1888 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama
Minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 188877 At 'the request of W. L. Broun, President of~ theCollege letter addressed by the Governor of the State to Hon. C: ordered .,'iiJ. ~I\d upon the reco~ds. a copy of an original S. Fairchild was Chief Executive Office Subject: .Agricult...
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AU Board of Trustees Minutes 1888 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama Auburn University Board of Trustees |
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Minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 188877
At 'the request of W. L. Broun, President of~ theCollege
letter addressed by the Governor of the State to Hon. C:
ordered .,'iiJ. ~I\d upon the reco~ds.
a copy of an original
S. Fairchild was
Chief Executive Office
Subject: .Agricultural Experiment Stations '
Montgomery, Alabama
Novemer 12, 1881
Hon. C. S. Fairchild
Secty of Treasury
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir
Whereas on the second day of. March, 1887, the' Congress of the' United States
passed "An Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with
the colleges, established in the several states under the provisions of an Act
, approved j~ly 2, 1862, and of the acts ;ru.pplementary ,ther.eto f' and whereas '
by the ninth section of said Act the grant of ~one~ authorized thereby is suvject
to tne assent, of ,the several states vand ,territories to the purposes of said grant;
and whereas the Legislature of. Alabama did adjourn sine die on' t,he' 28th February,
1887, without assenting thereto and the next , regular session thereof does not
~_/ occur with' th~ 13t~ day of November, 1888; and whereas s~id section 9 provi des
in such an "event for the exercise of the discretion 'of the Governpr of 'said
state now therefore, .I, Thomas Seay, ~overnor of the State Qf Alabama, ' do hereby
assent to the grant of the money authroized by the act 'approved March' '2,' 1881.
Very respeqtfully
Thomas Seay ...
Department ~f Agriculture: and proceeding~ relB,ting thereot, February 24, '1888
"
At a. cal~ed meettng ,of the Board of Trustees of t~e Agri cultural land Mechanical
College of Alabama by order of Thomas- Seay, ,Governor of the State, and ex officio
President of the Board, the Board met· in the office of the GovernQr on the
24th od February" 1888. On call of the roll there were present
The Governor Thomas Seay, Pres. ex officio
Absent
Palmer, Sup~ . Education
Bishcip
Haralson
;Kolb
Langdon
Ligon
Malone
Stansel
Gilchrist
18
On motion of Mr. Langdon that the Presi~ent of the College submit sucnreports --~
as he has prepared for the consideration of the Board. .
The President thereupon read the following report:'
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees:
I respectfully submit the following report in ~elation 'to the Agricultural
~eriment Station to be established in connect ion with the college under the act
of Congress approved March 2, 1881. The grants of money authorized Qy this act
of Congress are conditioned in the assent of the Legislature as of the Governor
of the State to the purposes of the act. The Legislature having adjourned
prior to the approval of the act, the November 12, the Governor ~n mbalf of
the state of Alabama gave the assent required for the acceptance 'of the
t rust by the authorities of the college.
Whatever credit belongs to the originators of the Agricultural Experiment
Stat iBn bill rightly attaches. to the several ,agr i cutlural colle ges of the state ~ ~
They ·were the f i rst to r ecogni ze their i.pbility . to promote the large
and varied interest s of agriculture as they should be by m~rely ·-teaching stUdents
. under t heir charge' the elements of those sciences that relate thereto and
were among the first to urge that investigation and researc~ with e~erimen 1;,.5
for verification and discovery· and dis'semination of results to those
engaged in practical agriculture were the proper means to ef fect
general improvement. These coll~ges appreciqted the inportance to one
county of a wide dissemination of the principles of a na~iona1 agriculture
- whereby: exhausted soils can be renovated ' and made fertile and the .
. .fert:Lli ty of the virgin soils retairied; and in conjunction with intelligent
farmers throughout the country they pressed this measure upon Congress, insisting
that the gradual exhaustion of the cultivated coil as shown on _official reports
demonstrated that means should be adopted commensurate with the importance
of the results to be accomplished.
The demand for the eStablishment of these stations finally exhibited such
unanimity as to· secure compliance then with in the enactment of what is known as
t he Hatch Act whereby' there is established in each state and teITitpry in
connection with the ~and grand colletes an agricultural experiment station. The
duty of the college established by the act of 1862 is to teach. The duty of the
college established by the act of i887. is to investigate. ,The act, constitutes
a grand national endowment of research in behalf of agriculture.
Object' 'Of the. Station '
. '
The act of Congress defines the purposes of the grant ~ be: (1) to diffuse
among the people useful and practical information on subjects connected with
agriculture ~2) to promote scientific investigation and e~iments respecting
the principles"of agricultural science. It more definitely dEdares in Section
2 of s aid act the object and duty of the experiment station to be "to conduct
researches or verify experiments in the physiology of plants and animals-,
the diseases to which they are severally subject with the remedies for the
same --the chemical compositions of useful plants at their . different stages of , .
I
f _l
79
growth - the advantages of rotation' of crops as purpued under a 'varying -
series of crops - the capacity of new plants or, trees for acclimation -
the analysis of soils and water - the chemical compsotion of manures; natrual
and artificial with experiments to t est their comparative effects upon crops
of different kinds - the adaptation and value of grasses and ' forage plants,
the composition and digestibility of the different kinds of food for domestic
animals - the scientific and economic questions involved in the production of
butter and cheese, and such other researches and experiments bearing directly
on the agricultural industry of the United States as may be in each case
deemed advisavle.' '
The experiment station as is seen from this enumeration of duties is not to be
simply a fann or plot of land where experiMents in 'crops and fertilizers are
to be made/ but is do be an organization of men qualified by study and training
in science for experimentat ion ,and research,whose tlble and energy will be given
to the investigation of subjects of scientific and pratical 'interest to agriculture.
Therefore the station must have a practical and scientific side. It 'must ;
consider agriculture both as ~ ari art and a science. ~
Its Duty Will Be '
1st To acquire and diffuse' to those enga&ed 'in farming useful and practical
information on subjects relating to agriculture of, interest and profit. -
2. To engage in scientific investigation and research in relation to the nUmber
questions that belong to the ~arge 'and varied interests of -agriculture,
questions which can only be determined by repeated experiment and the continued
study of scientific experts. To make this station a success and of value to the
farms each 'side of its work must be held to the highest efficiency both by the
appointment 'of officers of large and extended knowledge relating to 'agriculture
as practiced in the South as well as of those who -by long · and successful study
in tbe Depar.tment of 'Natrual Science become qualified to engage in scientific
research.
,
Location,
; ,
The Experiment Station by act of Congress 1S placed under control of the Trustees
of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and hence must be located at the college
to 'secure. the advantages o..f the farm buildings ana. the equipment alr ~dY provided
ancr -the _services of the offibers of the college engaged in kindred subjects.
It field experiments in agriculture were made only at one location in the' state,
1£ would not be possible to select anyone such place that would represent in
soil, and climate all the different agricultural sections which compose the whole
state. Hence then will at once arise the necessity on the part of the station
of select.~l in each one of the different agri'cul tural sections of the j tate
one or mope intelligent and progressive farmers who will repeat',accordfug to I
careful and specific direction, the experiments desired and report the reSults
to the station.
These adjuncts of the station have been found of great value in other states
in multiplying experiments under varying conditions. The reliability of the
general average of the results will be thereby increased and the interest in the
work of the station throughout the state largely extended.
80
In this manner all the different sections of the state can be represented
in the experiment station at a minimum cost and all valuable work accomplished -...--
that can be done a t a separate farm 'or station designed only for field experiments
These different results when reported would under this S,1stem be compared and
analyzed and conclusions of value drawn by a corps of officers assigned to
station dut,y while the field experiments would be made ,t& represent the 'different
agricultural sections of the state. " '
Nor does it follow that all the officers of the station shQuld necessarily
be at the college especially specialists though nonresidents who are skilled
in scientific work could be profitably employed to investigate those subjects
to which they have devoted year s of study.
Work ' of 'the Station
Field experiments of crops, seeds, f ertilizers, arid different modes of cultivation
will constitute a large and important work of the station, 'but only a part of
its legitimate work. "When field by the work of the chemical laboratory and by the
cultivation of plants with .different soils eliminated, they are 'given little
weight by scientific agriculturists in the search for results of value.
Besides field experiments the work of the station will demand accurate experiments
of the growth of plants in pots with soils whose constituents are known by analysis
wher,eby the source of error in field experiments, arisiIig from natural and unknown
d1ffe~ences of soils in adjacent plots is elimfMirlated. This plant growth
in pots willdeman careful attention and will be essential to 'check the
unanticipated 'varlationsof the plot experiments. i
The work of the station of tne first imporatance ~hould beta determine and
spread wide the knowledge of the cause of the fertility in ' the Soil, to show how
the original fertility may be retained, and how the exhausted soils may 'be
restored and also to demonstrate the methods of culture that will give
l'elliUlleratiVEi crops and a t 'the same time retain and regain the ,.. ! 'Iertility
of the soil. Among the numberous questions the investigation of whi-ch will
become the special duty of the station, may be mention~d the digestibility and
function of different cattle foods, the value and economy of ensilage, the
value of cotton seed as a food for plants, and animals, the growth of grasses
and forage crops, the effects of different kinds of fertilizers "and' different
constituents' by chemical analysis, the effects of different"modes of culture,
, rotation of crops, acclimation 'of pla'nts 'and trees, testing germination of
s.eeds, SB well a's the numerous questions that reJ.ate to horticulture, fruit
culture, etc •.
---'
But among all, the~ and Qthers questions which readily suggest themselves, the station
should first select those which are of direct practical interest to the' farmers
of A,labama and should consecuti vely for a series of years inves'tigat e these
qu~stions unti l ,definite cordlsiolls are reached ani not direct its 8nergies
in too many ·different directions.
81
Chemistry to which we are all indebted for all we know of scientific agriculture
should receive due consideration in the organization of the college experiment
station. Fortunately in the new chemical laboratory to be completed in a short
time rooms have been especially provided for the work of the experiment station
and when these are provided with the special appliances needed the college
will be splendidly eqltlpped for doing excellent work in this department .
Questions relati ng to botany and entomology will demand careful investigation
and research, especially the stuQy of insects useful and injurious to crops
in the South as well as that of insecticides . Climatic influence must be
daily noted, including amount of sunshine, temperature of soils at different
depths, etc .
