The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-07-25


for operation only about $4,000
from the fertilizer tax, and $4,000
from other sources. The balance
Of the tag tax goes into public SER
vice, and completion Of the College
plant.
AS the fertilizer tax increases, if
it does, it is the purpose and policy
of the administration to put the in
crease, not into the College work,
but into the public work into the
work that teaches the farmer on the
farm-that carries the College to the
people. 1t is my hope to see not on
ly the present large sum now expend-
ed for public work maintained, but
to see it doubled or tripled-if the
increase in the tax but justifies ad-
ditional expenditure.
With the building of its plant COM
pleted, the College could without
injury to it's educational features,
put all but s150,O00 from the tag
tax into public agricultural service,
and intends to do it. 1t Is hard for
some good people to understand that
Clemson's service is not confined to
the College campus, but is State wide
in it's scope.
The following financial statement
shows clearly how the money received
by the College was expended during
the fiscal year which closed with
this last July 1st:-
Expended for public ..,
Work & Agr'l Expert
mentation. $l13,942.59
For additional shop
and laboratory equip
ment. 15,3S7,77
For building and per-
manent improvements. 42,7s1,as
For additional land
for Farm. 16,S25.5O
For operating expen:-
ses of College. 55,452.43
| -m--
Total 344,4O065
Clemson received from the fertili-
zer tax during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1911,s264,374.0S. The re-
mainder come from the Federal gov
ernment the Clemson Bequest, and
miscellaneous minor sources.
The ambition of the President and
the Board of Trustees is to make
Clemson College the greatest Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College in the
Southern States, and we have no
apology to make for this ambition.
Our Agricultural people represent the
largest element of our population
and the profession of Agriculture IS
paramount in South Carolina. I be-
lieve that our farmers will demand
a College second to none in the State
"a College which shall offer to those
of their sons who have capacity and
ambition, an education at reason
able cost-an education as good as
any that can be obtained elsewhere.
Attacks upon the College and
plans to divert its resorces come Of
tenest from persons who pay no part
of it's income, and who are not identi-
fed with the farming interest Of the
State. They often come from men or
parties seeking to ride into political
office. This is a significant fact
which our agricultural people should
bear in mind.
I have known from boyhood the
young Mr.. Marchant, who SO enthusi-
astically favors this plan for the i'm
provement of the schools of the State.
give him credit for the same SINGER
ity of motive that I claim for myself.
However, I am sure that upon a clo-
er examination and study, he will
find that his proposal is both imposs-
ible and unwise. Impossible, because
of the legal obstacles have outlined
and unwise, because if it could be con
consummated, it would give a mere
pittance to each township, would
GU off the public service for which
the people are coming to look to the
College, and would stop the growth
of Clemson into that great scient1-
fc institution Of which every citizen,
and especially everf farmer, could
we'll be proud.
1t is not my purpose TO enter into
any controversy on this subject
this is merely a frank statement
made for the benefit Of the people Of
my home county, and I trust also
that it may save Mr.. Marchant
from work, which however we'll in
tended, must Of very necessity end
in failure. His enthusiasm should
be directed into more fruitful and
constructive channels.
w. NJ. Riggs,
President, Clemson Agricultural Col
| lege,