40 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



finish the College Buildings, and that an application be 

 made to the Legislature at its approaching session to make 

 an appropriation of that surn for this purpose. 



Measures were at once taken to secure the passage of 

 an Act, making this appropriation. In the Senate, the 

 interests of the school would be ably represented by Colonel 

 Gregg, who had labored so efficiently for the passage of 

 the first appropriation, and in the House, where the great- 

 est difficulty was anticipated, the College was fortunate in 

 having the aid of the local member, Wm. C. Duncan, 

 whose intelligent appreciation of the necessities of agri- 

 cultural practice, and the financial difficulties of the In- 

 stitution, made him an able advocate in its favor. 



A few days after the close of the Session of 1860, the 

 bill to appropriate $50,000, was read in place by Wm. 

 C. Duncan, in the House of Kepresentatives, and referred 

 to the Committee of Ways and Means. The Trustees of * 

 the College appeared before that Committee, and stated 

 the aims, objects, financial difficulties, and necessities of 

 the School. After the usual delays and hinderances com- 

 mon to legislation, the committee rendered a unanimous 

 report in favor of the bill, and it only remained to bring 

 it up for a second reading, to test the feeling of the House 

 upon its merits. 



In the meantime, Mr. Duncan had espoused the cause 

 of the bill with an earnestness, and efficiency of action, 

 and honesty of purpose which satisfied all its friends, that 

 they were very fortunate in being able to intrust it to 

 his hands. His honesty and uprightness of character, 

 and personal acquaintance with all the leading friends of 

 the school, and his knowledge of its necessity were suffi- 

 cient guarantees to his fellow members, that the money 

 asked for was needed for the purpose stated, and not for 

 aggrandizement of individual or local interests. 



Several of the County Agricultural Societies sent in 

 letters and resolutions to the Kepresentatives, urging the 

 passage of the bill, while prominent friends of agricultu- 

 ral reform, from all parts of the State, either by letters 

 to members in the Legislature, or by .visiting Harrisburg 



