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CHAPTER XXXVII.

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGES.

[The institutions commonly known as "agricultural and mechanical colleges" are brought together in this chapter and made the subject of special treatment, but in addition to being considered here, they are included in the general tables of the different classes of schools in other parts of this Report, the dominating character of each institution determining whether it shall be classed among the universities and colleges or as a technological, normal, or secondary school; those for colored students appear still a third time, in the tables of colored schools.]

CONTENTS: Land grant of 1862-Income-Property-Professors and instructors-Students-Farmers' institutes-Student labor-Summary of legislation-Changes in admission requirements-Changes in courses of study-Graduate school of agriculture-New buildings-Statisties.

LAND-GRANT OF 1862.

The reports for the year ended June 30, 1902, of the institutions endowed by the acts of Congress approved July 2, 1862, and August 30, 1890, for the establishment and for the more complete endowment and support of colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, show that of the 10,320,843 acres of land granted under the first mentioned act, 934,980 acres remained unsold at the close of the year. There were sold during the year 95,592 acres. The funds derived from the sale of the 9,385,863 acres of land are reported by the several institutions to be $11,126,534, showing that the lands were sold at an average price of $1.19 per acre. The income derived from these funds amounted to $684,141, the rate of income having declined from 6.3 per cent in 1901 to 6.15 per cent in 1902. This relatively high rate of interest is due to the fact that in some of the States the funds derived from the sale of the lands were turned into the State treasury, the States issuing bonds or certificates of indebtedness therefor and obligating themselves to pay interest thereon, in some cases-as high as 8 per cent.

INCOME.

The income of these institutions for the year ended June 30, 1902, was derived from the following sources:

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These figures show that of the entire income of $9,167,059, the States and Territories provided 46.6 per cent, the Federal Government 21.8 per cent, while the remainder, 31.6 per cent, was derived from other endowment funds, tuition and incidental fees, and miscellaneous sources.

PROPERTY.

The total value of the property held by the agricultural and mechanical colleges is reported as $69,660,303, divided as follows:

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The value of all additions to equipment during the year amounts to $3,004,705.

PROFESSORS AND INSTRUCTOKS.

The total number of professors and instructors reported in all departments of these institutions is 3,692, or an average of 56.8 per institution. The average number per institution reported by the institutions for colored students is 18, while the number for the other institutions is 69. Taking only the agricultural and mechanical departments, the number for the institutions for colored students is 15 and for the other institutions, 43. All of the institutions for colored students and 31 of the others maintain preparatory departments or classes.

STUDENTS.

The total number of students enrolled in 1901-2 was 47,047, of which number 5,243 were enrolled in institutions for colored students. The classification of students in the agricultural and mechanical'departments was as follows:

Institutions for white students and for both races.

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It will be noticed that the number of students of college rank in the institutions for colored students is very small, only eight of them reporting such students. The instruction given by these institutions is very largely industrial in character.

The number of students in the several courses of study is given in detail in Table 3. The figures there given include the number of students in short courses as well as in the regular four-year courses. The average age of students graduating in 1902, so far as reported, was 22 years 3 months.

FARMERS' INSTITUTES.

In Table 7 are given some statistics concerning farmers' institutes. The figures do not show the entire work in this line done throughout the country, for the reason that in some of the States the institute work has been committed to boards or officials not connected with the agricultural and mechanical colleges. The figures included in Table 7 show only this work so far as it is participated in by these institutions. The attendance at the institutes during the year was about 585,000. The number attended by persons connected with the agricultural and mechanical colleges was 1,081, and the number of days given to the work by such persons was about 2,168.

STUDENT LABOR.

A considerable amount of paid labor, by means of which some students are enabled to pay part of their necessary expenses while attending college, is at the disposal of the institutions. During the year about 4,521 students earned an average sum of $40, the total amount expended for student labor being $180,624. Seven States make special appropriations aggregating $23,100 for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION.

The legislation enacted during the year in the several States and Territories affecting the colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts is as follows:

Iowa State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.-A special tax levy of onefifth of a mill for five years beginning with the year 1902 for the erection, repair, improvement, and equipment of buildings. (Act approved April 7, 1902.)

