ANNUAL EEPOET—1865. 
231 
respect of the matters herein presented. Believing the im¬ 
portance of the subject a sufficient warrant for so doing, the 
Society would again urge upon the attention of the Executive 
and of the Legislature the necessity for immediate action in 
regard to the establishment of the proposed College of Agri¬ 
culture and the Mechanic Arts. The terms of the grant are 
such that this College must be in actual operation on the 2d 
day of July, 1867, else the State will have forfeited its claim 
to the lands donated by Congress. These lands are worth not 
less than $300,000, and, if properly managed, may be made to 
yield even a larger sum. Is it possible that the State of Wis¬ 
consin, endowed with such resources, peopled by nearly a mil 
lion of enterprising industrious citizens, and needing such an 
institution as Congress has wisely and beneficently provided 
for no less than the several states which have already estab 
lished them without Congressional aid, will voluntarily sacri¬ 
fice what has been expended in the selection of those lands, 
and, more than all, sacrifice her credit and the best interests of 
the great body of her people, by a forfeiture of so valuable a 
bequest? 
Twice, in succession, the Senate has passed bills for the in¬ 
corporation of an institution under the general provisions of 
the Congressional act, but each has in turn been defeated by 
small majorities, in the Assembly—and, we regret to say, by 
the representatives of that very class of the people for whose 
special benefit the donation was made. 
If it be considered finally settled that the industrial classes 
will not authorize sufficient; appropriations from the general 
fund of the State for the proper founding of a broad and lib¬ 
eral institution devoted exclusively to their own interests, then 
it will be well to devise and adopt such plan of consolidation 
with an existing institution as will insure to the State the great 
benefits derivable from the national benefaction. 
I have the honor to be, on behalf of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee, Eespectfully yours, 
J. W. HOYT, Secretary. 
State Agricultural Eooms, 
Madison, Jan., 1866. 
