From Capt. T. M. Scott, one of the most prominent members of the board of directors, I learn that there were but 6 students reported for duty at the opening. The record for the second year shows the phenomenal increase from that small beginning to an enrollment of 341, though there were accommodations for but 160. For the purpose of providing instructors for this great increase, a special meeting of the board was convened in November, 1877, at which time two adjunct professors were elected and the Secretary of War was asked to detail an officer from the United States Army as commandant. At a meeting of the board in July, 1878, the department of English literature was created and Gen. L. M. Lewis was placed at its head. The two adjunct professors appointed were: L. L. McInnis, A. M., ancient languages and English; Capt. Jas. E. Binkly, adjunct professor and assistant commmandant. The Hon. Jefferson Davis was invited to attend commencement and deliver the annual address, but he did not accept. At the third session there were 248 matriculates, while for the session for 1879-80 the total number dropped to 144, and at one time I believe there were less than 50 students present. This was due, however, to the trouble and consequent reorganization of the college in 1879. In 1880 the first graduates issued from the institution, the majority of them graduating in some one or more of the schools of English, moral philosophy, languages, engineering, or mathematics. Only two, William Harrison Brown and Lewis John Kopke graduated with a degree (C. E.) An examination of the courses of study during the first three years shows that they were almost entirely literary. The subject of industrial education was entirely new in Texas, and the first faculty being unacquainted with such work naturally traveled in the old rut. The masses of the people, however, had anticipated and demanded through the public press, and as individuals, that the true objects of the institution be carried out in good faith. So far, the leading objects of the institution," agriculture and the mechanic arts," were almost totally neglected. It is true the professor of chemistry, natural sciences, etc., had tacked on to his long list of scientific studies "practical agriculture;" but it was almost wholly in name. A small farm of 10 acres was opened, but no appropriation having been made either for the equipment of the agricultural or mechanical departments, the board at its fourth meeting, in January, 1877, ordered the mules, wagons, etc., belonging to the farm, sold. Owing to the lack of funds the office of farm superintendent, secretary of the board, and college architect, were abolished. In November of that year, however, the board arranged to have a small tract in cultivation for the next spring, so that students might have instruction in practical work and participate if they saw fit. No regular organization of either of these leading 10323-03-18 departments was, however, attempted until after the reorganization of the college in 1879. The sixteenth legislature, at its special session, provided in the appropriation bill, approved July 7, 1879, that the sum of $7,500 be appropriated for each of the next two years "for cabinet, library, and agricultural implements, to be paid out of the interest arising from the university fund, a sum quite insufficient to properly equip even one of the industrial departments. This, as might have been expected, brought down upon the college management the denunciations of almost the entire State press. Nor were poverty, hostile public sentiment, and the adverse criticism of the press all with which the college had to contend during these years of trouble. REORGANIZATION OF THE FACULTY. Differences had early arisen among the members of the faculty and these dissensions became so bitter and of such a personal nature that Governor Roberts called a meeting of the board of directors at Bryan, in November, 1879, for the purpose of making a full investigation of the trouble. After a searching investigation, which lasted for ten days, it was deemed necessary to entirely reorganize the faculty. From the board report of 1881, I quote: And your excellency and the rest of the board, taking this view of their duties and of the obligations resting upon the faculty to properly conduct the college after it had been organized and turned over to them, did not hesitate at its meeting at Bryan, in November, 1879, to make an entire change in the faculty, it being apparent that, from personal differences, which they had failed to reconcile among themselves, the college could not be successfully carried on and that the good of the institution imperatively demanded a reorganization. The resignations of the entire faculty having been called for and received, the election of a new faculty followed. Prof. John G. James was elected president. He was born on a plantation in Fluvanna County, Va., December 1, 1844, entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1862, graduating in 1866. He served with the cadet corps of that institution in the battle of Newmarket, May 11, 1864; was professor of chemistry and assistant professor of mathematics in Kentucky Military Institute, 1866-67; came to Texas in 1867, and conducted the Bastrop Academy until 1869, when, by permission of Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds, United States Army, commanding the fifth military district (Louisiana and Texas), he organized the Texas Military Institute at Bastrop, of which he was superintendent until 1879. He removed this institution to Austin in 1870. NEW FACULTY CHOSEN. Following the reorganization of the college in 1879, and, as a result of that action, the board of directors, profiting by past experiences, were desirous of employing the best material to be had for president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, and unanimously selected Colonel James as the standard bearer. He assumed his duties there December 1, 1879, and discharged them faithfully and well until April 1, 1882, when he voluntarily resigned to enter the banking busiIn accepting his resignation, the board gave the following ness. testimonial: It is fit that the directors express, by formal action, their appreciation of the services of the president: Therefore, Resolved, That the board of directors accept with regret the resignation of President James, and that they hereby unanimously concur in expressing their high appreciation of his past services, and bear testimony to the skill, interest, and integrity of purpose with which he has administered the affairs of the institution. Since his resignation he has organized a number of banks, at Colorado, Wichita Falls, Henrietta, Childress, Llano, and Hempstead, and he is also a director in a number of others, and has been banker and broker ever since. His present residence is Austin, Tex. In 1875 he was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy a member of the board of visitors of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and was the