STATE COLLEGE. 



213 



The following table represents the number of students in each 

 year since the opening of the College : 



The appropriations made by the State have been expended for 

 the erection of buildings, the purchase of scientific apparatus, 

 implements and farm stock, and for supplementing the income 

 from the National grant in defraying the expenses of salaries. 

 While the income from the grant is but $8,400 per annum, the 

 salaries of professors and teachers amount to $12,500 per annum ; 

 the balance of which has to be made up from the sums appropri- 

 ated by the State from time to time. It has been found necessary, 

 in order to keep up the character of the Institution, to furnish the 

 instruction demanded by the increased number of pupils, and to 

 sustain teachers of positive ability — to pay as good salaries as are 

 paid by other institutions of a similar nature ; consequently the 

 annual expenses in this direction have exceeded the income for 

 the pui'pose provided by the endowment of the National Govern- 

 ment, and the assistance of the State has been necessary. The 

 College farm is worth $15,000; while the value of the scientific 

 apparatus is $9,000 ; of the library, $1,000 ; of the farm stock, 

 $3,800, and of farm implements, $1,500, 



Such, in brief, is the history of the Maine State College of Ag- 

 riculture and the Mechanic Aits. It has been in operation but a 

 very few years, has had to contend with much opposition, has 

 been operating upon new groumd, has been cramped for means — 

 and yet there are some persons in our State who seem by their 

 criticisms to be quite dissatisfied because it does not show greater 

 results, beause its graduates are not all becoming farmers, because 

 it does not begin to pay back to the State something in return for 

 what it has received. As if startling results could be obtained in 

 a dozen years ; as if a graduate, in half as many yeai's, could 