The station will require a specially qualified expert to investigate questions
re13,ting to vegetable and animal physiology, the diseases of plants, e,nimals,
and their remedies. And means should be taken to diffuGe a knowledge of
veterinary medicine and surgery among the practical farmers of the state. These
are some of the subjects for the investigation of which it is recommended that
immediate provision be made .
Diffusion of Knowledge
The act of Congress wisely provides for the diffusion of t his knowledge obtained
by experimentation and research by requiring that bulletins containing the
results of the experime~t6 shall be published every three months and distributed
to those engaged in farming; and to facilitate this distribution is provided that
the bulletins may be sent free under the frank of the officer in charge Q The
distribution of the bulletins will be a matter of importance for which special
provisions must be made.
Farmers Institutes
As an additional means of diffusion of information, Farmers Institutes should
be held in different sections of the state and before these institutes provisions
should be made to have dell.vered by the officers of the stat ion and by others
who have made a special study of subjects relati.ng to agriculture .
Buildings and Equipment
In addition to the new and elegant chemical laboratory now building and to the
farm buildings and appliances possessed by the college there l'rill be iIJ'l.mediate
need . of other suitable buildings at the farm to do the work required for accurate
experimentation in cattle feeding; and also need for other appliances . The other
departments must also be provided l.>ith apparatus adapted for scientific researcho
Library
Books as well as apparatus const! tute the tools and vorking equipment of the
investigator. A good technical library must be provided - it is absolutely
essential - without it good work CRnnot be done .
Fortunately for the college, the experiment station previously established by
the trustees under the act of the State Legislature, has provided 'a partial
equipment for this work and gives experience which will prove of value in
assuming the gross responsibilities i mposecl. by the act of Congr es s .
82
When we consider the importance and extent of t he work, it will be ~eadily
seen it will require that the appropriation be expended wtth thoughtful care
and economy to accomplish suc~e s sfu~ly the end desired .
With a competent corps of officers and jurdicious expenditures we can
confidently expect that, by this work of the station a wide spreud and increased
interest in agriculture vfill be excited and that there will "r esult
to the entire state benefits of a permanent character .
I therefore r espectfully recommend that the experiment station be organized
as a department of the college by appointing a corps of competent office.rs to
engage in experimentation and research as defined in the act of Congress and
sub~it herewith a proposed plan of organization .
Respectfully,
Auburn Feb . 24, 1888 VIm. Leroy Brm~n , President
On moti on of Mr. Langom, that Professor Newman and Lupt on be i nvited t o come
bef ore t he board . Mr. John of Selma was also in\~ ted to come before the
board .. Each of the gentlemen ll'ade st ,'3.tements and submitted r emarks .
The report of the President of the CQllege ~~s then taken up, together with
a plan for the organization of the Department of Agriculture, which vias
consider ed as resolutj ons and wl\\vl\J). r.e... as follows o
1 . Resolved - In accordance with the Act of Congress approved March 2, 1887
to establish Experiment Stations in the Southern States, the Governors of
these states having given certified assent to the purposes of the grant as
required in the act, there is merely extablished under the provisions of sai d
act for the purpose therein named, the Agricultural Experimental Station of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama; and said station is merely
made /a department of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and as such, shall
as other departments, be under the gener~l supp.rvision of the President of the
College .
~(\""" .
2 . Resolved - That all moneys rec eive d~ the United States Treasurer, under t he
official Act of Congress, shall be faithfully used for the purposes designated
in said act .
30 Resolved - That the Pr esident of the Col lege shall present in his annual
report to the Trustees and such recommendations ~s in his opinion will promote
the efficiency of t.he station; and to him all the reports of the several
departments of the station shall be madeo
4. Resolved - That the President of the College and such other officers attached
to the station as may be appointed by the Trustees shall consti tU.te a Board of
Directors and to the said Board all subjects relating to the Experiment Station
shall be r eferred . And in order to secure unity of the purpose of r esearch, the
Board of Directors fhal1 confer together and determine the experimentation and
research which shall be undertaken and adopt each year a definite line of work;
it being provided the work undertaken, shall as far as possible have reference
to questions of practical i nterest to the furmers of Alahama . Th9 Board shall
meet at r egular periods a,nd at any time subject to the call of the Pr esident and
shall keep a record of its proceedings .
.'
5. Resolved ~ That "a member of the Bo~rd oI Directors snali 'be appointed by the
Board of Tvustees of.fic e~ in charge, who in ' addi t ion to the' special duties of
the stati on to which he may-be assigned as, Director, s.hall conduct t he gener al "
cor respondence i nci dental to t he work of the stat ion and i ssue bulletins 'in'
accordance with the Act of Congres s .
r
. -
.6. 1:n order 'diffuse infonnation of value to the farmers , the BCiaI!d of Directors
shall provide ~tor c~nducti (~ ' far-mers institutes in ' different sections of. the
State, in connect i on ,iith the Commissioner of Agri cultur e, before which officers
of the stations shall 'lecture on subjects under their charge: The di~e ctors of •
t ne Agricultural ,-Experiment Sxation shall cause field experiments i n agricult ure
~ to be made at ~ne Branch Experiment Stations at Uniontown, and ·the sum of two
thou:sand ·dollar s i 's hereby appropriated' for said field experJ:m.ents; and 'for other
needs of 'sald 'station other than' for building purposes~ .
7. Each officer at t he head of a department i n t he Experiment Station, shall
prepare for publication, at least once in three months a repor~ of the work done
in his ,department, and the same whe'~ approved ~hall De is:sued ,as ~ bulletin. " .
8. The Treasurer of t he College is her eby appoi nt ed t he broker offi cer to r eceive
from t he United States Treasury i n behalf of this college, the funds~ appropri ate d
by t he act s of Congress to establi sh Agricultural EKper-iment Stations in t he .
several states. That the ,Treasurer' of t he- College before recieving "any .of the
furide Under the ac't of Congress approveCl March 2nd, 1887, known as t he {iatc,h Act ;
be and he is her eby required eo ent er into bond with security to be approved by
t he Gover nor of Alabama, payable to t he Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Al abama in the sum of' ten thousand dollars ·($lO,OOO. ) condlti oned i n the f aithful
perf ormance of his duties i n r ecieving, keeping and distributing said fund.
And that the ·TrErasurer be aliowed f or hi s services ' i n ree.iving and, 'distributing
said f und a salary of five hundred dollars ($500) per annum. ' He shall keep a
separ ate account of the annual records and expenditures and report the same as
r equired by this Act . .
9. R~sol~ed - Tha~ i t shall be the duty of the stati on to examine free of char ge
a r t:i,.cl es relat i ng to Agriculture sent by" citi zens of the State, when of ,public
utility under ~uch: ~egulati on s as may be p'r eseri bed, and t o_ perform an duti_es '
no"t required by t he experiment station est ablished at -thEr eollege by t he Trustees
under the law of the state.
10. No office of the station shall engage in any accupati on , or acc~pt any .
position that wil l in any manner i nter f ere with the ~aithful performance of his
duties ; and no property of any character bel onging t a tb e experime~t stat i?n
shall be u~ed for private pur poses .
. ' .
11. All proceeds arising from sales from the produce of the farm s~a1l be pai ~ _
to the Treasurer of the College, who shall account t or the same to ~he Trustees ;
and when the Director receives any money from farm products, he shall make an
i t emized statement. in writing from what sourc ~ such mopey i f! recei ved, which .'
statement, shalt with the ~urYey be turnea over to the Treasur er and no money
shall be paid t o the Director unIess ,upo~ warrqnt s~gned by the President of
the Col lege . . . ,
84
12. That a committee of visitors composed of three trustees shall be appointed,
who I!Iball during the yea:$ aa often aa ' t hey may, deem necessary, visit and. inspect
each department of the Experim~nt Statio.n and make a special..:report at. the annual
meeting of. 1:!hQ .Board: And no permanent improvement shall be c,onstructed without
the app~Val. of the cOl1U!li ttee. .;; . f ,''3) 1 • .",
, "1.' . • 1
13. Resolved - That the organization of the Experiment Station shall take effect
1st Qf\ April, 1888, and to contimle so l ong as the a 'tf, ·o.f Oongresa ~ remains i:n force :
and the Agr.' and· Mee. College receives the .money therain appropriated.
f _:""'<:J i.. f'
14.. Resolveq· - that the Experi,ment statio . shall ·be-\organi.zed wi·th the 'folloiing
officers: First, the President of th,e College'. Second, the Agri,culturi:Sti ~o shall
be a director: Third, a chemist . who shall be a vice-director: Fourth, a P~{iliologist:
Fifth, a Botanist: .SWh, an Entomologist,. who sh$Ul hav.e charge o'f meteQrolfolgy.., ""with
the following assistants .. ~st ( ass~stant Chemi,at -. first ~a~istant Ag~~ulturist ~
assi stant in Meteorology.
d t r)... .....
On motion o~f Mr.· Malone that . the resolutijlns be Q9nsidE'tred and acted_ton .
seriatin\ - . adopted.. The 1st· Resolution as in origi~l draft was amended so as, to
read as is set forth in said resolution and was adopted.
The 2nd resolution - was ~dopted .
The 3rd resqlut ion - was 'adopted. ,"., . ,~ . . _,
The 4th resolution'1:8ing . under consideration and pending .~t_hef!.ame on 1ll0t;iPQ of the <
Gov-ernor,. Mr. Langdon~ bein~ in the Ghair, the Board adjourned ~nt).l 3 o.'clock, p .. l1~ ,_ , " t A . . . ..~
*_c .... l ~.."
-The' Board met .a:\; 3 o:' clock ;in t}le office of t ~ 'Goverl}or at the Capitol build.:Lng
am 011 call of t he roll - ;. thes~ wer~ pres.ent· - The Goverpor." and Mess:rs-. palmer,
Bishop', Haral®n, Kolb, Langdon, Li,gon, Malone, StaP$el, ' .Gilchrist - all. the. members
of the Board were presen.t • _ J,. • '
The 4th Resolution was then further considered and adopt~d ..
The 5th Resolution was adopted.
