The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-04
WHAT AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE HAS COST
Who Derive the Benefit From the
State Institution at
Logan.
SOME STARTLING FIGURES
FROM OFFICIAL REPORT
More of a Cache VaIey-ldaho
Affair Than a Utah
Concern.

The commission appointed by Gov.
Cutler TO consider the advisability of
combining the University of Utah and
the Agricultural college did a number
of things while probing into this great
problem of which the public has not yet
been Informed. Nothing has been said
of the expressions of opinion on this
question received from siXty-cight OF
Americas most learned educators, OF
which number tifty-three are out and
out for consolidation. Nothing has
been said of the fact that of the 663
students attending the Agricultural col
lege los are from Idaho and As are from
other States. OF the startling cost OF
per capita education at both schools
there has been made only passing men
tlon, while not a word has been uttered
as TO what the increased cost will be I'm
case of continued separation. The
commission has gone into all these
facts thoroughly and II is only fair
that an inquiring public should be
given the benefit of their investigation.
Strong Advocates OF Consolidation
The letters received in response TO re-
quest are submitted In the majority re-
port. which frankly gives those against
as well as for consolidation. 1t is In
teresting TO note that President Eliot
OF Harvard, David Starr Jordan of Stan
ford. Benjamin J. Wheeler of Berke-
ley, Charles r. Van Hise of Wisconsin.
Cyrus Northrop of Minnesota, Jacob
Gould Schurman of Cornell, Edmund
j. James OF Illinois, James b. Angel OF
Michigan. Nicholas Murrey Butler of
Columbia university. E. Benjamin An
drews Of Nebraska, Stanley Hall OF
Clark university, Andrew d. White
formerly president of Cornell. and Har-
t-at T,,l.- 4
Chicago university, are all strong ex-
ponentS OF consolidation These men
are the recognized leaders OF education
In America, they stand at the head OF
the most houriShing and progressive
universities in the land and their opin-
Ions are not due to guess work, but to-
observation, study and experience.
ISlxty-EIght Letters Received.
OF the sixty-eIght letters received
twenty six are from agricultural COL
leges. OF these twenty-six, ten favor
separation, five would combine or sep
arate. according 10 local conditions,
while the other eleven are unQualifiedIy
in favor of consolidation. Further In
vestigation has developed the interest
Ing fact that in these ten States where
the heads of the agricultural colleges
advocate separation the presidents OF
the State universities heartily advocate
consolidation and depict a state of af-
fairs very similar TO that now existing
In Utah. Those who urge separation
argue on the premise that the State is
rich enough to support two institutions.
which is not the case In Utah. and con-
fine themselves to insisting that dupli-
cation can be prevented rather than TO
giving reasons for separation.
Evils of Separation Shown.
on the other hand. the letters urging
consolidation do not limit themselves to
giving reasons for union. but go on and
point out the evils OF separation. In
union. these authoritative educators see
increased efficiency, due both to better
instruction and better equipment; they
point out the advantage OF association,
that the literary man gains much and
loses nothing from the acquaintance OF
the engineer; they see cessation OF
legislative lights and picture one large
institution moving on slowly and un-
disturbed to the achievement OF It's
great end. In separation they see
waste; I'm consolidation, saving; or as
President Butler OF Columbia univer-
sity says: United. every dollar in ex-
penditure can be made TO count for
more" or as President Van Hse of
Wisconsin forcibly puts II; Tho great
principle OF consolidation and uniflca-
ton which has demonstrated beyond
question its economic soundness in In
dustrIal and transportation matters
applies also to educational matters
Subdivision in higher education means
weakness, inefflciency and great ex-
pense. concentration means strength,
efficiency and economy"
Great Question at Issue.
These facts have been so thoroughly
gone into by statistic gatherers and
prominent educators that most think
Ing people are coming to accept the
as expressed by President
Van Hlse. This leaves for consIdera-
tion the great question, and this VIII
be the question on which the tight In
Utah will be made ultimately will
consolidation destroy the usefulness
popularity and efficiency OF the agrIcul-
tural department? II has been argued
that IL the consolidation is effected the
agricultural work which is now on a
sick bed. VIII require some grave-dig-
gers, that the department Will be over
looked and ignored and that country
boys will be ashamed to register for
the work. but will choose from the
more popular courses offered All Of
this because Salt Lake is a commercial
rather than an agricultural center
such as Logan. and because the primo
interest here is alleged To be mining
rather than farming,
The fight is already narrowing itself
down to this Issue, and President Kerr
In his speeches to the farmers of the
State has made It plain that Logans
campaign cry will be- Consolidate "
YOU will. but know that when you do
YOU ruin an institution which has Just
reached a stage OF growth where II can
be OF vast benefit to the farming inter
ests OF the state.
on this point II is interesting to note
the testimony at hand. President De-