USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Amherst > The history of the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, pt 2 > Part 17
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PRIZES ESTABLISHED.
P. Wilder. The degrees of B. Sc. were conferred upon the members of the graduating class by President Clark.
The class on graduation established the first class scholarship. July 21, the Agricultural College crew won the first regatta of the Rowing Associa- tion of American Colleges, held on the Connecticut river at Springfield. Nearly all the prominent colleges in the Eastern states were represented at this regatta, colleges where rowing had been an established feature of athletics for many years. The victory of the Agricultural College crew, over such distinguished competitors, was a matter of surprise to all and of great gratification to the friends of the college. They rowed over the three- miles course in 16 min. 46 1-2 sec., then the fastest time on record. This victory proved a valuable advertisement for the college. During the year 1872, Levi Stockbridge was elected full professor of agriculture ; Abner H. Merrill, U. S. A., succeeded Henry E. Alvord as professor of military science and tactics. It was in 1872 that the college secured the services of one of the best-known American scientists of his day, Henry James Clark, B. A., B. Sc., in its department of comparative anatomy and veteri- nary science. Prof. Clark was a native of Easton, a graduate of the Uni- versity of the city of New York in 1848 and of the Lawrence Scientific school at Cambridge in 1854. He studied under Prof. Louis Agassiz, served for several years as his private assistant, and was spoken of by him as "the most accurate observer in the country." He served Harvard College as adjunct professor of zoology five years, and was connected with other prominent literary institutions. He died July 1, 1873, while still a member of the faculty of the Agricultural College.
The year 1873 was made notable by the establishment of the Farns- worth rhetorical, the Grinnell agricultural, the Hills botanical and the Peabody entomological prizes. Hon. William Claflin donated to the college $1,000, for the endowment of prizes to be awarded each year to those two members of the graduating class who should pass the best oral and written examinations in the theory and practice of agriculture ; he called them the Grinnell prizes in honor of George B. Grinnell, Esq. of New York. The Farnsworth rhetorical prizes were endowed in the sum of $1,500 by Isaac D. Farnsworth, Esq. The Hills botanical prizes were founded by L. M. and H. F. Hills. The Peabody entomological prize was given by Prof. Selim HI. Peabody.
The year 1874 was marked by increased activity and growth at the college. Several important changes were made in the faculty. Professor Peabody resigned : Samuel T. Maynard, a graduate of the college in the class of '72, was elected gardener and assistant professor of horticulture ; William B. Graves was elected professor of mathematics, physics and civil engineering. During the commencement week in July, an organization was
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
formed under the name of the " Associate Alumni of the Agricultural Col- lege." June 5, the General Court passed a resolve allowing $18,000 in aid of the college. An experiment was undertaken with a squash-vine to test the power of plant-growth. The squash was placed in harness and lifted a weight of two and one-half tons. Professor Stockbridge engaged in a series of interesting experiments with special fertilizers. In his annual report for the year, President Clark again called attention to the importance of establishing an agricultural experiment station in connection with the college. During the year the college trustees entered into an important agreement with the corporation of Boston University, upon the following terms: The trustees agreed, on behalf of the college, that matriculants in the university desiring to pursue any regular or special course of instruction presented at the col- lege should be at liberty to do so on the same terms and conditions as other persons, and on completing the course to the satisfaction of the authorities of both institutions should be entitled to the appropriate degree, either from the college or the university, or from both as they might prefer. The uni- versity agreed that so long as this course was found satisfactory it would refrain from organizing an independent college of agriculture and would give its cordial support and influence to building up the Agricultural Col- lege. Under this agreement, students at the college might become inembers of the university and receive its diploma in addition to that of the college.