, (:
The 6tb Resolutiop was amended as it appears ill the recor d, on M.ption to ad9pt -the. )
same liT. Langdon cal~dfor the 'Yeas; and, nays. T}1ose :wtw~ .for, t~e : ~doption of
the reaolution. wera the PresideI!t of t~ Board and Mes.srs. ~almer , . ~isho~" Haralson,
~olb, Ligon~ Stansel - 6. Those, v.oting nay .we~e M~ssrs. pdlcprist~, Langaon~
and Malone - 3. The resolution was adopted.
The 7th Reoolution was ~dopted •.
The ath ~esqlution was adopt~d.
The 9th Resolut~on was adopted.
The lOth Resolution was adopted. ~. ." " .
The 11th Resolution as in original resolution was amended as now on the record and
adopted.
The ~2th Resolution wa~ adopted.
The 13th Reool-qtion was adopted..-
The 14th ResoJ,ution was adopted. .... '{
The resolutionS as stanq, on .thp re,cord were then adopte1d _as a whole.-
• I 1 , L ... ,.
The Board adjourned on motion till nine o ' clock -tomorrow.
Feb. 24th, 1888.
F. M. Rease
Sec. to Board
85
Saturo.ay, February 25th', 188"8
The Board met at the office of the Governor in the state Capitol and on call
o~ the roll the~ were ·present:
The Governor ot the State,.Ned Seay~
Superintendent of Education, Mr. Palmer,
and Messrs. Bishop, Gilchrist, Haralson, Kolb, Langdon, Ligon, Malone and Stansel.
"
The .. subj ect of appropriations coming up - on motion the following amounts were
.appropriated from the $15,000.00 appropriated' by act of Congress March '2I1d, 1887.
t •
t For~ farDl buildings the sum of
For equipment of farm, labor and
assistants
Completing. Chemical Laboratory'
Equipment of Chemical Laboratory
~quipment for Entomology .
Libra:ry
For assistant chemist
For assistant"meteorologist
For printing
Stationery and contingent expenses
Expenses of trustees
Treasurer to be paid quarterly .
Secretary to be' paid quarterly '
Uniontown Branch Experiment Station
$2,200.00
2,340. 00
800. 00
4,000.00
500. 00.
1,200. 00
375.00
7,.00
:300. 0D
1~.00 .
300. 00
500~OO
150. 00
2,000.00
J14,Mo. oo
_There beipg an unappropriated balance of $110.00 and the further sums of ·
three-:-.rourtl'}.s of ealaries of Treasurer and Secretary would make the sum . together
with the $110.00 not· appropriated an unappropriated balance of ~ $'97 . 5b .
-On motiQn of Mr. Haraloon"!' That ,from the amount of $,97.50 there be added
to the $1200. 00 appropriated to the l ibrary, the swm of $300.00 for scientific
works and b09ks - making the appropri ati on thereto $1500.00. Adopted~
On motion of Mr. Palmer - That the- balance ot said sum of $597 .. SO, to wit,
the sum of $297 • .50 be appropriated to the contingent fund of the Department of
Agriculture at Auburn, Ala. .
On motion of Mr. Palmer - that the Board reconsider the vote by Which the
office of Bo~ani st was carried - also that of Physiologist (carried) .
Election of officers was on motion gone into. Professor J . S. Newman was
elected Agriculturist and Director of Experiment station. Professor N. T. Lupton
Chemist and Vice-Director of Experiment Station. Profesoor P. H. Mell .Entomologist
and Meteorologist •• ·
The chair of Physiologist was e stablished and when the ProIessor thereof is
selected by the Board he shall recieve as compensation for his services the sum of
two thou.sand dollars. ($2000) per annun. ""
. ,
The chair of Botanist is e'stablished and' when filled that officer shall re-cei
ve a salary of one thousand dollars ($lQOO) per annun.
No change was made of present assistants in the Department of Agriculture under
Pro f • Newman.
86
A ssist~t in Meteorology ~o be named by the President of the college whose compensation
shall be at the rate of $SbO. oO per ~num.
Dr. James T. Ander son of Little Rock, Arkansas was elected Assistant Chemist
with a salary of ($1500) fif teen hundred dollars per. annum and secretary inst ructed
t o notify him t he reof. "
-
By Mr. Bishop - Resolved - that W. L. Broun, t he President of the college be ,
and i s hereby authorized to execute for and in the naile' 'of ,the Board of Trustees
of, th,e A,gricul tural and Mechanical college' of <All}.. a deed. to Am:os A. 'Cox, 'to a cer.;.
t ain lot or parcel of ground in the corporate limit s of the town of Auburn, Lee Co. ,
Ala., and northwest of the college puildings forrnerly known as the ' college f arm,
descr i bing the same by meter and bounds. (ldopted)- . .. ,',
• t
By Mr. Haral oon - Resolved~ - t hat t he President 'of the college, be and he is
hereby authorized to expend the . sum of $.300, three hundred dollars,. or so much
thereof as m~ be necessary for . preparing an illustrated catalogue 'of t he col legeo
(Adopted.) ,
By Mr . St ansel - Resolved - t hat t he visitors designated in secti on 12' by-which the
Dept. of Agriculture is organi zed - be appoint ed by the Governor as President of
thi s Board with Mr . Gilchrist chairman. ' ' .
By Mr. Kolb - Resolved - t hat tbere be appropria~d from the $15000 'appropriated by
Act of Congr ess March 2nd, 1887 . - t he sum of .$150. 00, one hundr ed and fifty dollars,
as addi tional compensation to F. M. ,Reese secretary of the Board and that his salary
as secretary be (3500) five hundred doi lars per ' annum. (Adopted.)
By Mr. Kolb - Resolved - t hat in_accor dance with the estimates reported by Pr of
essor New.man, of funds needed at the Experiment station from Dec. 22nd, 1887, ~ ,
September 30~h, . 1888"the sum of ' ($lSbo) fifteen hundred dol lars i s hereby appropriated
f rom the ($2000) two thousand dollars by the Commissioner of Agriculture to
t he Treasurer of t he' coll~ge on December 24th, 188~, which ~as .~dopted . ' ,
, . " \..
By Mr . Langqon - Resolved ~ that the report 'of the Pr e sident of the College to the
Board of Trustees at this session, be furnished to the Montgomery City papers
with t request . th~t the papers of the stat e publish t he -same. . (Ad?pted)
On motion the Board adj ourned sine die .
F. M. Reese
Secr etar,i to Board of Truste es
, .
Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of the A & M College, ~ferring to the
college proper at a meeting held i n the office of the Governor in the State Capitol,
February 24 and 25th, 1888. , ' ,'" ". , . ,
The Board being in session with all the members present . , It was by Mr.
Haralson - Resolved - t hat the President of the col lege, be and he is hereby
authorized and empowered to sigh the name of the Agricul tural and Mechanical
College of Alabama to the bond required by t~ ' United States Government for '
neces sary arms and accoutrements for the military department of the college, and to
87
bind the . college thereto: and to procure the necessarJ s'Qr~ties 'thereto: ani the-..
Board her eby promise . to indemnii'y and to save harmless . any surety or sureties
on such bond, in consideration of thei r becoming sureties on the same , for the
benefit of the college. (Adopted) .
By ~o St~nsel - Resolved - t hat the sum of ( $300) three hundred dollars be
r
• •
allowed the comi!landant of corps of cadets' as compensation for his servi ce s, as
such comiiiandant , urrler t he direction of the Pre sident of the college, when
detailed by the Secretary of War. . (Adopted)
BY Mr. Ligon - Resolved - that as the detail of 1st Lieut • . M. C. Richards, .
Col. commanding· the corps of :cadets will expire Oct. 1st, 1888 - that the President
of the college is hereby authori z:ed to apply to' the Secretary of War for the
detail of an officer in his place .- He shall make application , first for Lieut.
John B. McDonald, 10th Cavalry - second, Robert L. Bullard, 10th InfantI""J, "and
if neither of the above named officers a'annot be' detailed "then for Lieut. John
H. Wills, 22nd Infantry. Adopted.
Note. As the swm of $800, for which the .cQllege farm was sold was appropriated
to Dept. of Agriculture, the resolution directing a· deed· to be made to the
same to Amax A. Cox the pu:tchaser, is embraced among proceedings relating to the
Dept. of Agriculture.
Also the Tes:>luti.on by which the salary of tHe secretary was increased,
making his salary five hundred dollars ($500) per annum, the additional salary'
being allowed on account of services requir~d on account of establishment of Dept.
of Agriculture. : .
On opposite' page .on resolutions on the ,death of Hon. 'WIn. H.~ Barnes whi ch were
introduced at this meeting of the Board.
Montgomery, Ala.
Feby 25th, 1888
F. M •. Re'ese.
Secretary to Board of Trustees
A & M College of Ala~
The Governor has designated Messrs. Ligon and Mitchell to complete the
committee of Visitors, to be appointed in accordance with requirements of
Resolution 12 of Act of Organization.
In Memory: of ~. William H. Barnes
F. M. Reese
Secretary Tr.
By Mr. Stansel - Resolved - that whe~as since the . last annual meeting of thi.s
Board, Col. Wi~iam ~ • . Barnes, .one of our members departed this life at his home
in Opelika, Ala., therefore be it resolved, .
1st That the Board of Trustees 0+ the A & M College of Ala ~, has sustained 'a
serious l oss by the death of our esteemed and able associate : _ and that the '
Institution has lost one of its wisest and most able supporters.
88
2nd -That in the death . of Col. Barnes our. state has lost one of its best citizens,
finest patriot~ and ablest statesmen - the bar one of its -most learned and eloquent
advocates - A bright light in the profession has been extinguished - a strong man ~as
fallen. . -
3rd That we his intimate friends and associates in. all the relations of , life, mourn his unexpected departure - we shall miss him - the ties of friendship of
many years are broken - we· will ever, cherish in memory the manly v~rtues - the
genial and social nature of our deceased friend.
4th That these resolutions be spread upon therecord~ of this Board - that a copy of
th~ same be transmiited to the family -of the -deceased, and that the State papex:s be
reque sted to publish the ~ame .: ~ _'
- Mr. ~gon moved the adoption of the r~solutio~s seconded by ~r. Malone .- and they
were adopted unanimously. .
Meeting of the Committee of ·Visitors
Aubu~n; Ala. Apr. 3rd, ·~888.
The committee of visitors consisting of Mr. Gilchrist, chairman, and Messrs.
Ligon and Mitchell met in Auburn, April 3rd at the oall of Dr. Wm. L. Broun,
President of the College, ~y request of chairman of Com.
