| Summary: | Minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 1874ANNUAL MEETI NG OF' THE roARD OF DI RECTORS 0 THE A,GRICUL'I'URAL MID
MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF ALABM1A . Auburn, Alabama . July 7th, 1874.
The Board met in the college buildings am there l.vere present Hon. 'William H.
Barnes, President , Col. H. L. Stansel, Col. 1. N. Malone, Mr. 1. B. Scott, Mr .
1' . C. Dowiell, and Hon. B. S. Bibb .
Absent - Col. C. C. Langdon, Col. Josph H. Speed, and Governor David Lewis.
Moved by Col. Stansel that a committee of three be appointed by the Pre sident
to nominate a condidate to fill t he vacancy in the Board, made by the removal
of Mr . T. D. Osborne from the stat e .
The Committee named: liIessrs. Stansel, Halone , and Bibb .
On motion of Col . Malone , the Pre sident of the Colle ge be r equested to submit
his r eport and such other papers as be desired to the Board.
The President thereupon r ead his r eport and other papers , Ivhich on motion were
r eceived and submitted and on motion, the report was r ef erred to t he follO'inng
cormnittee : NessI'S. Malone, Stansel and Scott . On mo tion of Hr . Stan sel, Hr .
Bibb, and Dr. 1. T. Tichenor, the Pre sident of the College, were added to t he
c ornmi t tee.
A reque st having been made , L he cadets were given permission by the Board to
' have a hop in one of the halls of the college cuildings.
The librarian submitted a r eport irlhich was r ef erred to a committee consisting of
stansel, Dol-Jdell, and Scott.
On motion of Col. 1"lalone the thanks of t he Board l.vere t endered to the two
so cieties for t he use of their halls for t he mee ting of the Board.
On motion of Col. Hal one t he Board t ook a rece ss to in tness the r eview of the
corps of cadets.
On motion of Col. Malone the r eport of the treasurer w s rrceived and r eferred
to the fol lowin.2; committee - Messr s . Stansel, 1alone and Scott.
On motion of Mr . Scott, the petition of Geo . tl. Foster which ~vas r ead by the
secretary has r e ferrecl to a committee; vi z., Kessrs. Scott, Dowdell, and Bibb.
On motion t he Board adj ourned until 3 0 ' cl ock p . m. tomorrovJ.
Aubur n , Alabama
Jul y 8, 1874
The BoaI'd met at LI ot clock p .m.. Present, the Pre sident, Messrs. Stansel,
Malone , Scott, Dmvdell, and Bibb.
The special committee appointed t o nominate a candidate to f ill the vacancy
made by t he removal of Hr . T. D. Osborne from the state p resented the name of
Gen. Levi 'fJI. Lal-ller ,.fDO 'lvas unanimously el ected a member of t he Board of Directors.
On motion of Mr. Bibb - When this Board. adjourns, they will meet at 10 o'clock
a.m. at the rooms of the Bible house in the city of Montgomery.
180
On motion of Mr. Stansel, the Treasurer be instructed to pay Wirt and Websterian
Societies the sum of one hundred dollars each on account of permanent improvements
made in and to their respective halls.
On motion of B. L. Bibb the Board adjourned to the 27th.
F. M. Reese, Secretary.
City of Montgomery, Alabama
July 27th, 1874
The Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of .Alabama
met in pursuance of adjournment at the rooms of the Bible Society in the City
of Montgomery.
There were present the President, W. H. Barnes, C. C. Langdon, J. N. Malone,
B. L. Bibb, W. C. Dowdell, and J. B. 'Scott.
The minu.tes of the preceeding meeting were read and on motion the secretary
was instructed to substitute "Military Ball" for the word "Hop" in a previous
motion made and adopted at this meeting in Auburn.
On motion of Col. Malone, Mr. Langdon be added to the committee on the
President's ani Treasurer's reports.
On motion of Mr. Malone, the Board adjourned to 5 O'clock p.m.
The Board met at 5 o'clock. The committe. on the President's report asked more
time.
On motion of Mr. Langdon the treasurer be authorized to exchange the coupons on
hand for state obligations of the new issue.
On motion of Mr. Langdon the Treasurer of the College be authorized to settle
with the estate of James F. Dowdell.
