34 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



They could not send them to the eastern colleges; they were too poor. 

 Acting under the inspiriuton of the constitution of 1787, Congress had 

 made grants of certain lands, and these Michigan pioneers gladly ac- 

 cepted them. The funds thus obtained served as a foundation of Michi- 

 gan schools for higher education, and the State has grown with two 

 generations of men educated within her own borders. 



While the University came into life in a small way, there are now over 

 3,300 students receiving higher instruction. There have been more 

 than 30,000 students within her halls since the foundation, 15,000 of 

 them being sons or daughters of farmers. Can anyone fail to do honor 

 to those who laid the foundations of these schools? 



Do you know that the total cost of this University from the day of its 

 foundation to the present time has been about that of a modern battle- 

 ship? 



The primary object of the University was to give a higher general 

 education. It has done much for the farmers, and in many ways. It 

 has educated many of the faculty in your own Agricultural College. I 

 have but to refer to Dr. Kedzie and Dr. Beal, men who have done much 

 to make that great institution what it is. 



Again, the researches in University laboratories bear directly on agri- 

 culture. I think of the work of Dr. Vaughan and his assistants. Again, 

 many of our graduates are in other laboratories working for the ad- 

 vancement of agricultural science. In this list may be mentioned Erwin 

 Smith. The University is justly proud of its graduates who are devoting 

 their lives to these lines of work. 



The first object in the University training is to make of the students 

 men. The University must train for every service in life, and the foun- 

 dation of that training must be the development of manhood. The his- 

 tory of the University will show that we have succeeded in this object. 

 Our graduates are honoring the callings which have chosen them. When 

 the Nation calls for eminent men, it goes to our alumni. In Congress 

 there is a larger number of alumni of the University of Michigan than 

 from the graduates of any other university in the country. Two out of 

 the five commissioners to negotiate a treaty with Spain were chosen 

 from the graduates of this University. Two out of five of the commis- 

 sioners to govern Manila were chosen from the graduates of our Uni- 

 versity. Bright as has been our past, the future is even more brilliant 

 and promising. 



The faculty and students can do little or nothing without the respect 

 and moral support of men and women like yourselves. The future of 

 the University would be dark indeed without your clear understanding 

 of its objects and wants and without your cordial support. We are 

 therefore delighted to see you here tonight, and when you go home we 

 want you to take a friendly message from us to your friends, to whom 

 has been denied the privilege of attendance upon this Institute. Make 

 them feel that this University is theirs, and its future success depends 

 upon their cordial support. 



