UNITED STATES BUREAU OF EDUCATION 17 



effect of the national appropriations under that act has been to stimulate 

 greatly the support of the land-grant colleges by the states in which they 

 are situated. 



He calls attention to a provision of the measure giving adminis- 

 trative authority over the appropriations therein provided to 

 the Department of Agriculture, whereas "appropriations which 

 are primarily for agriculture are now administered by the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, and these which are primarily for edu- 

 cation (land-grant colleges) are administered by the Bureau of 

 Education." 



I think Che says] as matters now stand this is a good working division, 

 particularly as the relations between the Bureau of Education and the Office 

 of Experiment Stations of the Department of Agriculture are very close 

 and cordial. Educational interests are becoming so strongly unified through- 

 out this country, and in fact in foreign lands, that the present tendency 

 points to unifying of government activities of a purely educational sort, or 

 of predominantly educational sort, under the Office of Education. Another 

 reason for bringing the activities provided in your bill under the Bureau of 

 Education is that they deal not only with agricultural high schools but 

 with high schools of mechanic arts in cities as well. In institutions of 

 both classes, while industrial ends are sought and industrial means employed, 

 the main purpose, as I understand it, is educational. 



It seems to me worth considering, also, the question whether it is 

 advisable that rural schools, to which the bill relates, should in all cases be 

 designated as agricultural high schools. There is still a good deal of differ- 

 ence of opinion as to whether high-school work in agriculture may be 

 done to best advantage in general high schools which are properly equipped 

 on the agricultural side, or in agricultural high schools which pay incidental 

 attention to studies other than agriculture. It is likely, in fact, that we 

 shall have institutions of both types for many years to come, and that both 

 of them will do good and efficient work in the promotion of agricultural 

 education. For this reason it seems to me doubtful whether it is wise to 

 limit the distribution of the fund by using the distinctive designation of 

 agricultural high school. 



In a letter to Senator Proctor, dated March 4, 1908, the whole 

 matter of national aid as proposed by the Burkett bill and by the 

 Davis bill is carefully reviewed. The entire letter should be read 

 in order to form a just conclusion of the Commissioner's position. 

 After citing the difficulties arising from our complex industrial 