In 1875, C. A. L. Totten, U. S. A., succeeded A. H. Merrill as pro- fessor of military science and tactics. Prof. C. A. Goessmann made an extensive investigation concerning the composition and manurial value of commercial fertilizers. Prof. Charles S. Sargent of Boston donated to the college several thousands of specimens of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The Hampshire Agricultural society offered two prizes, one of $30 and one of $20, to those two students coming from towns within the limits of the society who should make the greatest improvement in scholarship during their freshman year. April 26, 1876, Dr. Nathan Durfee of Fall River, treasurer of the college from its establishment, its staunch friend and one of the most liberal of its benefactors, was removed by death. April 28. the General Court passed a resolve allowing the college $5.000 for current expenses. May 20, President Clark left Amherst for Japan, where he had been summoned by the imperial government to assist in the organization of an agricultural college. In his absence, the government of the college was committed to the hands of Professor Stockbridge. Noah Cressy, elected professor of veterinary science in 1873, resigned his office in 1876. By vote of the trustees, the date for holding the commencement exercises was changed from July to June. Of the 24 members of the graduating class 21 received the degree of B. Sc. from Boston University. Lieutenant Totten instituted the practice, which has been continued since 1876, of presenting
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FREE SCHOLARSHIPS ESTABLISHED.
military diplomas to the members of the graduating class; he also gave the first military prize.
. May 16, 1877, the General Court passed a resolve allowing $5,000 for the payment of current expenses at the college, one-half to be used in pay- ment for manual labor by the students. When President Hitchcock first outlined a plan for an agricultural college, he recommended that such of the students as desired to labor upon the college farm in excess of the amount required of every student should receive suitable compensation. President Clark was an early and earnest advocate of the establishment of a labor fund, and it was doubtless owing to his influence that the General Court made this appropriation. In 1877, Professor Stockbridge donated $1,000 to the college, to be used for experimental purposes. A new green- house, 100 x 17 feet, was erected with funds provided by Hon. William Knowlton. During the year President Clark returned from Japan, and in his annual report for 1877 gave a description of the agricultural college which he had established at Sapporo, Japan. The first professors at that institution were William Wheeler, David P. Penhallow and William P. Brooks, all graduates of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Thus the institution while yet in its infancy exerted a powerful educational influence upon the " Yankees of the East."
In order to make the college popular among the agricultural classes in the state, and to lessen the burden of expense to those in moderate circum- stances who were desirous of gaining an education in scientific agriculture, the trustees established in 1878 150 free scholarships for students entering the college that year. The college received by bequest of Whiting Street, Esq. $1,000 for the establishment of a scholarship. Charles Morris suc- ceeded C. A. L. Totten in charge of the military department. In the annual report for the year 1878, a record is made of the work conducted during the year by the " Massachusetts Experimental Station," established by Pro- fessor Stockbridge. Extensive experiments were made with " Minnesota early amber cane " for the production of sugar. A sorghum mill was set up on the college estate, but the results obtained were not favorable, indi- cating that the cane would not prove profitable as a crop in this section. Professor Stockbridge also conducted experiments in the deportment of soils towards water and various manures.
With the year 1879, hard times came to the college. For several years its current expenses had considerably exceeded its income and it incurred a debt which grew larger every year. April 24, the General Court passed an act granting $32,000 to the college to pay existing indebt- edness, at the same time making the trustees personally liable for any debt thereafter incurred, in excess of the income of the college. June 12, the trustees, owing to the diminished income, sold at auction all the blooded
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
stock belonging to the college, except the Ayrshire herd. May 1, Presi- dent Clark resigned his office. Elected in 1867, he had served the college . faithfully and well for twelve years, giving it at all times the best fruits of his ripened intellect. It was with genuine regret that the trustees accepted his resignation, regret that was shared by members of the faculty, alumni and undergraduates of the college. In 1879, on leaving Amherst, he was made president of a "floating college," which enterprise, owing to the death of its originator, Mr. Woodruff, was abandoned. He subsequently turned his attention to mining operations, becoming the Eastern agent of several gold and silver mining companies in the West, having his office in New York city. He held many public offices of trust and responsibility. From 1859 to 1861, he was a member at large of the State Board of Agriculture, and member ex-officio from 1867 to 1879. In 1864, he was presidential elector and secretary of the electoral college. He was repre- sentative to the General Court in 1864 (receiving every vote in the district but seven), 1865 and 1867 ; president of the Hampshire Agricultural society, 1860, 1861 and 1870 ; trustee of Williston Seminary, Easthampton, 1863-76, and president of the board, 1874-76 ; was also a trustee and vice- president of the trustees of Amherst Academy several years. He was one of a commission of three appointed by Gov. Andrew in 1863 to consider the expediency of establishing a state military academy. Amherst College bestowed upon him the degree of LL. D. in 1874. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; member of the Massachu- setts Horticultural and New England Agricultural societies ; honorary member of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, and resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical society. He was faithful in the performance of all the duties of citizenship and during his long residence in Amherst took a prominent part in public affairs. He died from an affection of the heart, at Amherst, March 9, 1886.