By Mr. Ligon - Resolved; that the bid made by Mr. James Snith, !lith such alterations
in the plans and specifications for t he buildings to be erected at the
Experiment Station, and therein naIlEd, as m~ be consented to arAi agreed on by the
Committee, so that "the" cost of such buildings does not exceed the amount heretofore
appropriated, to wit, the sum of two thousand, two hundred dollars ($2, 200) , is
hereby accepted; and that Dr. "'Tm. L. Broun, the President of the College is hereby
au thorized and empowered to sign _the contract for said buildings with sald-Jame s
Smith, when plan~ and specifications are agreed on. (Adopted) .
F. M. Reese
Secretary to Board of Trustees
AUBAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
A & M. Co~eg~, Auburn, Alabama, June 4th, 1887
Dr. Wm. leRoy Broun, President:
Sickness has prevented an earlier preparation of this
report.
Chair of Agriculture
My work as Professor of Agriculture, during- the past ses~ion" has b~en bQth
agreeable and satisfactory - Each succeeding year brings manifestat~ons 9f increased
intere st in the study of Agriculture on the part of the cadets. MUch of this is no
doubt due to the kindly interest, which you have shown in the welfare of this department,
for which and ' the uniform courtesy and kindness you have shown and ex- .
tended to me both o~ficially and personally, please accept my appreciative aoknowledgement.
89
One of 'the most marked feat ures of 'the experience of the session just ' ended is
the decided interest shown by the cadets in the practica. work of the station,
in which the three higher cl,asses have engaged most cheerfully.
. .
Owing to the large amount of laboratory work done in other. departroen:t"s by
cadets taking the course of chemistry and agriculture; I found it 'necessaIY to
occasionally, to devote an hour which s~ould have been used in class room instruction
to field work, which demanded immediat e attention, while the best instruction
could be Kiven. This was especially the case in \.t)rk in the. horti cultural
department in which planting and pruning rrmst receive attention at the proper .time
or the lesson be' lost.
When the weather admitted ten hours a week were devoted to field instruction
as follows. Sophomore class six ho~s Junio;r Two and. Se~or Two •
. There have been 96 in attendance upon ten cl~sses in Agriculture dur ing the
session just end~d, . distributed a~ follows. Senior class 7. Junior 8. Sophomore
41. Freshman 40 - 96. The e?cperiment. of in~tructing the Freshman class in
Agricultur~, has prove~ succe.ssfu;I. beyond my expectatipns. Nptwithstanding the
fact that you gave them to me only once a week ver,y satisfactory progress has
been made as shown by the examinations just completed. If practicable; I would
like to have this class recite twice per week during the second term. This would
enAble me to extend my course of instruction by commencing in the Sophomore where
the freshman ended. When not interrupted by unfavorable weather my collegiate
duties occupy eighteen hours per' week. Eight in the lecture room and ten in the
field. Add to this the conduct of the aation, planning, planting, observing
developments and weighing results of expe;riments, the preparation of bulletins
and monthly visits to the canebrak~ station and I find little leisu're time of
the 'year, vacation ·included. Indeed it would hQve l b~en utterly impossible for me
to have accomplished the work that has been done without the assistance which has
been rendered by-Mr. C. L. Newman, who has received for his services the pitiful
sum of $15.00 per month from the Station. This, however, has been supplemented
from private funds. I make no complaint of any kind. I have endeavored to perform
with fidelity the duties. assigned me and am gratified to be able to state
that so far as thS cadets are concerned, the old prejudice against t he study of
Agriculture ' no longer exists.
IV relations with the cadets have been of the most pleasant . character, both
officially and socially. They have so far as has come under my observation conducted
the~selves as gentlemen and as such have done faithful wQrk. MY' dut,y 'as
te~cher h~s bee~ a pleasant one and I trust not without profit to those who .have
sat under my instruction • .
Experiment Station
The bulletins accompanying furnis h a partial report of the work of last year.
During (this month another will be issued. giving results of experiInSnts upon sweet
potatoes and sugar cane , to be ~ollowed 111 July by a maInlal o~ forage culture and
llay m~ing for Alabama, with some comments Up 011 the most economical and profitable
manner of feeding our stock. This will be followed in August by a report of
investigations made upon the fruit trees and plants and a rep(jrt of tests of
varieties of smal~ fruit~. .
The usual investigations are in progress in regard to the methods of planting,
fer:tilizing and cultivating our -principal field crops, besides some intera.stirig
enquiries in the fieldf:j of horticu.lture and homology~ ' Preparation i s being made
90
to afford additional facilities for investigating the underground developments of
our c:ult-ivated plants. • -'
The seven acres which belonged to the estate of William Stenn, were planted
last Nov. and steps .are being taken to improve the soil and heal the unsiehtly
gullies with which it was co:r:rugated. ,
Financial
I herewith submit my book o£ accounts with vouchers classified
It will be observed that these have been received from all sources.
Expended
Unexpended balance
and numbered.
$2781. 91
, 2307 . 78
$ 474.13
The unexpended balance will be paid for pike and ram purchased, erecting tank,
replacing building de~troyed by fire and in payment of wages, etc., this month.
" .
I trust" you will recommend to the Board as liberal appropriation as their m~ans
will j ustify for the purchase' of additional improved implements, prepar~tion for
accurate experiments in feeding stock, and , otherwi~e developing the usefulness of
the station.
Ver.y respectfully
'~. S. Newman .
Prof. and Direc,tor '
The above report by some means ' went into possessio~ of Dr. Broun' and was not
found until this day, May 31st, 188, hence-not with oth~r reports'.
Auburn, Ala., June 11th, i888 ,
This being the day designated by the Board of Trustees of the Agriculturai
and Mechanical College of Alabama for their annual meeting - on call of the roll
there we~e present:
His Excellency, Thos. Seay, Governor of the state
Mr. Palmer, Supt • .'of Education and Messrs. Gilchrist, Ko~b, Har ~son, Ligon;
Malone and Stansel.
Absent: Messrs. Bishop, Langdon and Mitchell.
A quorum was present.
The proceedings of the Board at their meeting in the city of Montgomer,y, the 24th
day of February, 1888, were' read and approved; also, the resolution of the Board of
Visitors adopted at a called m~eting , held in ~uburn on the 3rd day of April, 1888'.
The entry of the secretary was corrected in reference to the call of said
meeting by inserting after the words "at the call of WIn. 1:. Broun, President of
the College" by order of Mr. Gilchrist, chairman of the c~mmittee .
Also, the 'note made by t~ secretary on page wag amended to read as follows,
liAs the sum of $300.00 for whic;h the old college farm was sold w~s appro~riated
91
: to the Experiment Station and $500 ~s payinent on the property knO"iffl cas the Chambers
property, purchased by the col ege. ~ .
The 'President or" the colleg~ r~ad his ·'report and submitted the ' same to the
Board of Trus t ees.
On motion of Mr. Haralson - Re solved - that the degrees recommended Oy the
President of the college i~ his report, be conferred on those persons named by
him in the , report., which was adopted.
On motion of l-f.r. Ligon that the report of the President lie'l on the table '
until he furnish a s,ynopsis thereof in order that the same ma~, be referred to
appropriate c~mmittees . Carr~d . • "
The Treasurer read ani submitted his 'report which:, on motion of ~. Stansel
was referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Auditor read ~n,d: sUbro'itted hi's report -on the ' Experiment Station and tha t
'of the Treasur~r ' of t11e c olJ;ege which .:were on ~otion of Mr. 'Stansel referred to
the CoJDllfi t tee on 'Financ Ef. • - "
Mr. Mitchell;a memb'er of the Board, appeared and' too~ his ' sea't 'with the Board.
On motion of Mr. Malone - Resolved - that 'a. committee be appointed by the President
to report, for the future the regular order of business of the Board. Adopted.
• ~_ . I . '. ' 4 _. os .
And the President appointed as, that committee Messrs. Malone, Haralson and Stansel.
The several reports of thEfFaculty were t hen read and submitted.
,J.... ' "' ~.
That of the Director of the Experiment Station was referred to the committee on
Agriculture ; and the report of Professor Newman as Profe ssor of Agriculture was
referred to the C?0prrnittee on GOUT-f?e of Study. On motion of Mr. Kolb the Board
adjourned until 3 o ' clock -p.m.
J F,. M. Re~se ' ,'" 'f
Secretary of Board; '
EVening' Sess:Lon
,I
Jt - , '"'\ •
The Board of Trustees met' at ~ 'o ' clock and~ there were present, -and on call of
roll: Thos. Seay, Governor of the state, Mr. Palmer, Supt. of Education and Messr s.
Gilchrist, Haralson, Kolb, Ligon, Ligon', Malone,' Mitchell' and' stalisel: ,Absent:
Messrs. Bishop and Lapgdon. There being a quorum p~esent.
On motion pf Mr~ Maloite.~ the report of Prqfs s;,>or Luptoh 'wa,s re~d and, rEf! ez:red to
the Committee on Finance. ' . ~ ,.' J • J 1 J • l
'-'- " ,
That of Professors Smith and Thach was read, received and ordered ,on file.
The report of Professo~ Lane was refe~e? tot... the -' C6mrirl.ttee rip F~.ance. , On
moti on of Mr. Malone - Resolved; that the regular annual meeting of the
Board of Trustees of the Agricultural and. ~ Mechanica.l Colleg~ of Al'aban;ta(, ' shall
be held at the college in Auburn on Monday preseding cOtrunencement Clay, unt-il'
otherwise ordered by the Board, which was adopted. '
Mr. I saac Ross by invitation came before the- Board "and atldressea them in
reference to establishing a dairy and creamer,y in connection with the Experiment
Station._
92
The report of Professor. Mell was read and referred to the Committe.e on Finance ;
also, that of Professor Bryant to the S~le commi ~tee .
The pr oposition of Mr. Ross submitted ',by him after conferring with the Board
was on moti on of Mr. Haralson referred to the Committee on Agricu~ture .
The report of Adjunct Professor Petrie was reag - receive~ and ordered on file.
On motion of Mr. Stansel - Resolved - that the President of the Bqard, revise the
st anding commit tees to t ake effect at the next meeting of the Board and that such revision
be made ever" two years thereafter.
The President of the Board assigned Mr. Mitchell· to the Committees on Finance
and Revision of Laws and Claims. On motion of Mr. ' Ligon - that the report of th
President and aC,companying papers referring· to .appropriations 'be referred to the
Committee on Finance. Carried.
