CHAPTER XXIII.

[Containing Tables 74-82.]

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, or normal, or secondary school; those for colored students appear still a third time, in the tables of colored schools.]

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The year 1906-7 may be regarded as one of the bright years in the history of the colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts. These institutions, originally established under the land-grant act of July 2, 1862, have received from the General Government, under an act of Congress approved August 30, 1890, appropriations amounting since the year 1900 to $25,000 annually for each State and Territory. Under an act of Congress approved March 4, 1907, provision was made for an increase of the appropriation made by the act of August 30, 1890, by the sum of $5,000 for the year ending June 30, 1908, and an additional sum of $5,000 annually thereafter over the amount for the preceding year until the total sum reaches the amount of $50,000, which shall be the amount to be appropriated annually thereafter to each State and Territory. The following circular letter issued by the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, contains the decisions on certain questions which have been raised in connection with the expenditure of this additional appropriation:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BUREAU OF EDUCATION, Washington, D. C., April 17, 1907.

To Presidents, Treasurers, and Boards of Control of State Colleges of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and of Institutions of Like Character for the Education of Colored Students:

GENTLEMEN: Your attention is respectfully invited to the inclosed copy of a provision in an act of Congress approved March 4, 1907, entitled "An act making appro

priations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908," increasing the annual appropriation made by Congress under an act approved August 30, 1890, in aid of colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts.

In answer to several questions in connection with the administration of this new provision of law submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, it has been decided, under date of April 5, 1907:

1. That legislative assent by the several States and Territories to the purposes of the new appropriation is not necessary.

2. That in States and Territories where separate institutions are maintained for the education of colored students in agriculture and the mechanics arts, the funds must be divided between the institutions for white and colored students, respectively. The increase of the appropriation provided by the act of March 4, 1907, must be divided between the institutions for white and colored students on the same basis as are the funds received under the act of August 30, 1890.

3. The funds appropriated need not be expended for instruction in all of the branches of study mentioned in the act of August 30, 1890, but may be expended for instruction in any one or more of them, as, for example, in agriculture.

Special attention is invited to that part of the new law providing that a portion of the increase of the appropriation may be used by the institutions for providing courses for the special preparation of instructors for teaching the elements of agricul ture and the mechanic arts." With the increasing number of secondary schools of agriculture and of industrial and trade schools, and with the introduction of agriculture into the courses of study of elementary and high schools, there will arise a considerable demand for specially prepared teachers to give instruction in the special branches of study. To meet this demand, Congress has provided that a portion of the new appropriation may be expended for this special purpose.

Very respectfully, Approved.

ELMER ELLSWORTH BROWN, Commissioner.

JAMES RUDOLPH GARFIELD, Secretary.

The addition to the income provided by the act of March 4, 1907, will enable the several institutions to extend their instruction in agriculture, the mechanic arts, the English language, and the various branches of mathematical, physical, natural, and economic science, and will permit them to make provision for the training of teachers of elementary agriculture and mechanic arts. Departments of education or teachers' courses have indeed been in existence at some of the institutions for many years, and it will be an easy matter for such institutions to provide the special instruction required to prepare teachers of agriculture and the mechanic arts. Under an act of the legislature of Massachusetts approved June 21, 1906, the Massachusetts Agricultural College has established a normal department for the preparation of teachers of elementary agriculture. In Utah arrangements have been made whereby the graduates of the State normal school of the University of Utah may enter the degree courses of the Agricultural College of Utah, and there receive technical work in domestic science and arts, agriculture, and mechanic arts. Similarly, graduates from the degree courses in domestic science and arts,

given the regular normal certificate upon the completion of one year of professional work at the State Normal School. Instruction in elementary agriculture is given to students of the State Normal School every Monday by the extension department of the Agricultural College. The Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts has arranged a teachers' course in applied science, extending through four years and leading to the bachelor's degree, which is intended to prepare persons to teach in industrial schools those branches of applied science that pertain especially to agriculture and the mechanic arts. The North Dakota Agricultural College offers a three-year course for the training of teachers, fitting them to teach the elements of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University has a two-year normal course in nature study. The University of Maine late in 1907 organized a four-year college course of study for persons who intend to teach agriculture. The college of agriculture of the University of Illinois and teachers' college of the University of Missouri offer courses for persons who intend to teach agriculture in secondary schools.

STUDENTS.

The total number of students in all departments of the institutions during the year ending June 30, 1907, was 62,781-an increase of 3,688 over the number for the preceding year. Of the total number, 6,233 were in attendance at the separate institutions for colored students. Omitting the latter, there were in the college departments of agriculture and mechanic arts 24,263 students, and in short and special courses 6,500 students.

The students in the regular college classes were pursuing courses as follows: Agriculture, 3,450; horticulture, 172; forestry, 114; mechanical engineering, 4,861; civil engineering, 4,326; electrical engineering, 3,549; mining engineering, 1,230; chemical engineering, 278; sanitary engineering, 86; textile engineering, 99; general engineering, including unclassified engineering students, 1,069; architecture, 398; household economy, 1,030; chemistry, 517; general science, 1,463.

There were enrolled in short courses as follows: Agriculture, 4,288; horticulture, 156; dairying, 595; mechanic arts, 684; household economy, 576; mining, 35.

The statistics for the year show that the students in technical courses continue to increase at a fair rate. Those in regular courses in agriculture increased from 2,770 in 1906 to 3,450 in 1907-a gain of 25 per cent in one year-while those in engineering courses increased from 13,937 to 15,896-a gain of 14 per cent.

Of the students in separate institutions for colored people, only about 3 per cent were enrolled in college departments. The great

bulk of the work of these institutions is necessarily confined to elementary and secondary grades, with practical work in industries. The number of students in industrial courses was as follows: Agriculture, 1,659; carpentry, 616; machine-shop work, 190; blacksmithing, 338; shoemaking, 80; wheelwrighting, 79; bricklaying, 235; painting, 87; printing, 300; harness making, 49; tailoring, 105; plastering, 187; sewing, 2,215; cooking, 980; laundering, 362; nursing, 73; millinery,163.

PROPERTY.

The value of all property held for the benefit of the institutions amounts to $97,446,701, divided as follows:

Of the 10,320,843 acres of land received by the several States under the act of July 2, 1862, all has been sold with the exception of 779,393 acres. A short statement in regard to new buildings erected by the several institutions is given on pp. 888-890.

INCOME.

The total income from all sources, omitting the Federal appropriation for experiment stations, was $14,492,884-an increase of about $900,000 over the income for the preceding year. The reports show an increase in State aid for the past year of over $200,000. The sources of the income with the amount from each are as follows: State aid:

From additional endowment act of August 30, 1890.. ...

741, 819

164, 096

1,200,000