185*7.] Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan, 367 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AT LANSING, MICHIGAN. 



Through the politeness of tlie President of Mieliigan Agricultural 

 College, Mr. Joseph R. "Williams, we have been favored with a 

 pamphlet containing the names of faculty, students, act of organi- 

 zation, dedicatory address, etc., of this new institution, located in 

 the vicinity of Lansing. 



As the establishment of such an Institution under the auspices 

 of State patronage and by direct Constitutional provision is a new 

 step in the march of progress it becomes us to give it prominence. 

 And the question may well be asked, why a measure that must com- 

 mend itself to every thinking man as one so consonant with the 

 soundest State policy, has so long been without precedent? Not 

 certainly because there was no demand for it, nor yet because it has 

 not been urged before our State Legislatures and before Congress, 

 but simply because our Farmers as a class have been too modest to 

 make the requisition. The State of Michigan has set the older 

 States a noble example. 



HER CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION. 



Sec. 11. — "The Legislature shall encourage the promotion of 

 intellectual, scientific and agricultural improvement; and shall as 

 soon as practicable provide for the establishment of an Agricultural 

 College. The Legislature may appropriate the twenty-tw o sections 

 of Salt Spring lands, now unappropriated, or the money arising from 

 the sale of the same where such lands have been already sold, and 

 any land which may hereafter be granted or appropriated for such 

 purpose, for the support and maintenance of such schools, and make 

 the same a branch of the University for instruction in Agriculture 

 and the Natural Sciences connected therewith, and place the same 

 under the supervision of the regents of the University." 



To carry out the foregoing provision of the Constitution at the 

 session of 1855 the Legislature passed an act for the establishment 

 of a State Agricultural College, making appropriation of the before 

 named mineral lands, or the money arising from thdr sale, for the 

 purpose of securing a site and lands suitable for such Institution, 

 the erection of buildings, purchase of furniture, apparatus, library 

 and implements, payment of professors and teachers, and other 



