Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1903)
4 THE BATTALION. In agricultural pursuits Texas has al ways led the rank and file of states but her progress in this line has been particularly noted recentty, with the increased applica tion of scientifiic principles to farming. By acquainting the sons of the soil with the valuable results of experimental tests, as well as the discussion of various prob lems of common interest the annual meet ings of the Farmers’ Institutes have proven of inestimable good to the farming inter ests of the state. In western regions espec ially many arid tracts where flourished the cactus and the sage brush, have been trans formed into fertile orchards by artificial irrigation. This has caused an increase in the build ing of canals, further augmented by the rice industry in Southern Texas. With all these industrial improvements— harbor construction, railway building, man ufacturing enterprises, canal construction— the demand for mechanical and civil engi neers and scientific agriculturists has in creased in proportion and one naturally turns to the center of technical education in the state, the Agricultural and Mechan ical College, to meet this demand with thoroughly trained graduates. Since its establishment, this school has fitted, from year to year, classes of graduating students who have gone out into the state to upbuild its cities and develop its resources. Many have attained positions of prominence and responsibility in their chosen vocations; and, in fact, those citizens who have been technically educated have always been prominent in the industrial development of the state. We, the class of 1903, are soon to go forth from the A. and M. College to join with the body of graduates in the work of upbuilding and development. We have striven hard during our days here to fit ourselves for the future struggle, and in all our actions we shall ever strive to reflect credit upon the institution. With the recent additions to the various departments of the College, with the pur chase of needed apparatus, the erection of new buildings, the establishment of two more courses—those of textile and electrical engineering—and last, but of vast import ance, the raising of the requirements for admission, this school has advanced to a position as one of the leading technical in stitutions of the Southland. Consequently, more will be expected of succeeding classes of graduates than ever before in the history of the College, and in parting we enjoin the undergraduates to take such advantage of the opportunities before them as to become more thoroughly trained and prepared, upon graduation, to join the army of sons of the old “A. and M.” in the industrial work for a greater Texas. As we pause for a brief moment upon the threshold which leads from the realm of college days to the fields of strenuous life, we experience a sensation of commingled joy and sorrow. Need I say in parting what we all have ofttimes repeated in th'e past years of our association in the class room, that we owe to you, our honored professors, a debt of gratitude, the memory of which will not grow dim with time. You have guided us faithfully in the paths of learning ; you have ever been in sym pathy with our hopes, keenly alive to our virtues and lenient to our faults. We may