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be successful in carrying out fully the intention of the Legislature must be located in the country, away from the attractions, vices and contaminations of a city, purchased what is known as the "College Farm," in Story county, a central position, which will soon be accessable from all parts of the State. The farm, which we have fully described in another part of this report, was purchased at a cost of $5,379 12. In consideration of having the college located at that place, the citizens of Story and Boone counties made liberal donations of lands and money, labor and material, to the amount of about $7,000, to assist in improving the farm and erecting the necessary farm buildings.

The county of Story issued bonds to the amount of $10,000, for the benefit of the college, bearing interest at 7 per cent. There is also appropriated the proceeds of the sales of five sections of land (heretofore granted to the State for the erection of capital buildings in Jasper county, for the use and benefit of the college. Congress has, by an act since passed, diverted this grant of lands to the college, and a portion of them have been sold by the trustees. The estimated value of these lands is about $14,000.

Soon after the passage of the organic law providing for an Agricultural College the great financial crash came, suspending almost all improvements, ruining thousands of the business men in the country, and reducing the State revenue so much as to render it necessary to make a large loan for the purpose of meeting the ordinary expenses of the State government. In view of this state of affairs, while other public institutions of the State were demanding and receiving large appropriations, the friends of the college waited patiently for better times, before calling upon the State for the necessary means for the erection of a college building. Before the country had fully recovered from the effects of the financial difficulties the great rebellion broke out, engrossing the entire attention of the loyal States, and requiring heavy and extraordinary appropriations from our State to place our quota of volunteers in the field.

During all this time the friends of the Agricultural College had not been idle. Knowing that in order to carry out faithfully the purpose in view, of providing an institution in which the sons of the working men could acquire a thorongh practical education suited to the profession they were to follow through life, at so small

an expense that the poorest would not be excluded for want of means, the friends of the college acting with others in different States, made earnest, and finally successful efforts, to influence Congress to make a grant of lands for the future endowment of these' institutions. The lands thus granted to our State amounted to 240,000 acres; nearly all of which have been selected in the northwestern part of the State. This grant was made upon the express condition that the States accepting it should within five years from the approval of the act, "provide at least one college, where the leading object shall be, (without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics,) to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts."

Section second of the act of Congress expressly provides that no portion of the fund arising from the sale of these lands, or the interest thereon, shall be applied directly or indirectly to the purchase, erection or repair of any building or buildings. Thus it will bě observed that the entire fund shall be invested and used for no other purpose than for the future endowment of the college, excepting that ten per cent. of the proceeds may be expended in procuring a suitable farm to carry on the manual labor department.

This land is mostly prairie, destitute of timber, far from market, and could only be sold at the present time at a very low price and at a great sacrifice. Good policy and the future interests of the college require that no more of the land should be now offered for sale, than is absolutely required to meet the necessary expenses of the institution, which can not be otherwise provided for.

It now remains for the State to decide by the action of the present Legislature whether we shall carry out, in good faith to the citizens of our own State, and the general government that made this most munificent grant, the noble and worthy purpose contemplated by the law.

If with a full sense of the great obligation resting upon them, and a realization of the important trust committed to their care, this Legislature shall, honestly and faithfully perform their duty, they will be entitled to the lasting gratitude of the sons of the workingmen of the State for all time to come.

Your Committee have found it very difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion in regard to the cost of a suitable building for a college. We find that an estimate has been made by an experi

enced Architect employed by the Trustees. The plan proposed is to erect a building that will accommodate one hundred students, the President and professors, with lecture and recitation rooms, laboratory, kitchen, dining and all other rooms necessary for a college and house for all connected with the institution. The building to be three stories high, and 42 feet by 150 feet; the basement to be built of stone, and the superstructure of brick. The estimated cost of such a building, fully completed ready for occupation, is $50,

000.

The Trustees estimate that they have in money, lands donated, and bonds, an amount sufficient to furnish the college, provide the necessary apparatus, stock the farm with improved breeds of animals, the out-buildings, farming utensils, machinery, &c., suitable to make a satisfactory commencement.

It is thought that $30,000 would erect the out walls of the building and inclose it, and if the Legislature should not think best to provide a sufficient appropriation, at this session for its completion, the above mentioned amount could be used to advantage, in carrying on the work; and the friends of the institution believe the next Legislature would furnish the sum necessary to complete and put the college in operation within the time required by the Act of Congress making the grant.

The proposition has been made by the friends of the State University, to take charge of the Agricultural College, and attach a department to the University, in which shall be taught such branches as relate to agriculture and the mechanic arts, provided a large portion of the land grant be diverted to the use and benefit of the University. We regard this proposition as so manifestly unjust and dangerous, that we feel it our duty to refer to some of the difficulties in the way of such an attempted union of the two institutions. The University is intended to be a higher grade school than any other in the State, in which students from the various seminaries, academies, and colleges may enter, and complete an education in the highest branches taught, affording facilities and advantages that no other educational institution in the State possesses. The object is a noble one, worthy of our great State, and we trust that the purpose will be fully carried out, without endangering its success by "any entangling alliances." The State and General Government have dealt most liberally with it,

affording it support and aid, in lands, buildings and money, to the amount of more than $330,000.

The Agricultural College was projected for a very different purpose, and is intended to be conducted on an entirely different plan. The want of a high school or college for the sons of working men, where they could, at a trifling expense, acquire a thorough practical education, adapted to the industrial pursuits they desire to follow through life, has been long felt and earnestly desired. It is evident to every one who has examined the subject that this institution, to be successful, must be entirely independent of ordinary colleges and universities where theories are taught, without practical illustrations. The organic act provides that all students admitted into the college "shall labor not less than two hours per day in winter and three hours in the summer season." The object of this provision is, no doubt, to place all students on a perfect equality as far as manual labor is concerned, that there may be no distinction between the sons of rich or poor--that the student who may be compelled to labor to pay his way may not feel that he is submitting to a work of drudgery, but is only complying with the rules of the college, wisely provided for the benefit of all, in giving them the advantage of every day practice to test the truth or error of the new theories they are learning. Does any reflecting person believe that these most important provisions of the system of agricultural education can be connected with the State University, located in the heart of a populous city, where no experimental farm can be connected with it, with no suitable boarding house where young boys can be under the care and control of a suitable person who would look to their welfare? They would be turned loose after school hours, to all of the enticements, vices and corrupting influences of a city. They must find boarding places among the inhabitants of the town, where their labor cannot be employed to defray expenses; a department thus conducted can derive none of the benefits contemplated by the friends of the Agricultural College, in providing an industrial school in accordance with the act of our own Legislature, and the law of Congress making the munificent land grant, to enable the plans of the college to be faithfully and honestly carried out.

We are satisfied that any such attempt at consolidation would result in endless strife, quarrels, jealousy and confusion, and would

go far towards destroying the usefulness of both. We believe it to be the duty of the Legislature to encourage and sustain both of these valuable institutions by judicious and liberal assistance, while both are left free to stand or fall on their own merits.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

[Signed]

B. F. GUE,

JOHN RUSSELL,
CHARLES PAULK.

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