On motion of Mr. Barnes, Mr. Langdon in the .chair that the degree of Doctor of
Di vini ty be conferred on the Reverend D. ''W. Gnn of the city of Montgomery, Ala.
On motion of B. L. Bibb the degree of Learned Doctor of La.ww be conferred on
Reverend Basil Mauley, President of Georgetown College, Kentucky.
On motion of Mr. Barne s, the minutes of the Board be so amended as to show that
the degree of L.L.D. was conferred on Carlos W. Snith, President of the state
Univ~rsity of Alabama.
On motion of B. L. Bibb, the Board adjourned until tomorrow at 10 o'clock a.m.
Ci ty of Montgomery, Ala.
July 28, 1874
The Board met at 10 o'clock a.m. and there were present the President, Messrs.
Langdon, Malone, Stansel, Bibb, Dowdell, Scott, and Lawler.
The minutes read and adopted. On motion of Mr. Dowell, Levi W. Lawler was added
to the committee on the Treasurer's report.
On motion of Mr. Malone, the faculty are hereby instructed to discontinue the
fifth class.
The committee to whom was referred the report of Reverend Dr. Tichenor, President
efthe College, have had the same under their consideration am ask to make the
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following report. We have read and considered the report. of the President with
interest am satisfaction; we are gratified to be informed of the prosperoud
condi~ion of the college, and the number of cadets iR attendance, which is highly
gratifying to the Board ani friends UJlder the depressed financial condition af the
country am to those of us who were present at the late commencement, take pleasure
in saying the occasion was one of the general interest ani was esteemed a success
evincing a high grade of scholarship on the faith of the professors (J)f the institution
and the Corps of Cadets, whose moral deportment has been deserving of
commendation.
In t~ judgement of your committee, it is deemed absolutely important that the
expenses of the College must be lessened and a reform in some of the departments
must be made particularly in the Quarter Master Department. Your committee
recommends strict economy in the various departments of the college and by all
means avoid involving the College in debt.
Your committee finds that the Quarter Master's Department has been a cuase of
considerable expense am therefore recommend the adoption of the following
reS<mtion.
That the QUarter Master be ' instructed to make a contract with some commercial
house to furnish clothing to the cadets on cadets' cae count, such contract to be
approved by the President and Commandant of the College and that the salary of
the Quarter Master be reduced to five hundred dollars. Adopted.
We the committee to whom was referred the report of the Librarian, beg to submit
that they have examined the books obtaiJled by the Librarian and the services
rendered by him, and that the librarian having declined to receive the amoun.t
voted to him as a salary, rlz., the sum of two huJld.:red and fifty dollars by this
Board - we have assessed for the services rendered by the librarian tae sum of
fifty dollars aDd recommend the treasurer be i.structed to pay the sa.--ne. Adopted.
Resolved by Mr. Malone that no professor shall be permitted to give private
instruction to any young man unle ss such young man shall first consent to be
governed by the rules am regulations of the college and all compensation received
for instruction so given, shall be deducted from the salary of the professor.
Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Dowdell that the Banking House of Shappard & Co. in the city of
Opelika, Alabama, be adopted as the place of deposit of the funds of the Agricultural
and Mechanicla College.
On motion the Board adjourn until 4 o'clock p.m.
The Board met at 4 o'clock p.m. The committee on the report of the Treasurer
of the college submitted an oral report whereupon the following resolution was
adopted, 'Viz.:
Resolved that a committee on finance consisting of the President of the Board
of Direcwrs, \li. C. Do-wdell and F. M. Reese, be appointed, whose duty it saall
be to examine arrl audit the acco'lints and vouchers of the treasurer of the Ebard
who shall report w the Boabd at its next succeeding meeting and may employ a
competent aecoun.tant to assist them in their labors if they deem proper.
Resolved that the future services of ,Alexander Hogg, Professor of Mathematics,
ill the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, be dispensed with and
that Professor O. D. adth be and is hereby transferred to the chair of mathematics
am. that the duties of the chair of English Literature be discharged
by the other members of the faculty as they may agree among themselves.
On motion of Mr. Stansel that Mr. E. T. Glenn be reelected Treasurer of the
A. & M. College of Alabama by acclamation. Adopted.
On motioJl of Mr. Lawler tba t E. T. Glenn be reelected Quartermaster of the A.