The Committee on Mechanic Arts, a standing committee, having been. created at
the last ·regular annual pleeting of the Board, and the committee .not named at the' time,
the President QDm0unced as that committee - Messrs. Palmer~ Ligon, Stan~el, Gilchrist,
and Malone. On motion of Mr. Malone the matter of the purchase of the safe in the
office of the f reasurer b~longing to ~he Department of Agriculture of the state
was ~eferred to the Committee on Finance. ' _ ' . . - .
On motion of Mr. Palmer the Board adjourned until 9 0 t clock tomorrow morning.
F. M. Reese .
Secretary of the Board
j{.A)I __ •
Aubur~, • Ala . , -A~ril 12, 1888.
The Board of Trustees of the Agricultural & Mechanical Col lege of Alabama met at
9 o ' clock Ao Mo and on call of tne roll these were present: Thos . Seay, Governor
of the State and President ex-off . of the Board, ~~ . Palmer , Supt. of Education,
Messrs. Gilchrist, Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel. Absent:
Messrs . Bishop and Langdon . A quorum was present .
The minut~s of yesterday were read and aooroved . .. ' J; ,& • , .
. Leav~ was granted Mr • . Maone .to maKe a treport from . a. speci.9.l comnittee . .. ... . ~
Mr." Presi,dent.: Your"specie_l committee to whom v-las referred the matter of
action of business of the Board; has had the same' under consideration and ask
leave to report the follOwing and to recommend its adoption .
"I . Calling the roll.
20 ~ eading winutes of last meeti ng"
3. Reports of President and Officers of the College
4. Reports of the FacWlty • .
5. Rep9rts of the Standing Co~i ttees .
6. Repor~s of Special COmmitt ees .
7. Miscell&neous business ~
This report was concurred in.
Mro Presi dent suggested, and it was ordered, that hereafter the Secretary prepare
the daily proceedings of t he Board in such manner and f orm, that t hcy be ready to be
93
t r an sferred t o the minut es ~
Mr. Kolb on motion introduced t he following resolutions:
I. Resolved 1st, That i n. t he future t he incident al fee charged t he students of t his
college shall be as f ol l ows: .
Surgeons fee f or half. ses sion
Incidental fee f or half session
Li brary fee f or half session
$ 2 . 50
2 . 50
1.00
II . Resolved that no fee shall be charged Alabama students in the Laboratory f or
the use of apparat us and material consumed .
On moti on of Mr . Li gon the resolutions were laid on the t able and
On moti on of Mr. Ligon the Board adjourned until 3 o'clock p .m.
Evening Session
The Board met according to adj ourmnent , and there were4 pr esent : Thomas. Seay,
Gover nor of the State, Vtr . Palmer , Superintendent of Education, and Messrs; Gtlchrist
, Kolb, Har alson, Ligon, Malone , Mitchell and Stansel . A quorum.
On moti on of Mr. Ligon, the Board took a r ecess unti l 4 o'clock .'
On moti on ,of Mr . Malone t he r esolutions i ntroduced by Mr . Kolb were t aken f rom t he
table and considered seriatim.
Mr. Gilchr ist moved to amend the 2nd r esolution by striking out t he -and~.t Alabama 0
The amendment was adopted .
Mr. Haralson moved to amend 1st resolut ion by st riking out $2 . 50 and inserting in
l ieu thereok 10 as i ncidental fee . The amendment was not adopted .
The resolut i on as to amount of inci dent al f ee , viz: $2 . 50 was adopt eci .
That relating to surgeons fee and library fee was adopt ed .
On mot i on of Mr . Haralson, Resolved that the requirements of students in the Chenu cal
Laboratory bei ng r equired on entering t o deposit a fee of $5. 00 as f ound on page
38 of the catalogue, be and the same is hereby r escinded . Adopted.
Mr . Kolb asked leave t o make a report from t~e Finance Comnuttee . Leave was gr anted .
The Finance -Committee beg leave t o repor t t hat they have .examined the account s and
vouchers of the Treasurer. of the College, that they compared the vouchers fo r di sburs
ements in the several departments wi t h his accounts as pres ented and f i nd t hat
his report i s correct exc ept in two sma.ll i tems - one of 8 cents and one of 10 cents,
making 18 cents to which t he attention of the Treasur er has been called.
They beg leave f urther t o report that they have consider ed the mayt er of Appropriat
ion t o t he several departments from the several funds and without making an itemized
recommendation for appropriat i ons beg to st ate that t hey have taken the estimates as
94
recommended by the President of the College and have considered the same by it'ems. and
general~approve the same, but report back to a full Board to be modified as in
their judgment may be wise .
The resolution was adopted .
R. F. Kolb
J . B. Mitchell
Jas . G. Gilchrist
J . N. Halone
Jno . Haralson
On motion of Mr . Haralson, the appropraitions recommended by the President of the
college be considered seriatim or by items .
From United States Fund
For Uniontown Experiment Station
Part Salary Professor of Chemistry
Part Salary Professor of Botany
Salary of Assistant Chemist .
Asst . Botanist & Bacteriologist
F.or Printing
Equipment f or Botany .
Equipment for Chemistry
Salary of Treasur~r
Salary of Secretary and Auditor
For Stationery
For Postage
For Arboretum
for Trustees
For Library
For Farmers Institutes
To Experiment Station
On motion of Mr. Kolb ,
.$ 2,000
1,600
1,600
1,500
500
500
800
400
500
15 0
200
100
150
225
400
300
"400
$6 ,125
The resolution strikLng out the fee of ten dollars was adopted . Refer to 2nd
resolution of Mr. Kolb .
,
On motion of. l>1r . Ko+b, Resolved that four hundred dollars ($400) of the proceeds
of the crops of tQe Experim~nt Station be appropriated to purchase chemical apparatus
for the use of the students.
Appropriations as suggested by the President of the college being again under
consideration, the f ollowing appropriations were made from the Agricultural Fund,
the runount thereof being aniticipated froTIt \ he sale of tags .
Salary of Director
Two A s si~tants, one at salary of
and one at salary of
Labor and E uipment of Farm
Two Asst~ . in Chemistry - one at salary in part
One at salary of
Chemical Supplies
House Rent for Chemist
$2, 500
600
400
2,lGO
800
300
600
200
Appropriations from Endowment Fund
Salary of President
" Profes·sor of Hathematics
" "" Engineering
" " " Engli sh
Chemistry, part sal ary
Natural History, part salary
Hechanic Arts
Adjunct Profs . Modern. Languages & HistorJr
ala~J 1st Asst . in Mechanic Arts
Salary 2nd Asst . in Mechanic Arts
Three{As st. Instructor s , $250 ea ch
Commandant
Treasurer, part salary
ecretary and Auditor
Asst . in Chemist ry
Chambers property
Commutation house rent
Insurance
Trustees
Fuel
Pri nting
Stationery
p.o stage
Servants
General Expenses
Mil i t ary
Music
Commencement expenses
Repai t s and Grounds
Supplies for Mechanic Arts
11 " Physics
11 II Engineering
II II Chemistry
" /I ' Natur~l History
$3, 000
1, 800
1, 800
1, 800 .
. 200
200
1,400
1, 000
750
250
750
300
600
3~0
200
540
1, 000
250
225
250.
~OO
50
150
350
400
100
100
100
100
700
500
100
100
100
95
From funds of Department of Agricult ure due t o the College on the 1st day of October
next .
On motion of :Hr . Kolb, Resolved that so much of the fund of the State Department of
Agr i culture which will be due to the College on the 1st day of October next viz , the
sum of $2, 474 . 53 be appropri ated from that fund to cancel the defi ci t in the Agr i cultural
Fund of the coll ege which was adopted on motion of for . Palmer . Resolved : That
the sum of four hundred dollars (~ OO) of the Agr i cultural Fund d1.le · on the 1st day of
October next be appropriated as part salary of the Treasury, which was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, that George H. Bryant be styled Director of Laboratory of
Mechanic Afts and that he be a member ,of th~ Faculty.
On moti on of Mr . 14alone the Board adjourned unt il tomorrow morning, 8 o' clock .
96
(
The Board met at B o'clock and t here were present :
Auburn, Alabama
June 13, lBBB
Thos . Seay, Goy-ernor of the State , Mr . Palmer, Superintendent of Education, ani
Messrs . Gilchrist, Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel.
Absent ~ Messrs . Bishop and Langdon .
A quorum present .
The minutes of yest erdays proceedings were read and there being no objections, the
s~ne were approved .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved, t hat the degree of Ll.D be and the same is hereby
imbued on Reverend Doctor A. S. Andrews, President of the Southern Uni versity at
Greensboro, Alabama, which was adopted.
Elections being in order:
The name of J . J. Wilmore of Purdue University, Indiana, was pr esented and he was
elected 1st Asst . in Mechanic Arts with a salary of ~75 0 a year .
Boling Glakey of Montgomery, Alabama, was elected 2nd Asst . in Mechanic Arts with a
salary of $250 per annum.
, ,
On motion of Mr . Malone, Resolved, the kindness of the Presbyterians of Auburn in
tendering their church building to t he Faculty of the college for recitation purposes
is gratefully appreciated and acknowledged and the thanks of the Board of Trustees
are hereby tendered to them for their generous consideration; and that t he Secretary
of the Board be requested to notify them of the action of the Board.
The Chairman of ' the Committee of the Board of Visitors of the Experiment Station sub~
mitted a report, viz; the Committee of visitors shall have full power when the Trustees
are not in session to act in all matters relating to the Station, it being provided the
action of said cornnatt ee shall continue of force until the next meeting of the Board .
Resolved 2nd, All assistants in the Experiment Station shall be appointed for one -year .
Should a vacancy occur it may be fil led by the Directors sub j ect to the approval of
the committee of visitors .
Resolved 3rd, All offices of the college and of the Experiment Station, will in their
annual reports, state the number of days they have been absent from duty and the
cause of such absence. The report was concurred in .
On motion, the Board adjourned until 3 o'clock p .m.
-"
Evening Session, there were present: Thos . Seay, ' Governor of t he' State, Mr . Plamer,
Superintendent of Education and Messrs . Gilchrist , Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone,
Mitchell, and Stansel .
