The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-12-31
GEN. LEE ON PRACTICAL EDU-
CATION.
He Believed in Agricultural and Com
mercial Colleges.

The first voice raised in the South
for practical education was by Gen.
Robert E. Lee in the following let
ter:
Washington College, Lexington. Va,
Jan. 8. 1869.-Gentlemen: / transmit
herewith the report of the extension
of the scientific and practical depart
ments of the college. prepared in ac-
cordance with the r~esolutions passed
at the last meeting of the board Of
trustee. The main points of the plan
proposed are as follows:
First. The establishments Of the
new departments of agriculture, of
commerce and of applied chemistry.
Second. A more complete develop
ment of the engineering schools now
in operation so that to the courses
in civil and mining engineering shall
ical engineering, to embrace besides
machinery the most important
branches of practical mechanics.
Third. The opening of a farm and
workshops In connection with the in
struction in agriculture, Industrial me
chanics and practical chemistry.
The new departments proposed-ag-
r~iculture, and applied
chemistry-are believed to be needed
inthe present condition of the cOun-
try. Agriculture is, at present, the
most important interest of the South
ern people n must continue SO far
years to come. No effort, therefore,
should be spared to advance it and
to extend to it all the advantages
which science bestows upon manu-
features.
An Agricultural school, wher
scientific principles and processes
may be applied and Illustrated. Will
be of efficient service. Similar schools
have been found elsewhere, and the
absence of any such in our state furn-
ishes an additional argument for its
organization. The establishment of a
school of applied chemistry is to carry
out the plan of the board of trustees,
adopted some time since. In recon-
mending a commercial school. it is
proposed not merely to give instruc-
ton in bookkeeping and the forms
and details of business. buL to teach
the principles of commercial economy,
trade and mercantile law. Such a
school, may, with great advantage. b.
added to the schools of the college,
as many students may by its means
prepare themselves for business pur-
suits While obtaining such scientific
and literary culture in other schools,
as time and opportunity may allow.
The additional course in engineering
is necessary, in order to relieve the
other courses, and to secure more
complete Instructions in machinery
and the other branches of practical
mechanics II Is proposed to eStab-
lish a workshop III his department
where students may become practical
~ acquainted With the use of tools
an dthe working machinery. and thus
q practical to theoretical knowl-
edge. The great object of the Who'll
plan is to provide the facilities re-
Quired by the large class of young
men. who looking to an early entrance
into the practical pursuits of life. need
a more direct training to this end
than the usual literary courses. The
proposed departments will also derive
great advantage from the literary
schools of the college. whose influ-
enee in the cultivation ana enlarge
ment of the mind is felt beyond their
immediate limits.
The establishment of such depart
ments would, [ believe. add greatly
to the Importance and usefulness OF
the college. Respectfully submitted,
r. z. LEE. President.
The American Wool and Cotton Re
porter says: The size of the crop is
ample for all needs and enough to
carry over the usual million or more
bales into the new season. The quail
ty is the best ever known, and the
staple will produce more and better
yarn than any crop in recent years"