St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-01-13

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of the state makes the prospect far
better, inasmuch as 'Speedwell' is
developed to a high state and is one
of the best equipped farms in the
state, if not the very best equipped.
As far as buildings, equipment and
stock, together with a favorable To-
lCation, are concerned, there could
be no more attractive opportunity
for instruction in farming. Indeed,
right at the outset the state would
have a much better plant than it al
ready possesses at Randolph Center,
the location of the only other agri-
cultural school under state control.
Yet the state has not been able to do
what it should do for this single
school at Randolph Center because
of the lack of financial resources, ap-
parently, and hence the query arises
whether the state would find itself
in the right position to assume the
maintenance of another school of
like nature only on a much larger
scale. Indeed, it is question
whether Vermont can maintain more
than one school at the present time
and do justice to it's obligation. If
it be determined that the resources
of the state will permit of assuming
the support of two schools, then, by
all means, the splendid offer of Mr..
Vail should be accepted; but the
state should not assume the double
obligation if it is not prepared to
deal freely and even literally with
both institutions. A half-developed
institution running on a niggardly
allowance and not capable of per-
forming it's true functions is worse
than no school at all. 1t may be
that the state can strain few
points and give the money needed
for the maintenance of the school
at LyndonVille and the school at
Randolph Center, or perhaps a union
of the two schools. That remains
to be seen; and to that end the leg
islators are asked to look into the
matter very closely when they come
together at Montpelier next month.
Let the matter be looked at from
business standpoint rather than
from mere sentiment. Meanwhile
the people of the state will convey
to Mr.. Vail their gratitude for his
good offices. 1t is a splendid act on
his part.-Barre Times.
Cannot Accept Too Soon.
The Hon. Theodore N. Wallis gift
to Vermont again proves this noted
mans interest in the Green Mount
ain State. Best of all he proposes to
give something that will live long,
and will be the means of making Yer
mont better State. He has expert
mented with the agricultural and in
dustrial school at Lyndon. In fact,
he has put time and money into the
enterprise. He has the school fully
established, land secured for carry
ing out practical demonstrations, and
buildings erected sufficient to house
the students. In fact everything is
in readiness to carry out the success
of the school. He proposes to make
the State of Vermont a gift of this
property, the value of which is esti-
mated around one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. The legislature
cannot assemble too soon to accept
this splendid gift.-Waterbury Rec
ord
Creates New Interest.
The proposition made to the state
of Vermont by Theodore N. Vail of
Lyndon, details of which are given
on our seventh page this week, will
inject new interest into the educa-
tional problems which the common
wealth is now facing, and may bring
about some change in plans already
outlined. The institution which Mr..
Vail proposes to turn over to the
state has certainly proved a crafty
ing success from the outset of it's
career, and it's achievements furnish
food for thought for those who are
endeavoring to increase the interest
on the part of young men in the
study of agriculture.-Ve Tri-
bune.
Magnificent Gift.
That is a magnificent gift rendered
by Hon. Theodore N. Vail to the
state of Vermont 1.-The agricultural
school established some years ago by
him at Lyndon and conducted here
tofore as a private enterprise of
philanthropic nature. The gift in
cludes the entire plant, real estate,
equipment and everything appurten-
ant, valued, Mr.. Vail says, at $780,
900. 1t ought not to take the in
coming legislature long to accept it
and put in due form some lasting
recognition of the tender. Vermont
can use this school and, in time,
others like it to great advantage.
Real trades schools like those at Ran
dolph and Lyndon are the need
rather than smattering attempts at
such education by short and frag-
mentary public school courses Her
aid and News.
Will Benefit All
Men of wealth, when so inclined,
can be of great benefit to their home
town and state. Indeed, it is such
men who can make or break their
own town, just as they choose. And
when their assistance is rendered in
such a way that there is no selfish |
motive behind it, the, assistance is all
the more worthy of commentator
and general praise. Such assistance
rendered to a worthy object for the
good it promotes, we admire. That
rendered to the uplifting of a town
for the purpose of making the in
habitants subservient to the donors
every little whim and will, we de-
spise. From what we can discover
there is no selfish motive back of the |