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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1900)
w THE BATTALION. any man at this table wants to try a task, just let him try being - Governor of Texas for two years. The Agricul tural and Mechanical College is a pil lar of its own. It was designed for a special purpose; it had its origin in the Federal government and this bene faction has, to a very large extent, been enhanced by appropriations from the State treasury. The object of this institution is clearly defined in the or ganic act. It is an agricultural and me chanical college. And I want to say to you that the more closely and ex clusively this institution is administer ed for the purposes for which it was ordained, the more useful and popular it will be all over the State. “Of course the appropriations for this College have not at times been as large as they should have been and troubles have occurred in the adminis tration, such as have occurred in the administration of all institutions. “I want to say to you, and your President will bear witness to it, that since I have been Governor of this State, I have been the friend of the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College. I have gladly approved every appropriation made for it, and I intend recommending larger appropriations to the next Legislature. I intend so long as I may be Governor, to do ev erything in my power to make this in stitution worthy of the State, that is an empire in domain and possesses re sources such as few commonwealths, not only in America, but in Europe, enjoy. “I want this institution to keep pace with the development of our material interests and the increase of our popu lation, and so far as I am concerned, and I believe that I can speak truth fully, so far as the Legislature is con cerned, there will be no pains spared to develop this institution to a capac ity to take care of and educate at least 1000 students. It is the duty of the State to provide for this institution. I I have always believed that it is the duty of the State to provide for the ed ucation of our people, and 1 am more than anxious that my administration shall be marked by the rapid and suc cessful development of the Agricultur al and Mechanical College of Texas. But let us go back to the original prop osition that this is an agricultural and mechanical college and nothing else. “There ought to be grown on the grounds of this institution nearly all kinds of cotton, com, wheat, oats, bar ley, rice, sugar, etc., so that this insti tution could tell the people of the State what is the best variety to plant, what kind would stand the drouth best and what would be the most produc tive in the different portions of this State. “This is a 'practical, utilitarian age. In this day and generation, amidst the struggle of this century, a man start ing out in life needs to bring to his aid every force, material and intellectual, in order to make a success. “The people want this to be the place to educate for agricultural and me chanical purposes and not for the pro fessions. I do not want it to be said that we have to go to outside of Texas for engineers and those necessary to operate our railroads, factories, etc. In this State are young men industrious and intelligent enough to fit them selves for the higher duties, if they only have the opportunity.” In concluding. Gov. Sayers pledged his support to the advancement of the institution and admonished the Board of Directors to see that the College was kept strictly in line with the pur poses for which it was ordained and none but the most competent instruc tors, are employed. “If this is done,”