The hard times of 1879 led to the reorganization of the college on a sound business basis. Current expenses were reduced $10,000 a year. sufficient to bring them within the college income. One professorship was abolished and the president's salary was withheld. The salaries of the professors and the treasurer were cut down. A considerable saving was made in the janitor's work and in the office of farm superintendent. During the year Charles L. Flint was elected president, remaining in office until March 24, 1880, when he resigned. Charles L. Flint was the first secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, holding the office nearly 30 years. In 1863, he was elected secretary of the board of trustees of the Agricultural College and was continued in office 22 years. The year that he served as president of the college was the most stormy in its existence. He served without pay, and so great was his interest in the college he subscribed, in
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LEVI STOCKBRIDGE ELECTED PRESIDENT.
the closing year of his life, $1,000 to its permanent library fund. Prof. H. W. Parker resigned in 1879 ; during the same year Samuel T. Maynard was elected full professor of botany and horticulture. A statement of the financial condition of the college for the year ending Jan. 1, 1880, gives the following figures :
Real estate, $200,000 ; farm stock, appraised at $2,747 ; implements, vehicles, etc., $1,005.50 ; farm produce on hand, $2,019.25.
Resources : Income of fund in state treasury, $12,000 ; from other funds, $700 ; from tuition, room-rent, etc., $3,500 ; total. $16,200.
Expenditures : Salary account, $10, 100 ; current expense account. $4,000 ; extra instruction, $800 ; total, $14,900. In the expense account no allowance was made for the salary of the president. During the year 1879 the price of tuition was reduced to $12 per term.
In April, 1880, Levi Stockbridge was elected president of the college. Mr. Stockbridge had been connected with the college since 1866, previous to the admission of its first class, and was thoroughly acquainted with all the needs and all the workings of the institution. He had been the right- hand man of President Clark in the successful launching of the new enter- prise and during the president's absence in Japan had full charge at the college. He had made the first donation to the college for the purpose of founding an experiment department and had personally conducted the first experiments made. He was the man for the time and place, and his thorough knowledge of the needs of the institution coupled with his sound common-sense made his services of the greatest value.
It was in 1880 that Massachusetts, through some of its officials. made a second and final effort to sever the connection existing between the college and the state: An act passed by the General Court in 1879, constituted the governor and Council a commission to examine into the status of the institution, with the intention of severing its connection with and releas- ing the state from its obligations and guarantees to the general government respecting the college. This committee submitted its report to the General Court in 1880, practically recommending that the college, with its real and personal estate, and the trust funds received from the United States for its specific support, should be given to Amherst College and any further effort toward its maintenance by the state should be abandoned. The resolve creating the commission and defining its duties was so peculiariy worded that its members had little or no discretionary powers and were practically compelled to submit the report they did. But the proposition was so radical and so subversive of the integrity of the state. it gained no favor at the hands of the public and no effort was made by the General Court to accept the proposal or give it legal force. It served to attract to the college the sympathy and support of the agricultural community and
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
the friends of higher education for those engaged in agricultural pursuits.