& M. College of Alabama by acclamation. Adopted.
On motioD the Board do adjourn "dmtil tomorrow at 10 o'clock a.m.
F. M.Reese, Secretary
There waa no other meeting held by the Board of Directors after the aboTe
adjournment.
,lNNUAL REPORT OF REVEREND I. T. TICHEIDR, IDESIDENT OF THE
,lGRICUL'IURAL . & MECHANIC,lL COLLEGE OF ALABAMA. Aubu.rn, Ala.
July 6, 1874
Gentlemell:
It affords me pleasure in making this the third annual report to be able to
state that the umprecendented financial pressure of the past year bas net
diminished the number of stu:lents in the college. The number last year was
108, but for the distressed condition of the country, that nunber would in
all probability have been doubled. It was stated to me that from one county
in the extreme northern part of the state seventeen young mtm had prepared
to come to the college.
The panic swept over the country in September and only four of tae seventeen
came.
The Commandant of the students for the most part has been good. The progress
made in these studie s has been in most cases satisfactory am in many, highly
gratifying.
Of the whole number, have received no demerits and have failed
to pass their examinatioJls at the close of the session.
The number of students in the departments of college have been a s follows:
Department of Agriculture - 36
Departme:nt of Engineering & Surveying, & Drawing - 42 to 47
Department of Mathematics - 108
Department of XatDu:a Languages - 43
Modern Languages, French, German, etc. - 28
DepartmeDt of Nat • . Sciences - 57
Department of EngliSh - 92
Department of Moral Philosophy - 73
Militar,y department - 108
Tactic s - 27 •
,lGRICULTURAL STUDENTS
Last year the Board made the very liberal proposal to educate ODe YOtag man
from each county in the agridultural course for the sum of one hundred dollars
per annum, paying for board, tuition, uniforms, etc.
When the financial panic came upon the country in September, it was deemed
best to withhold as far as possible for the present year further information
in regard to this preposal and to receive only SIlch as already hating knowledge
of it should claim admission into the college tader its provision. There have
been received Mr. F. D. Peaboddy from Brussell County; Mr. I. E. 'Ruffin from
Coosa; Mr. L. B. Holt from Shelby. The expenses of these students have been
as follows: Mr. Peabody - $l69.5b; .Mr. Ruffin - $190.85; Mr. Holt - $172.15,
making a total of $.532.!tJ and an average of $17746. 2/3. This is less than was
e:xpected and by such judicious arrangements as can be made hereafter may be
still further diminimed, especially when the number of students of this class
shall be increased.
ST,l TE CADETS
Thirty-six students from nineteen cGUnties having been appointed by the eOUllty
superintendent of Educatien under the law of the state recei,"d free tuition:
Autauga 2
Butler 2
Clay 2
Lee 2
MaCQlI 2
Russell 1
Washing. 1
Chambers2
Ellmore 2
Limestone 1
Baldwin 2
Bullock 2
Coosa 2
Lcwndes 2
Madison 2
Tallapoosa 2
Barbour 2
Montgomery 2
Talladega 1
In addition to these, there other students have received free tuition, making
the whole number of free students 39.
OOLLEGE FARM
The financial condition of the college and the uncertai.ty of receiving from
the state the interest upon its bonds rem.red inexpedient, the experdi tlr e
of al'\Y part of the .~,OOO appropriated for farm improvements by the Board at
its last meeting. These improvements are necessary to make it what the wants
of the college demand ani what the people of the state have a right to expect.
A detailed report of experimeats of the past year are herewith submitted.
FINA,NCES
Durillg the year the que stion peniing between the college and the state has been
happily adju.sted and the college has now deposited in the state treasury two
hundred and fifty four thousand five hundred dollars in state bonds, leaving 8
per cent interest payable semiannually. The interest past due has also been
paid in state notes which have been and are still at a heavy discoUllt. It
affords me pleasure to say that the Governor ani other officers of the state
have manifested the greatest friendship to the college and a lively interest ia
its welfare.
