Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-01-28
COLLEGE PRAISED
BY BAILEY

lis Mr.. Bailey states that the course
Is doing more this year for the farm
ers, dairy men and fruit men of the
state than any similar session ever
held at the college. He states that
It Is thorough and practical and
the interest being taken is remark
able. The course this year, he says,
through certain changes that have
been made in the same, has been
brought nearer the people and Is a
medium of great value to the agricul-
tural interest of the state.
This view of the matter is taken
by the correspondent of the Oregon
ian at Corvallis, who recently sent
the following letter to his paper:
The important changes of policy
inaugurated by the board Of regents
for the state agricultural college
were the result of recommendations
by President Kerr. The plain Is
modelled to more nearly At the needs
of Oregon along industrial lines.
The laws of congress Ak the scope
of the institution as including agri-
culture. mechanic arts, commerce
and domestic arts. The changed
plan completely removes the college
from conflict with the high schools.
The sub-freshman and freshman
year were mainly devoted TO what
was high school endeavor. For them
there Is substituted under the new
policy, industrial training of element
airy character. They will include,
besides necessary work in English
and kindred instruction, instruction
in agriculture. horticulture, dairying,
veterinary science, steam htting,
plumbing and other handlcrafts, ac-
counts and allied work I'm commerce,
and for the girls, elemental instruc-
ton I'm domestic arts. This course
will be complete In itself, and will
be admirably adapted TO students
who cannot spare but year or two
in college. and who will return 10
the farm or shops much strengthened
In the semi-technical phases OF their
various vocations.
"The freshman year In the new
course will plunge at once into the
scientific and technical phase OF In
dustry. along whatever line the stu
dent may be entered. At the end OF
two years he will be so advanced as
to begin specialization in such given
line of endeavOr as may attract him
for a life work. The output OF the
Institution will be much strengthened
In the way OF technical preparation.
Al the same time. the industrial ad-
vantages, instead OF being farther
removed than formely. will be
brought two years nearer the rural
schools and mural people. II gives
the farm boy or city lad, who from
poverty or otherwise has reached 2i
or upward, opportunity to enter the
institution and plunge at once into
those handiorafts or agricultural fea-
tures OF great value TO him In his
particular calling without attending
a high school he could not AFFORD,
and on account of his age, would not
attend.
Another change of policy inaugu-
rated was recommended by President
Kerr, acting under instruction from
the board at the Jnly meeting last
year. pertaining to the domestic arts
department. This branch OF instrue-
tlon Is to be much strengthened in
equipment and instruction. The
plan provides for a professor OF
household economies. a professor of
domestic arts. and four assistants.
with extension OF the course both
theoretically and in the laboratories.
II will be made a leading feature I'm
the institution.
twenty-five thousand dollars.
available from a state appropriation,
was ordered expended in the pur-
chase of new equipment for the var
ious departments. or this sum,
$1,000 goes for purchase of material
for the electrical department, in
which the students. under direction
of the head OF the department, will
manufacture equipment for use In
the laboratory which equipment
completed will be valued at S4500
In the wood working shop a similar
outlay OF material will be manufact-
ured into about s45OO worth of shop
by the students without
further cost 10 the college. The ap-
planes so made will include In the
electrical department, dynamos.
and motors. and In the