Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-12-13
The Future OF The Agricultural
College.


leee in the following manner:
From the Aesis. Bel Air
To see aquareT Of million dollars worth
Of property consumed at the Maryland As-
ricultural College last week with the at
tendant inconvenience and loss 70 hun
dreds Of students was extremely sad, but
If the sequel to this fire is TO place this
institution firmly within the control Of the
State, which has dealt 50 generously with
it during recent years. the game will be
worth the candle
Born over half century ago, this private
corporation would have long since closed
its doors had it not raped early and often
at the door Of the State treasury where ii
has met with generous response
Today It's annual appropriations from
the State far exceed those Of any institu-
tion and the State almost bi-enniaIly en-
larges the plant by erecting expensive
buildings to meet moderate demands
Without passing upon the lack Of economy
frequently charged against the MANAGE
ment. it is contrary TO both the letter and
the spirit Of our constitution that public
monies should be thus expended on private
property.
The State Of Maryland needs nov. as
it never needed before. an up-to-dste az
ricultural college, and her facilities f1 /
having such are second 10 none in the Union 1
because Of its exceptional proximity to the 1
Department Of Agriculture, situated only /
few miles away; but this Is the golden /
opportunity for an equitable contract 10
be entered into with its stockholders in
virtue Of which substantial justice will be
done them and at the same time definite
title to the property viii pass to the State.
Unless this is done. many viii dsubt
the wisdom Of starting modern improve
nents on scale which viii contemplate
a liberal appropriation from the State
year hence for their completion.
From the Times. ElIicott City.
Of course every citizen in the State re-
erets the burning last Saturday Of the old
historic building at the Maryland Agricul-
tural College. the first building erected In
this country for teaching strictly asricul-
ture within its walls. Also the loss from
the same cause Of the new administration
building at the college. As unfortunate
as this may be, it creates an opportunity
for moving the college into a more thor
ouehly agricultural section. to land better
adapted to agricultural experiments. a
location more convenient 10 the farmers
Of the State. The present site is not a
desirable one; it is too near Washington, I
in the midst Of rapidly developing subur-
ban section, not at all in accord with real
farm life such as should surround the stu
dents Of such an institution. And more,
the three hundred and over acres now /
controlled by the college could be readily
sold for good price to continue the sub
urban development now under way. This
price, we feel sure. would be sufficient to
pay the present private stockholders for
their half Of the property handsomely and
furnish the State with enough money to
buy suitable land and build the buildings
for the strictly State institution which the
Agricultural College should be- When it
was first built certain liberal citizens paid
half the cost and these interests have still
continued, while the State has contributed
thousands of dollars to the erection Of the
buildings on its only partly owned land.
To the credit Of these private stockholders,
excepting their demand that they should
always be represented in the board OF d.
II. rpafariuIlxf infaF- !
fered with the workings Of the college.
Now the time has come when they can
get their money back with interest, just
such an opportunity as they have no doubt
been looking for. we hope they will de-
mand il and leave the State free to own
its agricultural college as an entirety as it
should. 1t is well known that the rich
and prosperous county Of Howard. always
a large taxpayer of the State productive,
healthy and picturesque, has no public
institution 1t has right to one and now
is its opportunity. Get the agricultural
college in Howard county.
From the Democrat. Laurel.
We deeply regret the destruction Of the
buildings Of the Maryland Agricultural
College by FIRE, but this may be only mixed
calamity, and may result in placing the
institution upon a better and, TO the gen
eral public, more satisfactory basis. II
we are to have State agricultural college,
one that will be credit to the State, let
us have a college true to its name, con-
trolled by the State and devoted entirely
TO the interests Of agriculture.
There should be no divided control nor
diversity Of teaching only the latter 50
ARRANGED that thorough education might
be given to pupils desiring an agricultural
training, leaving 10 other colleges all things
not directly appertaining to the interest Of
the tillers Of the soil. May the views Of
those desiring higher plane upon which
this school is to be conducted obtain, and
their hopes realize in the near future Is
our wish and the object in writing this
article
Uncle Sans latest agricultural expert
ment is an electric farm, which he has
established in the Potomac bottoms in
Maryland, just across from Arlington. The
purpose is to test the life-giving qualities
Of electricity on wheat and other cereals
The experiment is in charge Of DIR. Briggs
About two acres Of land have been plow'
ed and planted in wheat. Around this
field have been erected electric poles, which
are connected with wires. Over the GROUND
and supported by poles is a network o.
electric wires, something like the trellis o
grape arbor, The electric current viii
be turned on every morning and evening
officials in charge Of the experiment be-
Iieve that electric farming will open up I
6.ld NJ agricultural work never dreamed o