The armual interest on these bonds MUst for years to come constitute almost the
entire reliance of the college for funds. The amount received fer tuition must
be small - strict economy will be required to make the armual income of the
college meet i ts want~
The salaries of the faculty amoullt to $13,200 annually. The salaries of the
Quartermaster ani the Secretary of the . lbard amount to $1250~ total for all
officers - $l4,450. The farm will probably proTe for some years to come a
source of expense to the college, while the necessary expenses of repairs,
insurance, incidentals, improvements, and expenses of the Board have in the
past proved greater than was anticipated. Under these circumatances, the
attenrtion af the Board is called to tb9 fact that the Quartemaster DePil rtment
makes a heavy draft upon the funds ef the college. This department is limited
almo st exclusively to furnislling UJufonns to the cadets. The report for 1873
shows that there was at the close of the last financial year i. unpaid clothiIlg
accounts $635.49; stock on haad $457.45; total $1092.94. This amou.t has
probably been increased during the pre sent year.
This sum does not include the salary of that officer, so that under existing
arrangements it costs the college, besides the use of its money, a considerable
§um to furnish uniforms to the studentsJ while other departments of the institutioB
are languishing for want of means, it is certainly desirable to reduce
this.
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For full illfonnation i11 regard to the financial eonditian of the college, you
are respectfully referred to the report of the treasurer.
Replies to Ce:agressional Committee. The Committee of the United states House
of RepresentatiTes last winter addressed a long list of enquiries to the college
with the view of obtaining full iDf'omation in regard to its condition and
history. These questions which iRduced investigations into the operations e£
the college brought out many gratif,ying facts. Thus, it was shown that in 1872,
of 103 students, 43 were pursuing branches relating to Agriculture, 39 those
relating to mechanic arts, and 21 classical studies. In 1873, there were in
Agriculture 39, in Mechanic Arts 37, classical 16.
who
Of those/have receIved instruction at' the College, fifty-eight are known to have,
since leaving it, engaged in agricultural pursuits about three-fourths af the
whole number.
It was further shown that the college had received 240,000 acres of ~and which
sold fer $.216,000 while its praperty consisting of sta~ boms $254,500 together
with buildings, lands, library apparatus aggregate in value $356,288.
This investigation which proved so satisfactory in its results, rendered
replying to these inquiries of the connnittee a pleasing duty. A copy of til.
questions and answers is herewith submitted.
EIJ[;TIONS
The attention of the Board is respectfully called to the fact that Mr. T. D.
Osborne, one Qf the Directors, has resigned and remeved from the state. Under
the regulations adopted at the last maeting of the Board, the election of the
treasurer and of the Quartennaster is made annually and to the fact that tAe
Board is to select the bank in which the treasurer is required to deposit the
funds of the college.
GRADUATES
Your stUdents having passed through course of study required and haTim.g stood
th!!ir examinations, the faculty respectfully recommend them for degrees as
follows: F. K. Fitzhugh, Arkansas, Bachelor of Science; Marian H. Moare,
Bachelor of Literature; Walter H. Moore, Bachelor of Literat~e; B. H. Johnson,
Bachelor of Engineering.
The faculty recommedn that honorary degrees be conferred en the fellewi:.g
named gentlemen: I. PerciTal Oliver of Dadeville, Alabama and John W. Harris
of Russellville, Alabama, the degree ef Master of Arts; Professor Carlow W.
Smith, President elect of the University of Alabau., the degree of Doctor ef
Laws.
Respectfully submitted,
I. T. Tichenor, President
Report of the President of the Agricultural and Mechanical Cillege of Alabama.
To the speaker of the House of RepresentatiTes of the State of Alabama at the
session of 1874 and 1875.
A & M. Colle~ of Alabama
Auburn, Alaban a
NoTember 25, 1874
As required by law, I herewith submit the following report fer information
and consideration.
REPORT
On the 20th day of March, 1872, the Board of Directors appointed by the
G0vernor of Alabama met in Auburn and proceeded te organize the Agricul1ltral
and Mechanical College by the election of a facult,y and the adoption of such
role s and regulations as were deemed necessary for its govemmeRto
Farly ill April the college went into operation with a faculty of eight
instructors. At subseque.t meetings Clf the Board the Faculty was reduced t.
six and new stands as fellows.
1st. A President & Prof. of Agriculture.
2nd. A Commandant and Professor of EngineeriJlg.
3rd. A Professor of Languages.
