The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-03-18
HON. Geo. C. STURGISS WRITES
OF ROAD ENGINEERING AT UNIVERSITY

ss@ ~
rieuiture, the mechanical arts. the
English language and the various
branches of mathematical, physical
natural and economical science, with
special reference to their applications
In the industries OF life, and to the ia,
cilities for such Instruction.
| The whole Of this Morrell fund
would have remained at the disposal
;of the university bat for a provision
in that act "That no money shall be
paid out under this act to any state
or territory for the support and main,
tainance of college where a ristinc
tfon Of race or color is made In the
admission of students. but the es.
tabllshment and maintenance OF
such colleges separately for white
and colored students shall be held to
be a compliance with the provisions
of this act II the funds received in
such state or territory be equitably
divided as hereinafter set FORTH
Under this provlso the legislature an.
propriated $4,000 annually of the
Morrell fund to the college for the
education of colored youth, bat nc
such proviso or restriction Is con.
tanned in the act of 1907, and it may
reasonably be presumed that the
whole of said fund will be at the dis.
posal of the regents OF West Virginia
university.
I have gone somewhat into detail
in reference and quotations from
these several acts In order that you
might more readily and with the
least labor or delay understand the
uses to which these moneys may be
applied, and for the purpose OF urg.
Ing upon your most favorable consid.
Grafton the project of establishing a
school in the engineering department
of the university to be devoted as
suggested in the first paragraph of
this communication to the education
and training of students in locating,
constructing and maintaining public
highways and roads.
think that school might be
provided with sufficient number of
instructors by the election of prin.
cipal thoroughly well trained in civil
and mechanical engineering, and the
assignment of other instructors al.
ready in the employ of the university
to aid in the teaching of such related
branches as would well equip and
qualify the students for the practical
work that will in a very short time
be required in each OF the counties
of the state in road making. The
work of this school 1 thing shoald
consist In part at least In practical
road locating, construction and re.
pair Much valuable aid would be
given by the experts OF the bureau of
public roads in the department OF
agriculture in lectures, supervisors,
and demonstrations of practical road
making.
I need not impress upon You the
gross wastefulness and folly of a
large part of the enormous Sims that
our people are expanding in pre-.
tense at road making and repair, and
the very great and constantly grow.
ing importance Of good roads in view
OF the increase Of the railways, street
car lines and rural free mail deliver.
les. In no way can you more eff
fectually bring them into easy and
inexpensive reach OF the daily mails,
street car lines anr railways.
The paucity of results and the
small number OF farmers sons who
are educated in the schools OF agri.
culture and returned to the farms
when they have completed their
courses OF study, to permanently en-.
gage in agricultural pursuits, will
never be overcome until farm life is
relieved OF part Of its isolation and
easy access given to the ccnters OF
population.
beg your Indulgence :, for the
length of this communication. but
must be excused because of the deer
interest which have long felt in the
affairs of the university.
] commend these suggestions t.
your thoughtful and favorable con
sideration, and tr:lst that you ma,
see your way clear to establish the
school of road engineering and con
struction, to go into effect as soo1
as practicable.
have the honor to be,
GEORGE C. sTURGIss.