MINUTES OF TKE BOARD OF TRUSTEES       -       June 4, 1912



exhibits of live stock and other agricultural products and to hear the lectures on

various subjects best suited to the development of farming industry.   The State

Department of Agriculture had in its employ several distinguished lecturers from other

states and these were supplemented by various professors from the Agricultural College

of the University. The train created a great deal of enthusiasm and very large crowds

congregated for the lectures every time the train stopped, and I am sure that the bene-

fit accruing to the farming interests by what was done is very great and not the least

part of this benefit lay in the fact that there was presented to the minds of the

youth at least a glimpse of the great possibilities spread out before the farmer, if

he could secure a scientific education in agriculture.   I feel quite sure that no

department of the University will grow so rapidly for the next year or two as will the

Agricultural College.

     T'he General Assembly, as you know, appropriated to the Agricultural Department

an annual income of $50,000.00 for extension work throughout the State, and also for

the benefit of the whole University, including the Agricultural College, an additional

sum of $50,000.00 a year.  W'ith this money it is proposed to push the Agricultural

College as fast as it can grow.   This department, up to the last year, has been

almost wholly neglected, being practically a negligible quantity in the work of the

University, but I promised the Legislature last session that if these appropriations

were made, every effort should be put forth to forward the agricultural interests of

the Conmonwealth; and this promise should be redeemed, so that the farmer can feel

that the University has a substantial value for him, and when this is done, there will

be no trouble in securing all the money that is necessary for building up a great

State University.

     The financial affairs of the institution are not materially variant from the

conditions set forth in my report to the General Assembly at its last session. The

indebtedness is now, as then, $97,000.00, which we of course are unable to pay, but

it was understood that if the Legislature would make the appropriations mentioned,