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