New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-29

bill is pending in the Legislature for the
establishment Of another state agricultural col
lege-an attachment of st. Lawrence University
at Canton. The measure calls for an appropri-
alton of $4,000 for the erection of a building
and a grant of $4,000, which, it is evidently
expected, will be yearly renewed for the main
tenance Of the school According to the plan
as formulated in the bill, the school is to give
instruction in agriculture TO pupils in attend
ance, TO carry on extension work throughout the
state for the promotion Of agricultural knowl-
edge, to conduct scientific research and to print
and distribute leaflets and bulletins, which pub
LEGATIONS shall be made so far as practicable
lin harmony with the College of Agriculture at
Cornell University"
1t is not a grateful task TO throw cold water
on any educators benevolent design to adorn
his campus, swell the number of his students
and generally increase the Importance of his
institution through appropriation by the
complaisant legislature of q rich state Other
colleges enjoy subsidies under pretence of lend
Ing their unrivalled facilities 70? something
from pottery to veterinary science which the
state just has to have taught. 50 it is not
strange that St Lawrence should ask for its
slice. With the best of good will toward its
ambitions, we do not think such an appropria-
ton in line with sound public policy Agri-
cultural science should, indeed be greatly deveI-
! opeu ana spread IN ms state, but we do not
believe that an $4,000 building on the Canton
college campus is the most efficient instrument
| for spreading it.
OF the four objects proposed in the bin at
least three can be better promoted in other ways,
/ and among them the one which is by far the
| most important for agricultural advancement
| namely, extension work with present farmers.
/ The state already issues leaflets through the
| school at Cornell and the Geneva Experiment
| Station. Nothing could be gained by the setting
upon Of a third publishing house. The scientific
| Investigations and experiments can be carried
/ on better at ithaca and Geneva by further de-
| velopment of these plants than by spending
money on a new one. The convenience of a GER
tain number Of pupils would be served by a
/ school IN Northern New York, but travel is
available for students in every Assembly dis
| trict. We greatly doubt the existence of anv
pressing popular demand for agricultural train
ing IN st. Lawrence County which cannot now
be supplied If there is any such demand the
proposed school could hardly supply it, II
would be a small affair unable to compete with
other institutions. Across the line, at St Anne
de Bellevue near Montreal, the William c.
Mcdonald Teachers College and College of
Agriculture is 10 be opened next year with
six hundred acres Of land, buildings costing
Sl,JOO,OOO and 81 10000 endowment An $4,000
building on a college campus is merely a drop
fl the bucket toward the establishment OF an
efficient institution worthy of the state.
But as we say the most important work in
agricultural education is that of extension. New
York is behind in this matter, and the proposed
school at Canton could do nothing to bring It up
10 date On the contrary, the money spent there
would tend 10 Tetard progress It should be
rather spent in making our existing agencies