Appropriations: $35,000 annually for additional support fund of the college and $10,000 annually for the support of the experiment station; $5,000 for commencing a barn; $5,000 for live stock; $35,000 for commencing a central building. (Act approved April 12, 1902.)

State Normal School for Colored Persons (Kentucky).-Name changed to Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons and the president made an ex officio member of the board of trustees. (Act approved March 18, 1902.)

Appropriations: $15,000 for a dormitory for the use of female pupils and $5,000 annually for the support and conduct of the institution. (Act approved March 20, 1902.)

Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky.-Appropriation of $30,000 additional for the completion and equipment of a dormitory for young women, to accommodate 125 persons. (Act approved March 20, 1902.)

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.-The board of supervisors shall have power and authority to determine what fees and other charges shall be paid by students or cadets; provided, that no fee for tuition shall be charged to any student or cadet who is a bona fide resident of the State. (Act approved July 8, 1902.)

Appropriations for the years ending June 30, 1903, and June 30, 1904: For support, $15,000 annually; repairs, $3,500 annually; insurance for three years, $2,000; equipment of laboratories, $3,000 annually; furniture for library, $6,000; maintenance of library, $2,500 annually; electric-light plant, $6,000; buildings, $47,000. (Act approved July 5, 1902.)

Southern University (Louisiana).—Appropriations for the years ending June 30, 1903, and June 30, 1904: For support and insurance, $10,000 annually. (Act approved July 5, 1902.)

Maryland Agricultural College.--Appropriations: $9,000 for fiscal year 1903 and $9,000 for fiscal year 1904; also $5,772 arrears of interest due on land-grant fund of 1862. (Act approved April 11, 1902 )

Appropriations: $25,000 for a building for dormitory, dining hall, general assembly hall, chapel, etc.; $3,000 for heating, ventilation, and renovation of present dormitory

building; $5,000 for enlargement of mechanical building; $5,000 annually for experiment station. One-half of above amounts appropriated for buildings to be secured by mortgage on the property of the college, to run for ten years, with interest at 3 per cent, payable annually, if demanded. (Act approved April 11, 1902.)

Fertilizers to be analyzed by the Maryland Agricultural College. (Act approved April 10, 1902.)

Massachusetts Agricultural College.-Appropriates $35,000 for a central heating and lighting plant; $35,000 for erecting, equipping, and furnishing a dining hall; $1,000 for maintenance of dining hall upon completion of the building. () (Resolve approved April 17, 1902.)

Appropriates $200 for expenses of the band and purchase of a flag for the use of the cadets. (Resolve approved April 30, 1902.)

Appropriates $10,000 for 80 free scholarships; $5,000 for labor fund for needy students; $13,000 for current expenses; $500 for expenses of the trustees; $1,000 for maintenance fund of veterinary laboratory. (Act approved February 6, 1902.)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology.-Appropriates $29,000. (Act approved January 27, 1902.)

Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College.—Appropriates $48,272.41 as support fund for each of the years 1902 and 1903; deficit in college and student labor account of 1901, $2,000; equipment of textile school, $13,030; equipment of mechanical department, $8,300; infirmary, $10,000; addition to mechanical building, $5,000; farmers' institutes for 1902 and 1903, $3,000; scientific, library, museum, agriculture, and horticulture building, $40,000; house for director of textile school, $1,500; Y. M. C. A., $100; equipment for English, veterinary, and preparatory departments, $1,150; equipment for agricultural, horticultural, and biological departments, $750. Provides that the salary of no officer or professor shall be increased during the years 1902 and 1903. (Act approved February 27, 1902.)

Appropriates $26,320.14 to reimburse trustees for the excess of money spent in building and equipping the textile school. (Act approved February 25, 1902.)

Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College (Mississippi).—Appropriates $8,000 as support fund and $750 for repair of buildings for each of the years 1902 and 1903; for insurance, $2,250; purchase of stock, $500; completing and equipping dormitory, $13,000; shops, machinery, and tools, $10,000. (Act approved February 21, 1902.) Rutgers Scientific School (New Jersey).—Establishes a department of ceramics at the State Agricultural College and appropriates $12,000 for its organization, equipment, and maintenance for the current year; and $2,500 annually thereafter. (Act approved March 17, 1902.)