Absent Messrs . Bishop and Langdon . A quorum was present .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved that hereafter when any officer of this college
shall absent himself without leave of the President of the College from the diwcharge
of his duties, unless on a ccount of sickness of himself or family, requiring his per-
,
97
sonal attention, his salary shall .be abated in pr oportion to the time of any such
absence; and the President of the College i s charged with the duty of reporting to
·the Board such ab sences. Was adopted .
On moti on of Hr . Gilchrist , Resolved that the Treasurer,be and he i s hereby inst ructed
to pay Mr . ~<J . M. Bennet t the sum of sixteen dollars ($16) for interest on $800 from .
the 15th October, 1887 to 15t h January, 1888, the same having accrue~ in account of
paYment of said sum of $800 to the A •. & 1,1. College fop the old college farm and possessi
on thereof not given by the coll ege until three months after payment .
The res olut ion was adopted .
On motion ~ of f r . Ligon the Board adjourned until tomor r01'l morning, 8 . o'clock .
F. H. Reese
, Secretary to the Board.
Auburn, Alabama
June 14, 1888
. The Board met at 8 o ' clock' a .m. and on call of the roll these were present: Messrs. '
Gilchrist , Haralson, Li gon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel.
Absent : The Governor , Hessrs . Palmer, Kolb , Bishop and Langdon .
A quorum was present .
... .
On motion of Hr . Stans el, l r . Halone was call ed _to t he. chair .
I . ' On motion of r . Stansel, Resolved, that the proposition of Isaac Ross to conduct
the livest ock and dairy department of the ~kg ricultural Experiment Station of Alabama
for .the term of three years , be accepted as follows: his salary for the -first year
is to be.fi fteen hundred dollars ($1 , 500) and for the two succeeding years eighteen
hundred dollars ($1,800) per annum, payable in like manner as othevcollege officers,
and also two hundred doll a~s as house r ent per annum all out of f unds under what is .
known as the Hat ch Bill.
.
II . Said Ross is to furnish the first year ten head of thoroughbred registered
Jersey cows free of cost to the Station, for succeeding years ten, fifte en or twenty
such cows per year at the option of this Board with the privilege to the Board of .
buying the same , or such number as the Board may submit after the 1st of July, 1889,
on t he basis of three hundred dollars for three hundr ed pounds of butter per cow per
annurn . 'That is for a 200 lb . Of butter from a cow; 300 lbs , $300; 400 lbs . at $400 ,
and so on at that proportion and rate . In case of purchase under t his arrangement
at any time , this board is to select the cows to be purchased . After th-e clo:;;e of the
first year, the Board is to pay f ifty dollars per cow rental per annum on such cows
as may not be purchased as aforesaid .
III . Said Ross agrees to take all Qutter produced under this arrangement at thirtyfive
cents (35¢) per pound, and all milk not used for the production of butter or
experimental or other purposes on the farm without cost, and he further agrees that
if such cows are fed accor ding to his direction, they shall produce each not less .
t han three hundred pounds of butter per annum; and the trade mark of such butter :;;hall
be A. M. C. Ac Hr . Ross to procure the stamp at the expense of the College .
98
IV . In the event of t he dissolution of thi s compact, at any time by death or otherwi
s e , t his Board shal l have t he option of pur chasing such cows or any number t hereof
as the Board may see fit on t he basis indi cated in s ection 2 of this resolution and
agr eement .
V. The StationE ' to furnich feed, quart ers and dairy fac i liti es for such. cows f ree of
cost t o said Ros s , -and al so a competent dairy man such as said Ross nay ' select and
quarters f or him free of char ge - the price for the dairy man not t o exceed $40 per
month , payable monthl y, and such other help as may be necessary for him t o conduct the
rr~n agement in accordance with i ts designs under the Hatch Bill .
VI . In case of death, di sease or other cause that may r educe the productive value of
any said cows, Mr . RQss by subst itution of ot hers of t he same kind and .gr ade, shall
keep up the standard of said cows according t o the i nterest of this agreement .
VI I . The salary of Mr . Ross is to begi n under this agreement on the 1st day of July
1888, and the cat tle are t o be pl aced at the Experiment Station for the purposes indicated
as soon thereafter as sui table pr eparati on can be made at the Station for their
r ecept ion .
VII I. If for experimental purposes any or all of sai d cattle shall be fed differently
from directi on of Mr . Ross, he i s r elea sed from his guaranty as to minimum quantity of
but t er to be pr oduced - he onl y accounting f or amount pr oduced during the t ime of such
exper imentation .
IX . It i s further agr eed by sai d Ross , that he will and does hereby accept as part
of his arrangement the office of First Assi stant at Exper iment Station , i f as s i gned
ther eto by the Boar d of Tr ustees and t o perform such servi ces as pertai n t o sai d
pos i t i on not incompati ble .wi th ,his duties under t his agr eement • .
X. Under this a r rangement sai d Ross will keep a f ull and a ccurate. dai l y record of all
milk and butt er produced and t he kind and quantity of food used and t he condition of
the animals, so as to show r esults in accordance with t he design of the Hatch Bell ,
and make r eport s as often as required by officers tin char ge of the Department .
XI. 'The purpose and design of t he Board of Trustees and Mr . Ross i n this agreement is
a s far as pract i cable at thi s time to carry into effect the eXfiJeriments as to domestic
animals indicated in Secti on 2 of what i s known as the Hatch Bill . •
XII . All calves dropped on the Stat ion belonging t o Mr . Ross t o r emain unt il si x month s
old .
XIII . 1he' f eed t o be furnished shall not be unusually expensive but such as is general
l y used in making butter ,test s in ~the Sout hern States • . Pr ovided that i n making
exper imental te sts no feed shall be pr escribed which does not have t he approval of
Hr . Ross.
The r esoluti ons were ~dopted and signed as an agreement i n fol l owing words :
Witness on hands and seals this 14th day of June A. D. 1888.
Attest
F. H. Reese
E. T. Gl enn
Agricultural and Mechanical Colleg e
by Wm. LeRoy Br oun, President
I saac Ross
_ I
99
Reports of Committees
r . Ligon from t he Committee on Agriculture submi t ted the foll owing report:
Mr . President : Your comrrlittee have examined the Experiment S t at~on farm . Various
experiments are being made in fi el d crops which at t his season of year cannot be
reported on, the crops sufficient advanc ed or matured .
The Cowmittee st ate t hat they have ey~min e d the "r ecei pt s . and disbursements for the
past year of t he Direct or of t he Station and find them in correct and dUe form.
t
The report was r ecei ved and concur r ed in .
R. F. Ligon
Chairman
Mr . Gilchrist from t he Comrnittee of Visiters :
Hr . President:
Your Committee beg leave to r eport that they visited in April. last the· Experiment
Station and at a meeting of the Commit tee of Visitors, it was decided t hat the bid
made by James Smith with certain alterations in the plans ~~d specifications for the
buildings to be erected at the Experiment Station which are on file:, be accepted, and
that the sum appropriated" viz: two thousand two Bundred dollars ( ~2 , 200) not to be
exceeded; and that Doctor Broun, the President of the College, was authorized to
sign the cont ract for said buildings .
Your Co~~ttee further r eport that said cont ract has been executed and that said
bui l dings are being erect ed .
I . G. Gi lchrist, Chairman
The repor t was received and concurred in .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved, That the proposition of Mr . Isaac Ross be relegated
to 2~ e s i dent Br oun and the Corrmi ttee of visitors with power ~ and authority to
accept and _consummate ' the same on such terms and Gobditions as othey :may deem best
f or the interest of the college and Experiment Station , so as to put the proposit
i o&"in full oper.ation as early as practicable; and also t o authorize hlin to visit
similar i nstitutions in this country and Canada with the view to informing himself
as to the best method of conducting his proposed enter prise to successful operations
and result s, and authorized by t he Committee and Pr esident Broun shall draw his
usuant on the College Treasurer for his r easonable expens es in making such visi ts
to be_ paid .out of the Uriited States Funds i n t he hands of" the Tr-easurer . "H~ (Note )
Was- adopted .
On moti on of Mr. Gilchrist, Resolved that t he contract for building barns, et c. be
suspended with consent of the contractor until 1st Asst . Ross can examine such buildings
at other Stations and present to the visi tors 'such changes and modi f\cations as
he " rr~y deem advisable •
.,H~ Another resolution on same subject which is the proper one .
100
Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that the Auditor shall examine the accounts of .,
the college and station every three months and report the result of each examination
to the President . The surrmary of their reports shall constitute the annual
report to the Board of Trustees . Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that the unappropriated contingent in the Agricultural
Experiment Station, viz, the sum of $400 is hereby appropriated to pay for
Library. fixtures and necessary plumbing in Chemical Laboratory .
II . The President of the College is hereby. authorized to expend by July 1st, 18$8 ,
as may be required by the different departments of the Experlinent Station - the
unexpended balance of the annual payment of ($15 ,000) fifteen thousand dollars re-ceived
from the U. S. Treasury . ~as adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that Professor Mell is hereby t ransferred from the·
Department of Entomology to that of Botany in the Agricultural Experiment Station en d
shall continue in charge of Mete orolo~r~ which was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved that where any violation of the regulations is
made known to the President , in which it appears a member of Cadets were engaged and
the parties committing such violations are not known . The President , may at his ·
discretion appoint .a Court of Inquiry, which court shall be composed of the Commandant,
two Professors and two cadet commissioned officers . This court shall have
power to summon before it any student connected with the college and such student
shall be required under penalty of dismissal, or such other penalty as the court IDGV
impose , to testify in regard to any matter under investigation except when such evidence
shall tend to incriminate himself .
The court shall keep a record of its proceegi ngs and report the result of its enqutry
t o the President . Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved that the President be and he is authorized to
execute the notes of this college and in its name to William L •. Chambers as execut~
of Nilliam H. Chambers for the unpaid balance due on the property purchased from him
whenever said William L. Chambers has authority as such administrator to execute bond
for titles or titles to divest the -title of -said land not of the estate and heirs of
said Willirun Hg Chambers deed, and invest the same in the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Alabama
The resolution was adopted .
On motion of M~ . Liton, Resolved, that the President is authorized to pay V. L. Allen
for services as Commandant twenty five dollars ($25) less fees due from him - to pay
for guard at Commendement and also to pay the student s for extra work for constructing
sterun engine the sum of ten dollars ($10) which~s adopted .