There was no serious diminution in the number of students at the college in 1880. More than the usual interest was manifested by the students in their work. The class of '82 erected a handsome fountain on the grass plot in front of the college buildings at an expense of $250. The college battalion attended and took part as a military organization in the celebration of the anniversary of the settlement of Boston, Sept. 17 ; the cadets won high praise from press and public on their appearance and behavior. The exercises of commencement week were held at the college chapel instead of in the village as heretofore. The college grounds were connected with the mains of the Amherst Water company. a contract being made with the company for water supply at the rate of $150 a year. Work was suspended at the experiment station owing to a lack of funds. Wil- liam Wheeler was elected the first alumni trustee.
The attempts to bring the college to a high state of efficiency with the small income at its command having proved unavailing, a joint convention was held at the college June 22, 1881, to consider what might be done to remedy this defect. The members of this convention consisted of the governor, the members of the Council. of the college board of trustees and of the Board of Agriculture. Gov. John D. Long presided, and at his request Hon. Daniel Needham of the board of trustees gave a statement of the condition and needs of the college. At the close of his address he presented a series of resolutions, the final paragraph reading as follows : " Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider the perfect means for the establishment of a large permanent fund for the college, in addition to its present endowment, that its usefulness shall be made commensurate with the designs of its originators, and its scholarships brought within the reach of all the youth of the Commonwealth." After a full discussion, these resolutions were unanimously adopted and a committee was appointed to consider the subject and submit to the college trustees a plan for action. At the annual meeting of the trustees this committee reported in favor of raising a fund of $100,000 by subscription, in sums of $1, 000 each, payable in ten installments of $100 each, the fund, when raised, to be handed over by the committee to the treasurer of the college as a permanent fund. This committee was to be perpetuated, vacancies being filled by the board of trustees. for ten years, during which time the subscription should be open. During the year 1881, Prof. W. B. Graves resigned and Charles L. Harrington was appointed professor of mathematics, physics and civil engineering. Lieut. Victor H. Bridgman, U. S. A., was detailed as pro- fessor of military science and tactics.
Levi Stockbridge resigned as president of the college Jan. 12, 1882, . and the same month Hon. Paul A. Chadbourne was elected to fill the
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STATE EXPERIMENT STATION.
vacancy. During the brief period that Dr. Chadbourne had been connected with the institution, in 1866 and 1867, he had shown such an intelligent . interest and zeal in the management of its affairs that the friends of the college felt great satisfaction when he accepted the office for a second time. He entered at once upon the duties of the office and the year that followed was one of activity and prosperity at the college. It was a genuine shock to all who had the interests of the institution at heart when President Chad- bourne died, Feb. 23, 1883. He held many public offices of honor and distinction. In 1876, he was presidential elector-at-large, and in 1880 chairman of the republican state convention. In 1881-82 he was engaged in the editorial supervision of " The Wealth of the United States " and " Public Service of New York." He was a director in several mills at Wil- liamstown, in the Berkshire Life Insurance company and the North Adams Savings bank. For several years he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture. He received honorary degrees from the Berkshire Medical College, from Amherst College and Williams College.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE STATE EXPERIMENT STATION ORGANIZED .- JAMES C. GREENOUGH ELECTED PRESIDENT .- NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED .- HENRY H. GOODELL ELECTED PRESIDENT .- HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION . FORMED .--- GRANT BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT .- ADDITIONS TO COLLEGE EQUIPMENT .- STATE APPROPRIATIONS .- STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS .- VALUE OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE COLLEGE.