New Mexico College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.-Levies an annual tax of one-fifth of a mill on the dollar. (Act approved March 21, 1901.)

Authorizes an issue of bonds amounting to $25,000 secured by 75,000 of the 100,COO acres of land granted by Congress. Proceeds of bonds to be used for the erection of a dormitory for boys, of a gymnasium and library building, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment for said buildings; for the purchase or development of water supply for domestic and irrigation purposes; for repairs, fuel, insurance, water, and lights; for salaries of janitors and librarian, and for such necessary printing as can not be paid for out of United States appropriations. (Act approved March 21, 1901.)

Cornell University (New York).-Appropriations: $25,000 for State Veterinary College; $10,000 for State College of Forestry; $35,000 for the promotion of agricultural knowledge throughout the State, $3,000 of which is to be used for the promotion of knowledge relating to poultry and egg production. (Act approved April 15, 1902.) Ohio State University.-Provides for the printing of 5,000 copies of the annual report of the board of trustees. (Act of April 29, 1902.)

Provides for a tax levy, the rate to be designated by the legislature at least once in two years; and if the general assembly shall fail to designate the rate for any year the same shall be for the Ohio State University fund fifteen one-hundredths of one

mill upon each dollar of valuation of the taxable property of the State, each year for the years 1902 and 1903, and ten one-hundredths of one mill each year thereafter. (Act of May 8, 1902.)

Appropriates from the Ohio State University fund $300,000, or so much as may be to the credit of the fund, for the last three quarters of the fiscal year ending November 15, 1902, and the first quarter of the fiscal year ending November 15, 1903, and $300,000, or so much as may be to the credit of the fund, for the last three quarters of the fiscal year ending November 15, 1903, and the first quarter of the fiscal year ending November 15, 1904. (Act of May 10, 1902.)

Authorizes board of trustees to issue certificates of indebtedness bearing interest at 4 per cent per annum, for the purpose of providing needed buildings and improvements and the securing of needed equipment, and for the payment of the costs, expenses, and estimates thereof, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate $200,000 in anticipation of the annual tax levies authorized by an act of May 8, 1902. (Act of May 10, 1902.)

Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.-Appropriates $15,000 for support and maintenance for 1902. (Act of March 12, 1902.)

C'emson Agricultural College (South Carolina).-Provides for the detail of one of the scientific agriculturists to pay frequent visits to the coast section of the State, and to examine the soils, present methods of cultivation, fertilization, irrigation, etc., and to make practical tests, on some selected section, of sea-island cotton, rice, and truck farms, with various varieties of seeds, and to examine into the diseases of cotton, rice, truck, etc. (Act approved February 25, 1902.)

Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College (South Carolina).— Appropriates $8,500 for maintenance, new buildings, and equipment. (Act approved February 22, 1902.)

CHANGES IN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS.

Colorado Agricultural College.-Requirement of high school graduation for admission to the freshman year of all courses, thus adding at least a year to every course. University of Missouri.—The entrance requirements to the collegiate course in agriculture have been raised from six units of high school work to twelve.

Agricultural College of Utah.-The standard of the institution has been raised, two years' work beyond the eighth grade of the State public schools being now required for admission to the regular courses in agriculture, domestic science, commerce, engineering, and general science.

CHANGES IN COURSES OF STUDY.

1. AGRICULTURE.

Colorado Agricultural College.-The agricultural course has been strengthened considerably by the introduction of electives and several new required studies.

Connecticut Agricultural College.—Short winter courses have been provided, ranging in length from ten days to twelve weeks, which include the following subjects: Dairy and creamery practice, pomology, poultry production, landscape architecture, forestry, and business studies.

Massachusetts Agricultural College.-To satisfy the growing demand for instruction by women, a two years' course of study especially adapted to their wants has been prepared. It includes botany, chemistry, horticulture, zoology, entomology, dairying, care of bees and poultry, market gardening, landscape gardening, greenhouse management, floriculture, French, and German.

University of Minnesota.-A short course of lectures for farmers, begun two years ago as an experiment, has been made a permanent feature. The last legislature appropriated $2,000 per year to introduce elementary agriculture into the rural schools. One man is giving his entire time to this work, and during this summer (1902) teachers at institutes and summer schools in twenty-five counties have been

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