O~ moti~n of Mr . Stansel, Reso~ved that the Board of D~rec tors , if they shall deem
proper to do -so, shall authorize Hr . Isaac Ross in charge of the live stock _and dailY
department of the Experiment Station of this college to visit otqer similar Institutions
of this country and Canada with the view of obtaining information as to tee
best methods of conductiI!g his Department, and the President shall draw his wanrant
101
on the college Treasurer f or such stun as may he ne'cessary to· defray his expenses
whil st thus engaged t o be pai d out of the £unds arising under the Hatch Bill,
Provi ded the amount so expended shall not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars .
Adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved , that the Building Commi tt ee of the College, be
and they are hereby authorized for and in the name of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, to negotiate a loan for money sufficient to complete the main building
under contract of the college with r . James Smith; and to that end to pledge the
f aith and credit ' of the college by the execution of the obligati on of the college
for the payment of the loan . Any sum thus borrowed to be repaid out of any money to
be appropriated by the Legislature of Alabama whenever i t may be appropriated and
paid over .to the college ; and any obligation executed under t his resolution shall be
made due and payable only when such appropriation may be made by the Legislature and
money received .
The resolution waS adopted .
On motion of Mr . Har alson, Resolved: That R. F . Kolb, Soloman Pal mer , I . B. Mitchell
Jas . G. Gilchrist, R. F. Ligon and J . N. r alone, be and they are hereby appointed a
committee for and in behalf of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama to
memorialize the Legislature of Alabama for the passage of a law for the appropriation
of money to complete , furnish and equip the new building ~~d f or such further legislation
as i s deemed to be for the i nterest of the Co~lege . On motion -~ Mr . Haralsm
was added to the Commi ttee . Adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolv~d : That wher eas ~here are alleged di scr epanci es jn
the account of the Director of the Station (Experiment) for the years 1884-5 - 1885-
86 which the Auditor has examined and made report on, but not in such shape as to
cer tify this .Board as ~t o the t rue condition of said accounts as to whether ther e are
any mistakes in them or not ; and whereas this Board cannot at this session w~thout a
delay of many days , examine all of said acoounts; therefore it is ordered that the
Audi tor be and he is hereby directed without delay to re-examine said accounts and
ascertain the~r t rue co~diti6n and report the result of this examination in account
form to the Board of Visitors at their next meeting and to this Board at its next
meeting , which was adopted .
- On moti on of :t-1r . L:igon, Resolved :
is author ized to make such change
able, which was .adopted .
That when means are available the Building Committee
in the front of Langdon Hall as t hey may deem desF-and
The Board then proceeded t o elect an Assiatant liotanist/to be in charge of met eorol~y
the Board elected V. L. Allen with a salary of 1500) five hundre~ dollars per annum.
On motion the Board adjourned sine die .
F . M. Reese , Secretary to
Board of Trustees
Note:- The reports of the Faculty, together with i nventories of property of the
college are on file and deposited in the safe of the Treasurer .
102
A communication from Thos . Seay, the Governor of the State and Ex Officio Presided
of the Board' of .Trustees of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, was
receivep., a copy of which ~s herewith on record:
"Chief Executive Office
Montgomery, Alabama
June 16, 1888
Enclosed find a revised list of the Committees under a recent resolution of the Board
of Trustees ~
You may spread it on the Minutes as the action of the President of the Board .
tlCol. F. Mt RE?es~
Secretary, Board of Trustees
A. & M-. College
Auburn, Alabama
Re spect fully,
Thos . Seay"
Under the, resolution refe rr~ d to, the President of the Board of Trustees designated
the Standing Committees to consist of t he f ollowiQg members ,of ttle Board:
Committ ee on Finance: Messrs . Haralson, Malone, Li gon' tGilchrist, 1itchell,
Palmer .
Committee on Mechanic Arts : Messrs . Palmer, Langdon, Ligon, Stansel, Malone .
Committee on Agriculture: 11e.ssrs . Kolb, Gilchrist, Ligon, Bishop .
Commit t ee on Revision af Laws : Messrs . Stansel , Hit,chell, Haralson, Ligon,
Bishop .
Committee on College Lands & Proper t y : Mes srs . l~ lon e , Gi l christ , Langdon,
Bishop, Haralson, ~olb .
Committee on Claims: Messrs . Ligon, Mi t chell, Bishop and .Langdon .
Course of Study: Messrs . Langdon, Kolb, Bishop and Gilchrist • .
. ,
Committee of Visitors: Messrs . Gilchrist , Ligon and }litc.b~ll o
Report of the Pr esident of the College to t he Trustees of the A. & M. Coll ege:
I r espectfully present herewith the annual r eport of t he college for the session of
1~7-8 .
The destruct i on of t he college building and cohtents by fire on the 24 of June last
necessitat ed immediate provision of rooms and equipment for the opening of t he s essin
on 15t h September . By your direction, Langdon Hall was t emporarily partitioned int o
four recitati on rooms and an as sembly hall and ar r angements made t o heat the saine by
st eam - an ,·inexpensive but comfort able room, 20 x 40 , was constructed for the use
103
of the Engineering Department and by the purchase of the Chambers property, s even
rooms were secured which are used as off ices for the President, Treasurer and Commandant
and for library, armory and recitation rooms and one out room for the janit
or.
The Professor of Agriculture has met his classes in the Presbyterian Church , which
was generously offered to the College, for the pur pose - and the professor of Chemi stry
has used during the year the forge and foundry rooms for a lectur e room and a l aborato
ry , ~ Comfortable quarters wer~ thus provided for every department of the coll ege .
A suitable r oom was r ented for the Commissioner of Agriculture up to January 1st and
during the year a small rent has been made for the use of the l'1asonic Hall by the b·TO
college literary societies .
When we consider the unfor t unate condition in which t he college was placed by the
destruc t ion of its main building , the success of the present session has been very
grat i fying to i ts friends .
There -have been 'enrolled as matr iculates 171 students, classi fied as foll ows : gr aduates
6, f irst class 16, second 31, 3rd class 53 " 4t h class 57 , sub 4th 14.
,
The following shows this classification in ' regard to ' subjects of study in: English 164,
Hist ory 74, French 33, German 28, Latin 48, l'1ental Science 11, Political Economy' 15,
iathematics 150, Chemist ry 81, Agriculture 99, Physics 72, Natural History and Geology
89, 1f,hystology 19, Engineering 24, Drawing 129, Mechanic Arts 101,. Military Tactics
1580
~ I am gratified to state that the college has-never had; since my conneotion with i t ,
be ter order. No more earnest work on the part of the students than during the present
session .
lvtECHANIC ARTS
The Depart ment of lvlachinery in the Mechanie Art Laboratory has been well equipped by
means of the State appropriation, and during the session by reason of 'tpe occvpancy
by the professor of Chemistry of ' t he forge and fQundry· rooms , work ' has been done by
the students only in t h ~ wood and machine r ooms .
By an unexpected change in the Code, the appropriation made at your last meeting. for
the support of this department \-Tas not available and speci al arrangements were made
for i ts continued operation . The machinist form~ rly employed to assist in this department
was for satisfactory r easons relieved of duty and two competent students were
appoipted to whom small compensation was g~ted . ' - .
... ,. .
Th~ department of Mechani c J\rts has grown t o bEl an important and promipen~ i'~ature
in the College . It has now an excellen~ equipment and snould be encouraged and
supported as an essential factor in the work of technical education which at th~
pr~pent time i s attra±ing expeci al .att'8n:~ion througltout this countr7.. "as, w,ell ,as ._
Europe . ' , " " " , 1. , . ,. !.
.
I r e spectfully recommend that George H. Bryant who has been earnest 'j and faithful be
made professor with increased salary and that two assist,ants be .as si gned to this
d~partment. Tqe work cann~t be properly done with less .
104
ODERN LANDUAGES AND HISTORY
The depa tment under' adjunct professor' Petrie has been conducted with energy , enthu-siasm
and success . I ther efore , rec ommend that his be encouraged as your .
means wi ll permit .
·-MILITARY DEPARTMENT
Owing to the condi t i on of the health of the Commandant , Lieutenant M. C. Richards,
the cadets were not drilled this s ession as heretofore . He r eported on October 1st
and was absent by reason of sickness from November 14th to January 14th and since
Hay 12th has been absent on leave by advice of the Surgeon .
By your order application was made t o the Secretary of War for the deatil of Jno . B.
McDonald to act as Commandant and Professor of 'Military Science . Should an officer
not be detailed, I respectfully ask for authority to ~ke other arrangements .
The bill for the relief of the College from many lia~ilities for loss of arms by
f ire was passed by Congress and approved; and on May 19th official notice was received
f rom the O ~dnance Department, Washi ngton, that the money liability of this
college was cancelled by Act of Congress : and in the month of April, 130 new Springfield
rifles and accout r ements were received for the safe presentation of which the
proper bond was .given .
For special
attention is
One point is
ment in each
the ener gi es
appropriati ons in regard to the other departments of th€ college, your
respectfully invited to the att ention of the officers herewith submitted.
apparent , there is an immedi ate and pressing necessity of a full equipdepartment
, but excellent work has been done With what is now possessed
of the pr ofessors increased with the difficulties t hat surr01,mded them.
CHAMBERS PROPERTY
In accordance with instructions from the building committee the Chambers property was
purchased for $2 ,500 - $500 c~sh and the balance in four equal installments with
inter est . I t is necessary that some one should be authorized to sign the bonds f or
the annual payment in order to receive the bond for titl es ; and upon appr oval the
house and lot north west of the college -was sold for $800 cash . Of ' t his '$300 was
appropriated to the Experiment Stati on and $500 to 1st payment on the Chambers property.
BUILDINGS
Messrs . Bruce and Morgan as architects furnished the plans and specifications of the
Chemical Laboratory and the Main Building of the College which were approved by your
committee . The contract for building the Chemical Laborator,y was awarded to Messrs .
Floyd and Stevens of $11,900 subsequent the painting was inc1ude,d for $350 . The
building was finished on 'May 19th, not by the time ~greed on but in a lII8.l\Iler in all
respects acceptable to the architects and committee . The entire cost ot the Laboratory
was $12,720 . 90 exlusive of architect fees and appropriation for plumbing and
fixtures .
It has been insured tor $9,000. '!be College now possess one of the most elegant and
convaniently arranged Laboratory for instruction and research in the Southern States.