In 1882, Prof. Charles L. Harrington resigned, being "succeeded by Austin B. Bassett. The General Court, May 12, 1882, passed a resolve allowing $9,ooo for the erection of a drill-hall and for repairs. On the same date an act was passed providing for the establishment of the Massachu- setts State Agricultural Experiment Station. The provisions of this act were as follows : An agricultural experiment station should be established and maintained at the Agricultural College. The management should be vested in a board of control of seven persons, of which the governor of the state should be president ex-officio, and of which two members should be elected from the State Board of Agriculture, by said board ; two from the trustees of the Agricultural College, by said trustees; one from the Massachusetts Soci-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASS.
ety for Promoting Agriculture, by said society ; the remaining member to be the president of the Agricultural College. The board of control should . hold an annual meeting in January, at which time it should make to the General Court a detailed report of all money's expended by its order, and of the results of the experiments and investigations conducted at the station, which detailed report should be published in the annual report of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. Two members of the board of control should be retired each year, and their successors should be elected by the bodies respectively which such retiring members represented, save in the case of the president of the Agricultural College, who should not be retired. The board of control should appoint a director, a chemist and all necessary assistants and should provide suitable and necessary apparatus and appli- ances for the purpose of conducting experiments and investigations in the following subjects : Ist, the causes, prevention and remedies of the diseases of domestic animals, plants and trees ; 2d, the history and habits of insects destructive to vegetation and the means of abating them ; 3d, the manufacture and composition of both foreign and domestic fertilizers, their several values and their adaptability to different crops and soils; 4th, the values, under all conditions, as food for all farm animals, for various pur- poses, of the several forage, grain and root crops; 5th, the comparative value of green and dry forage, and the cost of producing and preserving it in the best condition ; 6th, the adulteration of any article of food intended for the use of men or animals; and in any other subjects which might be deemed advantageous to the agriculture and horticulture of the Common- wealth. There should be paid from the state treasury to the treasurer of the board of control before July 1, 1882, the sum of $3,000, to establish. prepare and equip the station, and for the maintenance of the station there should thereafter be paid the sum of $5,000 annually in regular quarterly installments.
On the death of President Chadbourne, in January, 1883, Prof. H. H. Goodell was chosen acting president of the college, remaining in charge until September. July 5, James C. Greenough, principal of the State Normal school at Providence, R. I., was elected to the presidency. During the year the drill-hall was completed. Manly Miles was elected professor of agriculture. Leander Wetherell, Esq. of Boston donated 1,410 bound volumes and several hundred pamphlets to the college library. June 2, the General Court passed a resolve, allowing to the college $10,000 annually for four years and establishing So free scholarships. Jan. 5, the Durfee plant-house was destroyed by fire. Prof. A. B. Bassett resigned in 1884 and Clarence D. Warner was elected to fill the vacancy. The same year Horace E. Stockbridge was elected associate professor of chemistry. May 8, 1884, the General Court passed a resolve allowing $36,000 for the erection
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HENRY H. GOODELL ELECTED PRESIDENT.
of a chapel and library building, for completing the president's house and for repairs on the North dormitory. During the year the North dormitory was partially rebuilt and the work of construction was begun on the new chapel building. The corner-stone of the latter was laid Nov. 6 ; the build- ing was constructed of granite from the quarry in Pelham owned by the college. It is generally considered the most ornamental structure on the college grounds.
Feb. 4, 1885, the South dormitory was burned, the fire catching from a lamp which exploded in a room occupied by one of the students. June II, the General Court passed a resolve allowing $45,000 for rebuilding the South dormitory, erecting a tower on the chapel building and the purchase of scientific apparatus. By another resolve passed on the same date, $6,000 was appropriated for the erection of a laboratory for the Massa- chusetts Agricultural Experiment station. June 19, an act was passed making the annual report of the college and the annual report of the exper- iment station public documents. During the summer months the president's house was completed, the laboratory building was remodeled and repaired, and considerable additions were made to the library and to the scientific apparatus of the college. H. E. Stockbridge was succeeded by Charles Wellington as associate professor of chemistry. Lieut. George E. Sage was detailed as professor of military science and tactics.
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