OF THE TRUSTEES, PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE Agricultural and Mechanical College OF MISSISSIPPI, FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF COLLEGE TO DEC. 1ST, 1883. PUBLISHED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE LEGISLATURE JACKSON, MISS.: CLARION STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.- 1883. S531 M2A2 1850/83 AGRIC LIBRARY REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Hon. Robert Lowry, Governor and Ex-officio President Board of MY DEAR SIR: We here with transmit the reports of the President and Professors and that of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, showing the operations of the institution since its organization, and its condition December 1st, 1883. We are prepared to say, from personal examination, that these very satisfactory reports are justified by the actual condition of the institution. We also feel warranted in saying that the success of this College has never been equaled, considering the time it has been in operation, and that the wisdom of the Legislature in providing so liberally for its establishment has been fully demonstrated. There is property now in hand to show for a large part of the expenditure, the income from which in the near future will contribute largely to the support of the institution. Special attention is called to the excellent discipline of this institution. We think parents should realize the importance of cordially co-operating with the Faculty by discouraging the restless spirit so often displayed by our Southern boys. Now that they must be the architects of their own fortunes, they should be thoroughly impressed with the importance of persistent and systematic adherence to duty as an indispensible preparation for successfully meeting the difficulties and trials of after life. In our opinion nothing will contribute more to the future prosperity and greatness of our State than to have a large number of her young men given a practical education, with the principles of industry, economy, system and self-reliance engrafted in and forming part of it. Such men will succeed and make their impress anywhere, and such it is the aim of this institution to turn out. We further ask attention to the work being done by the different Professors in furnishing information of a reliable character to the farmers and other citizens of the State. For many purposes the College has really become a bureau of information, and this feature is constantly growing in importance. Yours respectfully, H. M. STREET, W. B. MONTGOMERY, Executive Committee. 922 Report of the President. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, MISSISSIPPI, Dec. 1, 1883. To the Honorable Board of Trustees Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi: GENTLEMEN: A clause in the law of Congress partially endowing this institution requires that an annual report be made of its condition and workings. This is the first report submitted to the public, and as the College is now in its fourth year it will be necessary to review its progress as well as give its present condition. Establishment and Aims of the College. The Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College was chartered February 28th, 1878. It was opened to students October 6th, 1880. It owes its existence to the Act of Congress, approved July 2d, 1862, "donating public lands to the several States and Territories, which may provide Colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts." Section 4 of this Act reads: “And be it further enacted, That all moneys derived from the sales of land aforesaid by the States to which the lands are apportioned, and from the sale of land scrip, hereinbefore provided for, shall be invested in stocks of the United States or of the States, or of some other safe stocks, yielding not less than five per centum upon the par value of said stocks; and that the moneys so invested shall constitute a perpetual fund, the capital of which shall remain forever undiminished (except so far as may be provided in 5th section of this Act), and the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated by each State which may take and claim the benefit of this Act to the endowment, support and maintenance of 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, and in such a manner as the Legislatures of the States may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life." The State of Mississippi, in accepting the conditions of this Act of Congress, and by her Act approved February 28th, 1878, prescribed in the powers given to the Board of Trustees: "The establishment and maintenance of a first-class institution, at which the youth of the State may acquire a common sdhool education and a scientific and practical knowledge of agriculture, horticulture and the mechanic arts, also the proper growth and care of stock; without, however, excluding other scientific and classical studies, including military tactics. They shall regulate the course of study, rates of tuition, management of experimental farm, manner of performing labor and the kind of labor to be performed by students." These two acts of the General and State Governments, plainly define the objects of the College. The leading object must be: "to benefit agriculture and the mechanic arts." Should other studies be taught than those relating to these interests, they should be considered secondary, and rather as instruments to more readily comprehend the sciences which underlie agriculture and the mechanic arts. The complexion of the College must be such as to familiarize students with the leading objects as set forth in the Acts, viz: To educate and direct their minds and tastes to agriculture, horticulture, care and growth of stock, management of farms, manner of performing labor and the mechanic arts. This necessitates that special stress should be laid on the sciences, such as chemistry, botany, geology, zoology, entomology, physiology, physics, mechanics, mathematics, etc., which underlie agriculture and the mechanic arts. To understand properly these sciences, a liberal education, especially in English, is requisite. The varied conditions contributing to an intelligent understanding of agriculture as a science and an art, includes an education as broad and liberal as that needed in mastering any profession; it differs, however in kind: it is to be industrial and practical. Students must be familiar, not only with farms and labor, but must also labor themselves, and this labor is a part of their education. It is educational in so far as it is in illustration of studies taught in the recitation room. Endowment Fund. The condition of the land scrip fund donated by the U. S. Government, and which is the endowment fund, is as follows: The script represented 207,920 acres of public land, which was sold for about ninety cents an acre, realizing in currency $188,928. This amount, by judicious management, has been increased to $227,500, which was in the State treasury, represented by twenty-year bonds, running from 1876 to 1896, bearing five per eent. interest per annum. The last Legislature (under the provisions of the Congressional Act), sold $15,000 of these bonds to invest in lands for this College, so that the amount now covered by bonds in the treasury is $212,150. This fund, by the terms of the State Act of February 28, 1878, is equally divided between Alcorn University and this College, giving to the former $113,575 and to this College $98,575, yielding an income annually to the College of $4,928 75, which is all that is derived from this source. |