4th. A P:rG)fessor of Mathematics.
5th. A Profe soor of Natllral Science s.
6t.. A Professor of Moral Philosophy.
The Act of Congress donating lands for the endewment of the institution,
specifies that the leading objects of the college Shall be t. teach related
to the Agricultural and mechanical arts, i.cluding military tactic s w.l.tho1:l t
excluding other scientific and classical stUdies.
In compliance with the desigll of Congress, the college offers four courses of
study, Tiz.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
A course in letters,
A course in Science,
A course in Agriculture,
J. course in Engineering;
which, in the judgemellt of the Beard and the Faculty meets this requirenent
of the Act of Congress.
BUILDINGS
The buildings which uIrler the agreement between the East Alabmna College and
the state became the property of the Agricultural and Mechanical College needed
extensive repairs am changes to adapt them to the wants of the iBstitution. It
It also became necessary to purchase lods additional to those donated by the
ci tizens of Auburn. Considerable sums of money have been used fo r these purpo sese
FINANCE
Umer directions of a former General ,Assemble, the lands dona ted by 'Cbngre ss to
the state of Alabama, amounting to two hundred and fifty thousand acres, leTa
sold ;n d the proceeds Tested in Alabama 8 per cent bonds. These b:>nds are
deposited in the treasury of the state aM illtere st paid semiannually te the
treasurer of the collegeo
fie bonds belongiJlg to the colle ge amount to tliD hundred and fifty three
thousand and fiTe hundred dollars ($253,500). The other property of the College
consisting of lands, buildings, library, apparatus; etc. is estimated at the
total Tallle of Olle hundred thousand dollars, making the total Talue of the
college property three hundred and fifty three thousand fi."Ie hundred d.llars
($353,500). For a statement of receipts and expenditures, you are respectfully
referred to a report of the treasurer of the college herewith submittedo
TUITION
Under the law of the state, two students from each county are admitted into the
college free of tuition.
By action of the Board sones of ministers are allowed tuition without charge.
jfr7
For the purpose of aiding you~ men of the state to acquaint .themse1ves tJn:uughly
with scientific agriculture, the Board effers to a limited number the most liberal
inducements to complete the agricultural c aurse of the co 11 ege. In addition a
number of students whose means are limited have received and are receiving
gratuitous iastr~tion.
OOLLEGE FARM
A small piece of ground about sixteen acres has been brought umer cult.i vation
mainly with the view of making e Jq>eriments in agriculture.
During the past two sessions numbers of experiments have been made in corn,
cotton, wheat grasses of different kinds and forage plants in which a great
variety of commercial fertilizers were employed.
TIle results of these experiments in many cases have been instructive and in some
bighly gratifying. It is designed to enlarge this field of operation. as J1IllY be
warranted by the funds of the college and the dsnand upon the institution. In
the meantime the general interests of agriculture in tn, state haTe not been
overlooked. Many analysis of soils am minerals have been made.
Mail beds in the southern part of t~ state and other depasits have been exmnined
with the view of employing as fertilizers. lihat is known as black nest im
cotton has received special attention from the professor of Chemistry ani after
a careful examination of the plant and analysis of the soil a remedy has been
suggested which is hoped will prove effectual in its removal.
roND ITION OF THE OOLIEGE
Since the organization of the college, it has been steadily advancing in public f
favor. During last session the number of stUdents exceeded that of any other
college im the state. But What is more gratifying to its friem s is the fact
that so large a proportion of thosw who are receiving instruction written within
its walls purpose to swell the ranks of the industrial classes. Of those who have
left the institution more than sixty are now engaged in agriculture; a snaller
but considerable number in mechanical or manufacturing pursuitso Some are
engaged in teaching, while but few have e1'l't.ered conunercial <r professional life.
Of the one hundred and eight students in tre ce11ege during tlle last session tmre
are in the department of agriculture - 36; engineering 47; nat. sciences - 57.
When they shall be able to make the people of Alabama mere fully ae~il1ted with
the designs and purposes of the institution and ¥he. increasing prosperity shall
enable the industrial classes of our state to give a liberal education to their
sons, those woo manage and direct the college confidently expect to make it a
grand element of power in the development of the resources of our state and a
rich blessing to our people.
I. T. Tichenor
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