he begins to diverge and finally
lands IN altogether a different direction
from which he seemingly started.
You spoke of the Importance of the
work of the Agricultural Department
and the good il had done to North Caro-
lima, and especially to her farmers, and
that it was entitled to, and should re-
ceive all possible encouragement. In
this agree with you entirely. You also
spoke of the A. and NJ College and its
possibilities, and said the best invest
ment the State could make for agricul-
tural purposes would be to turn out from
the college from 500 to 1000 boys every
year to go back to the farms and develop
their hidden treasures. In this you spoke
a great truth; but you did not stick to
your text or rather continue along the
same line on which you started out You
then took up the workings of the Board
of Agriculture, opened the door. just a
little, and showed us some of it's eXtrav-
agencies, and how the money. the far
mer's money, could be better spent. l
shall not undertake to discuss that part
of your editorial in this article for the
following reasons: First. l have not the
time, I consider the members of the board
eG..s, III Lot, 1afn
their position if necessary. But in your
last conclusions l, as a farmer, entirely
disagree with you that is, your PROPOSE
ton to erect and equip the agricultural
building asked for, out of the fertilizer
tax.
1t is said that the farmers represent
so per cent Of the States population.
They pay their taxes about as willingly
as other people. / have not taken the
pains to find out what portion Of the
States taxes they pay, but can safely
say they pay their part. Practically all
the buildings and equipments of the
State schools have been paid for out of
the State Treasury, the farmers paying
their share: but now when the farmers
want an agricultural building, belonging
to a State school, we are told that in
stead of there being money in the Treas
ury there is a hole in the ground and no
money to be had for an agricultural
building. I admit there is a hole in the
ground, but no one has SHE'D at that hole
except DIR. McIver and he did not shy
very much He very kindly said ne was
willing for the public schools to come in
ahead of the appropriation for $12, 500
Il l. 1nI
already has buildings and equipments,
not all he wants nor possibly all he needs
The others. however, so far as | know
are marching straight up to the counter
and presenting their needs, expecting to
get something. The farmers should do
the same way, and not be Disseminated
against.
More than half of the States of the
Union are not only erecting and equip
ping agricultural buildings out of their
State Treasury, but are making appro-
priations for experimental work, the
same kind of work that is being done in
North Carolina, and which is paid for by
the farmers out of the fertilizer tax.
mention this that you may sec how those
States appreciate and encourage agricul-
ture and do not say to their farmers: If
you want building you must pay for it
out of your own funds.
The farmers by their taxes have helped
to build and equip the mechanical de-
partments and the textile building, will
lingly. Now that they are asking for =
building they think it but fair they
should be treated the same way these
other Industries are treated. We did not
ask the mechanics of the State to build
and equip the mechanical department at
the college, nor did we ask the cotton
mill men of the State to build the tex
tile building, therefore we do not think
any one should ask the farmers to build
| the agricultural building, and especially
from a tax collected on account of our
poverty. If our lands were rich enough
to grow the crops we want to grow we
would not need to use fertilizers, hence
it can very appropriately be called a
poverty tax.
If this tax is bringing in more money
| than the Department of Agriculture can
use advantageously, which I doubt, let
the tax be lessened, for it comes ont OF
the farmers pockets. The manufacturer
of fertilizers does not bear this tax. he
| collects it from the farmers and pays il
in to the Department Of Agriculture.
The farmers are asking the Legislature
| for this appropriation because they think
it reasonable and just and ere not eX-
pecting to be refused, and told if they
| want building they must build it them
| selves. T. 3. PARKER.
1.-THE only difficulty about Mr. Parker's
argument is that his facts are not cor
rect. The buildings at the University
were nearly all erected by donations by
| private parties Not as much money has
been appropriated for buildings out of the
common treasury for the A. and NJ. Col
| lege as for the State Normal College.
During the past two years a textile
l TIalI