first Texan ever appointed on that board. He is a member of the Southern Historical Society, and author of Southern Selections for Reading and Oratory, published by A. S. Barnes & Co., in New York, 1879. With President James were elected the following professors: James R. Cole, A. M., professor of English and history; Charles P. Estill, A. M., professor of ancient languages; Hardaway H. Dinwiddie, professor of chemistry and physics; Berry Allen, professor of mathematics; D. Port Smythe, M. D., professor of anatomy, physiology, bygiene, etc. Governor Roberts, Lieutenant-Governor Sayers, Hons. A. J. Peeler and George Pfeuffer were appointed a committee of the board to select suitable professors of modern languages, practical agriculture, and natural sciences under the following resolution: Resolved, That the professor of agriculture shall be a person qualified to instruct in the field as well as in the lecture room, and the duties of such professor shall require him to instruct his scholars as fully as practicable in the nature and composition of the soils, and their analysis and relations to special products; and in pursuit of this object, he shall, not less than three times per week, take his scholars into the grounds in cultivation in the college inclosure, and by practical application teach them all the elements of husbandry, and have them give such personal attention and practice as will enable them to become practical farmers, with a knowledge of the advantages which scientific research and analysis, tested by practice, have already given to agriculture. The board also ordered 50 acres additional put in the farm, and made provision for allowing those students who desired to do so, to cultivate small tracts of land to assist in paying their way through college. The committee selected Marie E. B. G. Gartner, professor of modern languages, C. C. Georgeson, professor of practical agriculture, and L. L. Mclnnis, who had been acting professor of mathe matics, vice Berry Allen, was made professor of mathematics July 29, 1880. A professor of mechanics was also provided for at this meeting, and $4,000 appropriated by the board of directors to equip the mechanical department, to the head of which Franklin Van Winkle was duly elected. (The resignations of both Professors Georgeson and Van Winkle were acccepted in June, 1883.) At this same meeting of the board the departments of ancient and modern languages were combined under the head of the chair of languages, and Professor Gardner placed in charge. The expiration of Captain Olmstead's detail being near at hand, the board applied to the War Department successively for Lieuts. J. J. Haden and W. S. Scott; but from some cause neither was detailed, Lieut. Charles J. Crane having been detailed instead. ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. The board after the reorganization issued the following address: In view of the late troubles at the college and reorganization of the faculty, the board thought it proper to acquaint the people of the State with its present status; hence the following to the people of Texas: The directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College respectfully state that at their recent session at Bryan they found the institution in excellent condition, except as to certain unhappy dissensions existing in the faculty. The remedy of reorganization was deemed indispensable and promptly applied. A new president and professors of ripe experience, vigorous manhood, and acknowledged ability and reputation in this State were chosen and are in charge. One hundred and thirty students are in attendance, and we hope and believe the number will be speedily increased. The money appropriated by the legislature has been judiciously expended in the purchase of a library, cabinet, mathematical instruments, and agricultural implements, and the advantages now offered are superior to those heretofore offered. We will do all in our power to make this institution what it ought to be, and trust that our efforts will be seconded by the people of the State, to whom the institution belongs. Signed November 24, 1879, by O. M. Roberts, governor and ex officio president of the board; J. D. Sayers, lieutenant-governor; John H. Cochran, speaker of the house of representatives; and E. B. Pickett, A. J. Peeler, J. K. Dixon, H. W. Lyday, J. W. Durant, and George Pfeuffer, directors. As will be seen from the foregoing, the attempt of the board was to direct the college to its legitimate channel; to make it, in fact as in name, an agricultural and mechanical college. It had struggled along under the old régime for over three years, when at the recommendation of the governor the next legislature provided for a special board of directors, whose term of office should be six years or during good behavior. Under the new law the governor appointed the following board: Judge J. D. Thomas, of Bryan; Hon. George Pfeuffer, of New Braunfels; C. C. Wiggin, of Houston; J. G. Garrison, of Henderson; and Captain T. M. Scott, of Melissa. AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL FEATURES. In his first report, March 1, 1880, to the board of directors, President James presented a "Plan for inaugurating the practical features of the institution." In a brief article I can only refer to some of the main features of this report. He recommended, instead of the elective system of studies adopted by the first faculty, "a well-arranged curriculum" as giving more satisfactory general results. He cordially recommended the early adoption of a plan of "instruction in agriculture and the mechanic arts." He said: The present farm, about 80 acres, is entirely too small, and $2,500 would fence the adjoining 600 acres of the college domain east of the railroad, giving land enough for gardens, orchards, staple crops, stock pasture, experiments, ornamental grounds, and buy what additional implements may be needed. At present the agricultural department can not possibly be conducted, as a means of practical instruction, with any material profit to the students, a fact recognized by them, as this report shows no student taking the course. His recommendations for the mechanical department, based on the report of the Boston Institute of Technology, were adopted and partly put in practice for the ensuing year. Following are the schedules, which were adopted, as recommended by President James: First year, first term: AGRICULTURAL COURSE. Mathematics (arithmetic and algebra) English (grammar and composition) Agriculture (soils and live stock).. Practice (use of farm machinery).. First year, second term: Mathematics (algebra and geometry)... English (United States history, composition).. Practice (use of farm machinery). Second year, first term: Mathematics (algebra and geometry) Second year, second term: Mathematics (surveying, mechanics) Third year, first term: Farm engineering (leveling, surveying, etc.) Astronomy (Lockyer's Outlines) English (literature, orations, essays). Agriculture (meteorology, veterinary science). |