SECRETARY'S REPORT. 269 



the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes, in the 

 several pursuits and professions of life." The proposal made by 

 Waterville College, being simply to embrace in its course of study 

 the branches of learning related to agriculture and the mechanic 

 arts, and not to make these the "leading aim" of the institution, 

 it seemed to fall short of the evident design of Congress in bestow- 

 ing the grant. The second reason was, an apprehension that the 

 agricultural features thus blended with or engrafted upon a literary 

 and classical institution might, in time, lose their distinctness and 

 prominence : and thus the intention of the grant be defeated 

 through absorption into the former and prevaling aims of the col- 

 lege. 



It is not proposed here to enter at length upon the arguments, 

 pro or (?on, regarding the advantages attending- an independent 

 and wholly separate existence, or of connection with some exist- 

 ing institution ; but only, and very briefly to offer a few sugges- 

 tions. 



A cursory glance at, and a thorough examination of the act of 

 Congress, alike show, that a separate existence feest corresponds 

 to the intentions of the grant : nor can any doubt exist that the 

 Agricultural College might be best conducted in this manner. 

 Standing by itself, it will excite greater interest in the classes for 

 which it is intended ; will draw pupils more numerously from them, 

 and will more readily and to greater extent raise up for itself 

 friends and benefactors. As a separate institution it will appear 

 more conspicuously both as the educator and the organ and repre- 

 sentative of the industrial classes; nor will there be any peril of its 

 being overshadowed or absorbed by any other. 



The interests of such an institution would in no wise clash with 

 those of the existing literary colleges ; there would be no compe- 

 tition between them, save a generous rivalry to accomplish the 

 greatest possible good ; and that such a separate and independent 

 existence would be the unanimous preference of the agriculturists 

 of Maine there can be no doubt. But doubts do exist in the minds 

 of some, whether it is practicable for an independent Agricultural 

 College to be suitably'' maintained upon the income of the fund to 

 bo derived from the sale of the land scrip which falls to our share 

 as a State ; — and an unwillingness also exists wnth some, either to 

 rely upon the voluntary benefactions of the friends of agricultural 

 education, or to ask aid from the State. The amount which mav 



