REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 415 



college buildings and farm-barn, and between the latter and 

 the pastures. The road does not come at grade with the 

 surface to any extent, but consists of cuts and fills, and will 

 be a serious disarrangement of our system of field-plotting, 

 will cause no little inconvenience in the management and 

 care of the farm-stock, and the general operations of carry- 

 ing on the west half of the farm. The land-damages have 

 not been adjusted, though propositions have been made by 

 both parties. It is believed that a settlement will soon be 

 made, and reasonable compensation given (direct and indi- 

 rect) in money and privileges ; but it must result in a lasting 

 injury to the estate. 



When the Commonwealth received the endowment fund 

 of the college from the United States, it was stipulated in 

 the comj^act that the State should provide all the buildings 

 needed by the institution, and keep them in repair, without 

 using any of the fund, or the income thereof, for that purpose. 

 In 1867 and 1868 funds were provided by the State and the 

 town of Amherst for the erection of such structures as were 

 deemed necessary. Some of them were built rapidly to meet 

 existing emergencies ; and thirteen years' use, and perhaps, 

 in some cases, the original employment of improper material 

 and poor workmanship, have caused much deterioration and 

 need of repair. The State having made no provision for 

 such necessities, the trustees, to prevent serious losses, have 

 deemed it their duty, during the last two years, to expend 

 sixteen hundred dollars for this purpose from their general 

 income. The money thus expended was greatly needed by 

 the different educational departments ; and nothing but the 

 imperative necessities of the case could justify its employ- 

 ment in this manner. Similar work is still needed ; and we 

 respectfully suggest to the consideration of the Legislature 

 whether the spirit or letter of the compact with the General 

 Government can be complied with, only by the State assum- 

 ing this obligation, and employing the income exclusively 

 for educational purposes. 



WANTS OF THE INSTITUTION. 



As the law required military tactics and drill to be taught 

 in the college, it was deemed best, that, so far as possible, 

 this instruction should be given in the winter months, when 



