XX STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



need for more dormitories or for a street railroad. The year's experience 

 has demonstrated what I then said. Every room that can possibly hold a 

 student has been fitted up and filled, an.d the next spring accessions will 

 make it necessary to put three students in a room which is unhealthy, and 

 unwise in many respects. The pressure for rooms by the professors, assist- 

 ants and instructors increases with the increase of students. Several of 

 them are now obliged to live in the city, which largely impairs their useful- 

 ness and is a severe tax upon them, especially in inclement weather. Opin- 

 ion is divided between additional buildings and a street railroad. I incline 

 to the additional buildings till the increase of students and visitors shall of 

 itself bring the street railroad to us without any bonus. When that time 

 shall arrive there will be practically no limit to the number of students, and 

 the question of the attendance of ladies will then solve itself. A strong 

 pressure comes from many quarters for accommodations for ladies. Now, 

 while the College is open to them, there being no special building for 

 them, it amounts to a practical prohibition. We have twelve lady stu- 

 dents who find rooms with the professors, or come from their homes daily 

 from the surrounding country. I believe that it is desirable that the 

 number be increased. While the administration would be more severely 

 taxed in one way, there would be ameliorating influences as a compensa- 

 tion in another direction by a larger attendance of ladies ; and I have no hesi- 

 tation in recommending that measures be taken to secure that larger 

 attendance. But the College is now overflowing with young men and the 

 more serious need is felt to furnish accommodations for them. 



A CHAEACTERISTIC DONATION. 



A few years since a young man came to us from England and spent some two 

 years at our College, but did not graduate. It was a source of constant 

 amazement to him to find here such wonderful facilities for scientific 

 study free of charge, and he always expressed a desire to show his apprecia- 

 tion of the benefits conferred in some way. I am in the receipt from him 

 of a certificate of deposit, which with accumulated interest will amount to 

 about $150. It will be used, with his approval, in the erection of a one- 

 hutidred-foot flag-staff in front of the Armory. At his request his name is 

 withheld from the public. 



THE EXPERIMENT STATION BILL. 



At the request of the Board I spent six weeks in Washington last winter, 

 seeking to promote the passage by Congress of the above-named bill. While 

 there it was successfully passed through the Committee on Agriculture in 

 the Senate and House of Representatives, but the exigencies of legislation 

 allowed it to get no further than the Calendar. An effort will be made 

 next winter to press it to a passage. Whatever the success may be in this 

 Congress, the importance of the subject is growing in public esteem, and it 

 is only a question of time when aid in some form will be granted. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, I assure you that I am deeply grateful for your 

 hearty co-operation and confidence. In this to me untried field of labor I 

 have need of both. I appreciate the work ; the grand possibilities of this 



