18 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 



FIRST MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 



But in conformity with the provisions of the act, a few 

 of the persons designated therein as trustees, met at Harris- 

 burg, on the 13th of June, 1854, to consider its provi- 

 sions, when it was found that a quorum of members was 

 not present. 



On motion of the Hon. George W. Woodward, it was 



Resolved, That Messrs. Frederick Watts, James Gowen, 

 and John Strohm, be appointed a committee to report a 

 plan of organization to the next meeting of the Board, to 

 be held on the 13th of July following, at Harrisburg. 



At this adjourned meeting, only Messrs. Watts of Cum- 

 berland, Mumma and Rutherford of Dauphin, Mcllvaine 

 of Chester, Boal of Centre, and Baxter of Philadelphia, 

 were present. 



REPORT ON PLAN OF ORGANIZING A SCHOOL. 



In behalf of the committee to whom was referred the 

 subject of a plan of organization for the Farmers' High 

 School of Pennsylvania, the Hon. Frederick Watts re- 

 ported that the committee are of opinion, that no good 

 can result from any effort to organize under the existing 

 law, that it provides for too many trustees (50 or 60) 

 that these are liable to be created or removed by causes 

 entirely independent of the interest of the school, and 

 they recommend that the Board shall consist of not more 

 than 13 in number, of whom 9 shall be elected, and 4 

 ex-officio members. The committee further state that the 

 bill is defective in view of its making no appropriation in 

 aid of the object to be attained by it, and they go on to say 

 that " There are many public-spirited men who believe 

 " that the establishment of such a school where boys may 

 "be educated as farmers, is of more importance than any 

 " design which could occupy public attention. It is a^fact 

 " universally known, that the literary institutions of this 

 "country, as at present constituted, educate young men 

 " to a state of total unfitness, not only for the pursuit of 

 " a farmer, but as a companion for his parents, brothers 

 " and sisters, with whom he is expected to spend his life. 

 " He is therefore driven from his father's estate, and into 



