The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-14
Former State Superin-
tendent Elected by
Unanimous Vote.
BEGINS NEW WORK
MIDDLE OF YEAR
Committee Searched Nation
Without Success for More
Available Man-New Presi-
dent of Great School Has
Helped to Promote Ag-
riculture in Virginia.

Acting upon the unanimous report
OF Its committee appointed to recon-
mend n president for the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. as presented by
its chairman. II. NJ. Smith, Jr., the
board of visitors OF NirRinias great
agricultural and technical school. yes
tcrday elected Joseph Dupuy EgRle-
ston to succeed DR.. Paul y. Barringer.
who has resigned. Mr.. Eggleston, n
he accepts. will take charge of the
work July !.
Tile vote in the board was without
a dissenting voice. General approval
was given the findings of the commit
tee. which, after searching the country
oyer, declared IL had been unable to
find a more suitable or more available
man for the work than Mr.. Eggleston.
His record as Superintendent of Public
Instruction. and the Invaluable work
he has done for agriculture. were re-
Eardcd as guarantees Of success In the
field FOR which he has been chosen,
and which presents task no less diff
hcult than II is important.
Many Congratulate Him.
The president elect reached Rich
niund at about the time he chosen.
He WAS fresh from his farm in Prince
Edward County, and did not know that
the meeting OF the board was set for
Yesterday. The rest or the afternoon
was spent by him In receiving congrat-
ulations, which came to him personally
ut first. followed soon by telephone
calls and tclegraphic messages. In
reply To questions to his acceptaucc,
lic said he would prefer first to confer
with Or. ClaNton, his chief, In Wash
ngton.
Until time for him To take up his
work at BlackSbure. Mr. Eggleston
viii continue In charge Of the field
In, ti,t1 In rut Srit ,nnl
development, for the United States De-
partnent of Education.
When the board OF visitors of the
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College and Polytechnic Institute met
at noon In the courtroom OF tile state
Corporation Commission, at the Cap
tol. all members We're present save
Colonel 4. NJ. Bowman. OF Salem. The
following members answered TO their
names: i. Thompson Brown, Bedford.
rector; Pcyton F. st. Clair. Giles; Dr.
w. 4. Harris. Spotsylvania; Joseph A.
Turner, Hollins; Senator John Il. Wat
kins. Chesterfield; B. L. Kirkpatrick.
Lynchburg; II. NJ Smith. Jr.. Rich
mond; Berklcy y. Adams, Charlotte.
as president OF ,hc State Board Of
Agriculture. and r. G. stcarnes, as
Superintendent OF Public Instruction.
Report of Committee.
The board at once began consider
alton OF its principal business-rc
ception of the report OF the special
committed named months ago TO re-
commend suitable man for president
to succeed DR.. BarrinGer The com
mittee was composed OF Messrs Brown.
Smith, Kirkpatrick and Watkins.
Its report was presented by II. NJ
Smith, Jr. He told OF the efforts pua
forth by the committee; how 1t has
fully realized the Importance OF the
task before Ito secure a man who
would possess a myriad good quail
ties of executive ability and cnthusi-
asm and vision and general know
ledge. He told of the manner in
which the committee has done It's work
1t has written letters by the thou
sand reaching all over the United
sons have been suggested. and each
man has been fully investigated, as TO
his training and ability and chara cter
and availability and adaptability.
The committee went to Atlanta, to
attend meeting of the presidents OF
land grant colleges There much val
liable information about people was
CLEANED Members Of the committee
went elsewhere. looking into this or
that school. this or that man. BY this
means the field was winnowed until
but a handful Of possibilities remained
These were gone over carefully. the
peculiar nature OF the problem pre-
sentcd at the Virginia Polytechnic
institute being given especial atten-
ton.
Back to Isselcvton.
The result was that it was found
that Joseph y. Eggleston was the man
best fitted for the jG3. IL had been
a, first objected that he was not
technical expert, hut his wide know
ledge of practical things was taken
into consideration. FIs work in be-
half OF agriculture was also recalled.
for IL was he who "hoolxed up" the farm
demonstration work with the sch ools
of virginia, we'll nigh working a revo-
luton in the attitude OF the country
hoy to the farm. 1t was felt by the
committee that he would straghtcn
out the kinks In tho work of the
school and would fill the position with
entire satisfaction to the board ana
to the people OF the State Anyway,
the committee, according to Mr.. Smith,
was willing to stake its Judgment on
him.
1t took but short time to nomi-
nate Mr.. tEggleston for president and
Ia elect him, for nobody opposed him
The Investigating committee. which
has had months OF arduous labor. was
discharged with the thanks OF the
hoard
acted. President Barringer made a
+ report OF the work now going on at
the school,
sketch of New President.
Joseph Dupuy Eggleston, president
elect OF the Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical College Hand Polytechnic.
Institute, was born in Prince Edward
County. Va, November 49, 1887 He
worked on the farm from the time
whsp his memory runneth not to the
]. contrary, including every summer
(SontJnued' ,,I SeVenth PaCe --'