The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-13
V. P. ]. Graduates Now Fillin g
Hundreds of Responsible
Positions.
BaTPAuL b. BARRINGER. NJ. D., Lr,' d.
President Va. Polytechnic Institute.

BaFPAuL Il. BARRINGER, NJ. D., LII, d.
President Va. Polytechnic Institute.
In each State and Territory of the
Union there is at least one collage
which Is maintained chiefly by Federal
funds. derived from the sale OF West
ern land. and which is therefore called
land grant college. An act OF Con-
gress-the Morrill, act of lss2-stves
the prime functions of these coll eyes
as the teaching of agriculture and
the mechanic arts" instruction in mill
tary tactics. and such other indus trial
and cultural training as the colleges
may prescribe. BY the Federal gov
eminent, as we'll as by the legislatures
OF the different States and Territories.
this act has been interpreted as call
ing for full schools of tenchnical enei-
neerins and scientific agriculture. In
this state. the Virginia POLYTECHNIC
institute, or Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College. at Blacksburg, Virginia re
ceives these Federal funds ancl pro.
vides technical instruction along the
following lines:
In the agricultural arts. IT. give;
four-year degree courses In scientific
agriculture and In scientific hOrticul-
ture. and In addition various courses in
applied biology. fitting for sub; sequent
life work in economic entomology
'''1'SE'
bacteriology. etc In the mechanic
arts. four-year degree courses are
given in civil. mechanical, electrical,
and mining engineering. meSallurgy
applied chemistry, applied geology efc
Ihe ii. S. degree is also given for ad
Vanced work in either the agricultural
or the chemical sciences.
The Experiment Station
In each State. and usually at the
land grant college. is also an agricul-
tural experiment station, maintained
by the Federal government. In Vir-
ginia. the central experiment is at
Blacksburg. with branch stations at APP
pomattoN. Chatham. Axton, Crozet, and
Bowling Green. and affiliated stations
at Norfolk. SAKE, and stanton
The ground plant al Blacksyburg con-
s!sts of four hundred acres OF land
partly campus and partly farm. owned
by the college. and n rented farm OF
seven hundred acres. On the college
grounds are located the FIVE dormt-
tories. tho lecture halls, the dining
hall. the shops and laboratorie'. the
agricultural building; the green
houses. barns. ETC.: tho profes.
important. the electric power house.
The whole plant, with It's. equipment,
has cost nearly three quarters of a
million dollars.
improvements that materially in
fuence tho bodily comfort fof the stu
dents have recently been made in the
general equipment. All lecture rooms
and laboratories are now steam heat
ed: concrete walks. wide, enough for
the corps of cadets in formation, now
enable the students to pass from point
to point regardless of weather; bath.
Ing facilities have been Increased and
improved: the beautiful grounds are
Well lighted by electric, lights. and all
college buildings and barracks by in
candescents.
The health OF the student body of
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute T.,
most carefully supervised The water
supply. belonging to ,thet college, IS de-
rived from n clear mountain spring.
flowing 400 gallons perj minute. This
supply. although pure and abundant.
Is kept under CAREFUL supervision and
checked by monthly bacterial count.
a new and perfect system of sewer
lines has recently been installed, and
the point of sewage treatment is far
removed from the college An excel
lent inirmary of twenty five or thirty
beds. with n regular surgeon and
trained nurses. is provided
The school is, OF course, organized