The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-17

ed and placed in your hands. This
work is done. as yon know. In CO.
operation with the United States sur
vey. the National Government meet
ing one-half of the expenditure. or. In
other words. putting up dollar for dol
lar with the State. This work has
progresses so far AMI Is Of such
great present and permanent value.
that 4 suppose there can be no ques.
ton that ii ought 10 pe continued I'M.
til II is completed The State is for.
tunate in this work In that it secures
the service Of Dr. i. G. White. the
State Geoiogist, who has not oalys q
national but an international reputa-
ton as a geoiogist. without any conn
pensation. This Is an added reason
why the work in his charge should
be literally supported. The report OF
the survey gives}a very plain and
easily comprehended description of
the progress Of the work and OF the
intentions and needs in connection
with the biennial period. A slight in.
crease in the amount heretofore ap.
propriated is asked FOR, and the rea-
sons for this increase are set forth.
A new feature Of the work, which I
consider Of great value, is the making
and publication of soil maps. These
will prove of great benefit to the ag.
ricaltaral interests OF the State, and
/ hope that this work will be encour.
aged. as 1t is one of great practical
benefit.
West Virginia University.
The States chief educational insti.
tuition reports growth and success for,
the past two years. The death OF
Col. Richard Ellsworth Fast, on octo-
Der 18th, 1904. is noted. Colonel Fast
had been member of the faculty for
several years until short time pre-
vious to his removal to California for
the benefit OF his health, where he
died. He was an influential member
Of the State Senate for four years, and
the joint author with Mr.. Hu Maxwell
of an excellent history and manual
of the State. Higher pay for the teach
ers in the University is urged. More
appropriation for the college of agri-
culture is wanted. and, indeed an in.
crease nearly all along the line Is
asked for. and the total appropriation
needed for each of the next two
years, according to the table on page
81 Of the report, Is $3.50, 800. or $40.
600 for the biennial period. Refer.
ence is made to the strengthening OF
the law school. by the appointment Of
Mr.. Charles E. Hogg. the well known
author and practical lawyer, to the
deanship Of that school. The univer.
sity is in receipt, of annual funds from
the United States government, and IL
would seem proper that the expendl:
ture OF these should be so kept that
the same might be checked up by the
auditor when he checks up the expen.
ditures from the State appropriations.
The federal and State appropriations
supplement each other. and 1t would
seem altogether proper that you should
know the expenditures for all pur.
poses out of all funds furnished. I
have been present at the two last
commencements OF the University,
and have been very greatly gratifiei
at the good work done by this institu-
ton. II gives In our State need
ed center of education, culture and re-
hnement, adm which should be SUP.
ported. as literally as the funds at
your disposal will allow. I am, how
ever, believer in thoroughness.
whether it is In farming OF in school
work. or what not. Many farmers cul-
tivate fndifferently two hundred acres
of land and get less results than they
would from a thorough cultivation Of
half the number. There is greater
need, l think, of thorough work in
schools like the University, than in al.
most any other department of work.
We should not try to DO more than we
can do well, although there is a strong
temptation to branch out and cover
more and more ground. think stu.
dents in the schools of law, medicine,
music and the like. should be re-
quired to pay substantial fees in or.
der that these departments may be
made more thorough. 1t is not right
to hold out an indictment to young
men that they can obtain good edu.
cation In law at the University unless
the course there is reasonably thor.
ough. 1t is great wrong to the stu
dent. who will not discover the def
cheney until too late for him to sun
ply It. The success of the University
is not to be measured by the number
of students, but by the thoroughnesa
of the work done. It is to be Judged