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

/ u the 6Ldl0 VI
with such land as may be necessary
to the conduct thereof, is in a sense
the most important proposal that
has been made to the state in de-
cade.
The work of this school has at
tracted attention all over the United
States and the efforts of Mr.. Vail to
encourage self-support have been of
the greatest value to Vermonters of
moderate means, who desire their
children to receive a practical edu-
cation without being subjected to the
heavy costs of college life.
Most important, also, have been
the efforts made toward simplicity
and good taste, the homemade grad
uation gowns of the girls, costing a
nominal sum, being a case in point.
The school is admirably equipped,
situated adjacent to Mr.. Wallis model
farm at Speedwell, which has been
notable for the introduction of
Brown Swiss cattle into Vermont as
dual purpose animals and for other
constructive agricultural expert
ments of the same Importance
Apparently there is no Stirring"
attached to this princely gift All
the state has to do is to take over
and run the school, thus saving the
heavy initial outlay that such an en-
terprise entails.
As it appears to The Herald, Mr..
Vail proposes to turn over to Yer
mont working plant worth $780,
600, the only proviso being that the
state will proceed to run the school.
These facts have been briefly and
!ucidly set before the members of the
Legislature in Mr. Wallis letter. It
would seem to The Herald as though
there would be little argument
against it, provided, always, Vermont
Is to modernize her educational sys-
tenn on the lines laid down by the
commission of which Mr.. Vail is a
member.
Not since the gift of the tubercu-
losfs sanatorium at Pittsford by the
late Senator Proctor has a more i'm
portant proposal been made to the
state.-Rutland Herald.
Generous and Important.
Theodore N. Vail has made the
state of Vermont an offer that is as
important as it is generous. He pro-
poses to present the commonwealth
the buildings and as much of his es-
tate at Lyndon as is desired, for an
agricultural school and farm. 1t is.
stated that the property offered the
people of Vermont, in the cause of
education, could not be duplicated
for considerably more than $780,
900. Thus again has this promin-
emit Vermonter shown his intense
and biding interest in his state. 1t
goes without saying that the tender
l. NV tho fort n POm1nQ
legislature, with due expression OF
thanks for the munifcent gift. AS
the donor points out, having the
property and all equipment intact,
whatever the state has to expend 1t
may devote to managerial and teach
ing purposes. "Speedwell Farms"
with all of it's splendid buildings
and magnificent stock, will form the
nucleus of an agricultural school
that may we'll be the envy of other
states.-Rutland News.
OF Course State Will Accept.
There are no reservations in Theo-
dore N. Wallis offer to give to the
state the agricultural school at Lyn-
don and the farm and farm buildings
at Speedwell with their equipment
and stock. He simply wishes the
state to make use of this fine plant,
valued at more than $15O,OO0, for
educational purposes. Mr.. Valis
generosity and his interest in the
state are again apparent in this pro-
posed magnificent gift. What the
country needs and what the state
needs is more well-trained farmers
young men who are willing to
make farming their life work, and
will give to it the same thought, at
tention and effort essential in win
ming success in other walks of life.
Mr.. Vail points out the necessity and
advantage of a school for girls,
where they may be thoroughly train
ed Gin all the home life industries
and economics, to make good homes
and housewives" This. kind of
training could be arranged at Speed
well in an institution separate from
the boys school. The state will &C
cept Mr.. Wallis offer-it cannot af-
ford to take any other course. With
the agricultural school at Lyndon
conducted on it's present plan, and
girls school of the scope indicated
by Mr.. Vail, the state would soon
be turning out trained workers for
fields of genuine usefulness. The
members of our next legislature will
have an important duty to perform
in accepting Mr.. Wallis gift and in
deciding upon the policy to be adopt
ed in utilizing the properties at Lyn-
Reformer.
The Vail Offer.
The offer of Theodore n. Vail of
Lyndon Center, the well-known head
of the American Telephone & Tele-
graph Co., to place his boys agri-
cultural school and his splendid
"Speedwell' farm at the disposal of
the state of Vermont for the purpose
of continuing the study of agricul-
ture and, perhaps, for the enlarge
ment of that study under state con-
troll, will without doubt appeal TO
Vermont people with varying feel
ings. In one and all there will arise
a feeling of gratitude for a fine offer
from a man who has closely interest
ed himself in the upbuilding of Yer
mont along many lines, chiefly in
agriculture; Vermont people will
unanimously convey to Mr. Vail their