The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-04
The Vail School Offer.
Barre Times.

The offer of Theodore \. Vail of Lyn-
don Center the well-known head Of the
American Telephone & Telegraph CO., to
place his boys agricultural school and his
splendid Speedwell Farm at the disposal
of the state of Vermont for the purpose
Of continuing the study of agriculture and
perhaps, for the enlargement of that study
under state control viii without doubt APP
peal to Vermont people with varying feel
ings
In one and all there will arise feeling
of gratitude for a fine offer from a man
who has closely interested himself in the
upbuilding of Vermont along many lines,
chiefly in agriculture; Vermont people will
unanimously convey to Mr.. Vail their APP
probation of the excellent opportunities
placed at their disposal.
| And now arises the question whether
they can see their way clear to take upon
themselves the obligation which Mr.. Vail
SO public spiritedly assumed when he
started the school for instruction in practi-
cal farming Therein viii come the only
hitch in action which might be taken.
/ 1t is whether Vermont is in financial
position to carry on and enlarge the work
which has been SO well started by Mr.,
Vail
There is no doubt whatever that the
equipment and advantages of the agricul-
tural school at Lyndonville are such as to
| give the youth of the state very fine in
struction in the real practice of farming
and the further offer to place the great
Vail farm at the disposal of the state
makes the prospect far better. inasmuch
rs "Speedwell' is developed to a high
state and is one of the best equipped farm,
in the state, if not the very best equipped
A. IL
stock, together with a favorable location
are concerned, there could be no more at
traetive opportunity for instruction il
farming.
Indeed, right at the outset the state
would have a much better plant than i
already possesses at Randolph Center, tn,
location of the only other agriculture
school under state control Yet the stat
has not been able to do what it should d,
for this single school at Randolph Cente
because OF the lack of financial resources
i apparently, and hence the query arise
, whether the state would find itself in tn
right position to assume the maintenance
of another school of like nature only on
much larger scale.
Indeed, II Is a question whether NeT
mont can maintain more than one schoC
at the present time and do justice to il
ODllgdtlOn. II II De determined UHaC tn
e resources of the state viii permit of as
5 Stunning the support of two schools, then
by all means, the splendid offer of Nj
Vail should be accepted: but the stat
should not assume the double obligation
: if it is not prepared to deal freely an
+ even literally with both institutions
Z A half-developed institution running o
! niggardly allowance and not capable {
performing its true functions is worse tina
no school at all. 1t may be that the stat
/ can strain a few points and give the MOI
y ey needed for the maintenance of til
. school at Lyndonville and the school a
I Randolph Center, or perhaps union c
the two schools.
That remains to be seen; and to tina
+ end the legislators are asked to look int
Z the matter very closely when they com
e together at Montpelier next month
Let the matter be looked at from a bus
ness standpoint rather than from mel
sentiment.
! Meanwhile the people of the state wi
y convey to Mr.. Vail their gratitude for h
3 good offices. 1t is a splendid act ON h
,. part.