CONVENTION OF COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 407 



cated. It is not only incumbent upon the agricultural college to 

 enlarge its own courses in various ways, but to take the leadership 

 in securing improved rural education and better economic conditions 

 in general. For example, production is increasing faster than trans- 

 portation, therefore the improvement of the navigable waterways 

 is of vital importance, and in this as in the conservation of the 

 natural resources of the nation the agricultural colleges may profita- 

 bly take an active part and must train more men for the greater de- 

 mands of the future. 



In accordance with suggestions contained in this address a com- 

 mittee consisting of J. L. Snyder, chairman, C. R. Van Hise, and R. 

 ^y. Silvester w^as appointed to represent the association in its coopera- 

 tive relations with the National Conservation Commission. 



The report of the executive committee, presented by its chairman, 

 II. C. White, briefly reviewed the w^ork of the committee during the 

 year, calling attention particularly to the appearance of the com- 

 mittee before committees of Congress in regard .to matters affecting 

 the association and this Office, and to conferences with the President of 

 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, with a 

 view to the admission of the land-grant colleges to the benefits of the 

 foundation. Progress in bringing about a better understanding on 

 this point was reported. At the invitation of the committee Dr. 

 Henry S. Pritchett, president of the foundation, addressed the asso- 

 ciation, explaining frankly and fulW the conditions under which the 

 benefits of the foundation may be secured. By formal resolution the 

 association expressed its profound appreciation of the great value to 

 higher education of Mr. Carnegie's act in admitting tax-supported, 

 State-controlled institutions to the benefits of the foundation, and its 

 sense of gratitude for the benefits thus conferred upon American • 

 teachers. The resolution also conveyed " to the trustees of the foun- 

 dation, and especially to its honored president, Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, 

 its grateful acknowledgment of their sympathetic and helpful con- 

 sideration of the land-grant colleges." Dr. H. C. White was re- 

 quested to continue efforts to secure general recognition of the land- 

 grant colleges by the foundation. 



The report of the committee on graduate study dealt mainly Avith 

 the Graduate School of Agriculture, the last session of wdiich was 

 held at Cornell University in July, 1908. The need of still more gen- 

 eral support of this school on the part of the institutions represented 

 in the association was especially emphasized. It was stated that " it 

 is evident that the meaning of the school is becoming better appre- 

 ciated by the colleges of agriculture. "Wliile the registration in the 

 three successive schools has regularly increased and there is every 

 reason to expect this increase to continue, yet it is the judgment of the 

 committee that many of the institutions owe it to the cause of educa- 



