Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-26
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@L-1= AND SUCCESSFUL FARMING
Educational Progregs in Agric ulture
AND SUCCESSFUL FARMING
d. AMDREWM eSO1NE

Educational Progress in Agriculture
In 1908 the State College of Ag
rlculture possessed a wOrn-out farm
and had neither campus. building!
Hor equipment, and relatively small
student body. In 1921 the institu
ton finds itself with the state FOL
campus, possessed of attractive
grounds, and an excellent farm. L
Is modern institution in the hes
1;165 students on its rolls and E
plant worth S1,137.12S.25. 1t begar
Its work with fouF teachers anC
now employs SO. The extension work
started in 1910 in cooperation with
the United States department OF
where 112 men and So women coun.
ty agents are employed.
During the period indicated the
institution has received but $110,-
10000 for buildings from the state
There has been appropriated for
maintenance. s765, 100000, which is
ried value of the property. While
the college has been in successful
operation for "A years anil has
grown up to be recognized and es-
sential factor in the economic well
fare and development of Georgia,
its plant and equipment could be
sold for more than the state has
invested in it up to the present
time.
The present facilities and equip
ment are totally inadequate to
meet the demands now being made
upon the institution. There is a
crying need for more teachers, more
class rooms, larger laboratories,
material increase in the scien-
tific equipment, and the enlarge
nf hands and f1nPES If
this is the condition at the pres
emit time what of the immediate flu
ture? In 191O-1911 Georgia grad
uated $50 boys and girls from her
secondary schools. In 1920 this NUM-
Der had increased to 4,o24. or by
s57 per cent. In 1922 the number
Will have reached approximately
5000. Where are these young peo-
pie to go to college? Even if high
er education wins no more friends
to its support and only the same
percentage of boys and girls that
past endeavor to find entrance to
our institutions of higher learning
they cannot be accommodated.
It seems clearly evident to all
thinking men that at least double
the percentage of young men and
women now desire to participate in
collegiate instruction in Georgia,
whereas the natural growth ind-
Gated in the last decade and a half
has already been demonstrated to
be far in excess of the capacity
OF our institutions to cope with sat
tsfactorily. The people of Georgia
are confronted by an issue of the
most fundamental character and Of
statewide interest and proportions.
Georgia must now either prepare
our colleges to take care of the
young men and women who desire
to enter them or become a high
school state. If this is not done
we must be prepared to relinquish
in large measure that very consid-
commonwealth now exercises in the
slsterhood of states, and to great
~ lessen the earning capacity Of
our people. We must expect to
draw such savants as we need to
supervise and direct our industrial
sections of the country, and to
minimize the growth and develop
ment Of our state along all lines.
These are not mere vaporings of
the imagination, but conclusions
based On unshaka BILE statistics gath
cred from far and wide. and which
show that education is a paying
investment for the state and in no
sense a charity, also that distinc-
ton is thing won primarily by
those who enjoy collegiate train
ing. Is it fair that your childs
chance Of success should be mill
tated against because his educa-
tional facilities have been restrict
ed?
attention to the fact that the Uni
versity of Florida has instituted a
program which calls for a biennial
expenditure of S1,295,15O.00. Of
this amount the college of agricul-
ture is to receive approximately
$5OO,0oO.OO exclusive of funds which
may be appropriated for buildings.
The Mississippi A & NJ. college
has been given biennial appropria-
ton of S1,573,064OO. Louisiana is
approx Rating S3,455, 100000 to her
university. A large proportion Of
agricultural education.
Arkansas is proposing to appro-
pirate a million dollars a year for
five years to start an agricultural
college. The University of Tennes-
see has an income Of more than
$500,000.00 anC was given an ap-
preparation Of a million dollars for
buildings, A very considerable part
Of both the maintenance and build
ing. fund is being used for the
college Of agriculture. North and
South Carolina are ahead of us in
the matter of what they have done
in a financial way for their agricul-
behind and getting out of step in
this respect. The needs of our in
situations are as urgent as any f
the others mentioned. They have
not done more effective work. They
do not have as large an enrolment
Of strictly agricultural students.
They are not more efficiently man
ned.
I have previously directed public
attention to the fact that the State
College Of Agriculture must get on
a miliion-dollar basis in SO far as
a building and equipment program
Is concerned. and that there must
also be a material increase in orr
maintenance fund. Agricultural e1u-
cation. as you doubtless know, mas
never been endowed. While it is
the Oldest of the arts it is still
the newest Of the sciences.
Presumably because there has
been as a rule enough food in the
world and a sufficient amount Of
raw materials to meet the require
rnents Of mankind it has not been
thought necessary to offer subven-
tons to this type of education.
While the public point Of view in
somewhat. owing to the extravagant
waste Of our natural resources
which has taken place, and the pos
sible curtailment of our supplies
of food, institutions of this char
acter must still look chiefly to the
state for any material increase in
their maintenance funds.
This IS wholly desirable provid-
ed the state recognizes it's duty
and responsibility to the Is per
cent Of the people who live in the
open country and make their liv-
ing from the soil. It is this Is
per cent of our people upon which
the prosperity of the state depends,
and it is evident that the type of