105
The contract for ,building the main college edifice was awarded to Mr . James Smith'
for $43,500. This contract only included the wails, stonework and roof - not the
interior work. It was agreed t hat the .builder was to. receive the remainder of the
insurance money on hand after paying to the Chemical Laboratory architects fees
amounting to $.21,000, and that the subsequent payments c.ould only be made when an
appropriation was made by the Legislature to complete the building. If possible
the action of the State should be anticipat ed and money borrowed with which to put
the building under coyer. .
LANGDON HALL
The tower of Langdon Hall is badly constructed and ·is a source of danger in a storm _
well as from fire . At a small estimate of $800 cost- the tower can be removed and a
Grecian front given the building which will be an improvement both in regard to
appearance and safety. I recommend that this be done when means are available.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
At your meeting in Montgomery February 24, . the Agricultural ExPeriment Station was
partially organized under the Act of Congress and appropriations made t o cover the
first annual payments to be expended by Jul7 1st. The report of the Treasurer
shows the present condition of this fund. A full report covering the entire expenses
must be forwarded to the Secretar,y of the Treas~by February 1st. . ,
The Committee of Trustees in charge of the Station met Apr.il 3rd and approved the
plans of the building now being constructed. I recommend that in 'place of the action
taken at your former meeting in reference to botany and physiology, that there be
established the Department of Biology with a sal., of-$2,000 and furthe~ recommend
the appeintment of Doctor Wil.l.iam K'rause ot Gottingen, Germany as Biologist. Doctor
Krause is. an. author of- eminence and authority on questions relating to Biology.
At the request of Professor Mell, I recommend that he be transferred from the department
of Entomology to that of Botany and continued iii charge of meteorology . Provision
should be made as soon as~ competent and available men can' b. obtained for the
department · of Entomology and Veterinary Science. '
ADJUNCT EXPERIMENT STATION
} .
I again would present the importance of extending experimentation in Agriculture,
beyond what .can possibly be done 'at any one place, by establishing outlYing 'or
adjunct experiment farms in different Agricultural sections of the State.
In this way the experiments made representing different soils will be of more value
and will excite more general interest. '
"
The plan proposed for your Gonsideration is that four adjunct farms (experiment)' be
established in different agricultural sections of the State, by selecting in said
sections intelligent and reliable farmers, who for a reasonable compensation will
contract with the authorities of the college to cultivate for a fixed period, a
definite selected plot of . land ·01' not 1e88 than five nor more than ten acres . The
Superintendent of these adjun'ct farms should "be "required to use eueh fertilizers
and methods of cultivation a d make expeJ'iments and reports as may be prescribed
by the prope~ authorities. If judicious selections of agents are made the results
of experiments made at these adjunct fa~, enforced as they would be by a contract,
should be as reliable as those made at the College Station.
106
In this ~er also the experiments which being largely increased' in number and
value could be made at a minimum cost, as the college wculd own no property· ·of · eq
character at the adjunct farms, and, would pay alone f 'or skill and intelligence
in conducting the experiments . - I
DAIRY FARM
In this connection I invite your attention to a proposition of.Mr. Isaac Ross of
Lee County herewith submitted in regard to a livestock and dairy department which
merits your careful consideration.
The Dairy interest is growing in importance in the State and is in the Act of Congress
named as one of the ,subjects :t.o .lbe investigated by the Experiment Station.
FARMERS I INSTITUTES
I would also recommend that provision be made to have officers of the Station lecture
on subjects appertaining to their departments at the Farmers' Institutes, that may be
organized by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
"
SPECIAL. COMMITTEE
The biennial report of the College must be made, to the Legislature at the opening
of the session of the Legislature and at the same time application must be made to
the Stat,e for funds with which to complete and equip main college building. I recommend
that a special cOllllidttee be appointe d for this purpose.
In making application .to the Legislature for the necessary appropriation, it should be
mad e plain that the ' colleg., only asks the State to fulfill the obligati.on that she
assumed in accepting the same' with all the conditions attached -- the grant of land
made by Congress in 1862.
t
The Act of Congress after prohibiting the appropriation of any part of the proceeds
from the sale ot lands to .the erection of a building affirms (3r.d proviao, section 5)
that "any state which may take and claim the bene.fits of the provision of the Act
shall provide not less than one college."
The application should also show the close and casual relation between progress in
civilization end the difrusion of technical oducation and the consequent necessity
of making· liberal provision for ~he completi~ and equipment of the college .
-
FINANCES, STATE APPROPRIATIONS
By your direction the appropriation of $12,500 ma4e by the Legislature was expended _
the law required, for equipment of machinery in Mechanic Art, for the Chemical Laboratory
and for the general equipment of the other departments .
. .
J ' FUNDS f.ROM THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
These were . received from -the Commis~ione~. D@cember ,~, $2 ,~~ Th~ remainder due this
college must ~1n accordance w1~h the previsions(ot. the new code be paid to . the President
of the Board of Trustees at the close of the fiscal year and be used for maintaining
the Experiment Station.
107
There was appropriated in advance of receipts at your regular meeting in June 1887
to 'the departments of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts the sum(of $6,790 and the failure
of the college to receive the same has caused a deficit as reported. by the Treasurer
of $2,474.53. It would seem to be right and proper that the original amount of
$6,790 ~f. il.t.K appropriated to Agriculture. and Mechanic Arts in June 1887
less the amount of $2,00 received the current year from the State Department of Agriculture
making $4,790 should when received be paid into the Treasury of the College
to make good the deficiency caused by the efforts to carry out your orders, which
were based on the assumption that_that amount would be subject to the appropriation
as directed.
COLLIDE ENDOWMENT
The annual appropriations made last June of the income from the Endowment and incidental
fees caused the usual receipts. There was also appropriated an increase of
salaries amounting to $1,000. This and the extraordinary expenses occasioned by
the loss from the fire has"caused the expenditures to exceed the receipts 'by $1',760 .01.
For the information of the Board, I submit herewith a statement from the Treasurer
madked (A) showing the entire cost of establishing and maintaining the department of
Agriculture and the Experiment Station for the year ending June, 1887; also a statement
marked (B) showing the cost of establishing and maintaining the department of
Mechanic Arts for the two years ending.J,. une 1887.
~
The Faculty recommend for the degree or Bachelor of Science the following students:
Cyrus Washington Ashcraft
Robert Love Bennett
G~orge · Fleming Broun
FQntaine Broun
HQnry-.Lee Broun
John Hodye Drake, Jr.
Edward Wiley Foster
John Thomas Gregory
Eugene Willis Harris
GQoroge A. Huguley
W~liam Lyman
E4win Conway McCastney
Thomas Drake Samford
Otis Oliver Smith
Samuel Oliver Taylor . ,
The fo~owing students are recommended for the degree of Easter of Scienc~:
V~ssar Lyle Allen
., ~ward Read Lloyd
W~lson Herbert Newman
~Parles Woodard Simmons
L.evi W. Wilkinson
The fol~owing student is recommended for the degree of Civil Engineer:
CParles Hunter Ross
108
TAe Faculty recommend for the honorary, degree" of Master of Arts:
,George W. Stevens
- .
A & M College
Auburn, Alabama
June ll, 1888 .
• , .. WID. LeRoy Broun
President
~eport of the Trea~uper of the A & M. College for the fiscal year ending JUne 'l, 1838
.
To balance -June· 1,
Endowment fund
Incidental alc
Surgeon alc
Library alc
Expense - Diplomas
Chemical fees
By General Repairs alc
" Expense "
" Stationery "
" Music "
" Military "
" Trustees " II Salary "
" Servant Hi-r-e II
" Postage "
" Fueld II
" Speaker "
" House Rent " II Special Appro. "
" Insurance "
" Library "
" Printing It
" Surgeon " II Chemical Dept. II
II General Equip. "
" Mechanic Arts II
Total
j "' .......... ...
-r.
COLLmE ACCOUNT
Receipts
• 20,280.00
2,082.50
·692 • .50
279.00
70.00
132.00
Disbursements
"10 b
"
.$ 429.71
$ 1,414.17
503.46
49.25
76 .. 60
141.16
361.05
19,812.50
~. 201.00
137.20
' 93.48
50.00
850.00
. · 36.50 225.00
289.14
349.27
692 • .50
232.00
164.63
~8.8l
$25,727.72
AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Balance June 1, 1887
Cash from Comnissioner
Balance
Df'sbursemente
By Experiment Statlon alc
II Salary of Director
to April 1 $ 1,200.00
Current EJq>enses Mech. Art Dept.
Siar,r of Instructors
Equipment - - -
State Chemical Laboratory
Salary, Aset • Chemists
House Rent Prof . Lupton
700.00
800 .00
1,085 . 55
1,000.00
600 .00
913 .30
150 .00
STATE APPROPRIATION ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Cash from State Treasurer
Disbursements
.. \."
By Chemical Labor.tory Building
Equipment Dept . Mechanic Arts
$ 5,000.00
" " , . -, Physic!!!
1\ : ~atura1 History
1\ Ch.emistry
II If Engin eering
" "General Equipment
II tI Books for Expt . Station
4,000 .00
446 .96
742 .75
996 .34
591.71
659 .33
62 .91
REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Sale of Land "
By Paid Chamber,s· Note
II " Director of Station
To Policies collected
Disbursements
INSURANCE FUND
Receipts
$ 500 .00
300,00
$ 1,974. 32
2,000 .00
'I $ 3,974 .32
2,474. 53
I 6,448085
$ 6448•85
$12,500 .00
112,500.00
$ 800 .00 J
$ 800 .00
$30,000 .00
109
110
By Chemical Laboratory Building
" Bruce and Morgan Architects
" Co1lege .Building
" Commissions . Treasurer
Balance
To Balance, June 1, 1887
" Cash trom Prot. Lupton
Disbursements
$ 7,720.90
150.00
9,501.25
300.00
ANALYSIS ACCOUNT
. 'Receipts r'
• Disbursements
By Cash Paid Prot. Lupton
To Balance
College Account
Agricultural Account
State Appropriation
Real Estate
Insurance Fund
Analysis alc
College Account
Agricul tural
State AppropriatiDn
3.tate Appropriation
Real Estate
Insurance .. }
Analysis
Balance on Hand
L
$ 300.00
405.00
t
BJiJJAPlTULATIONS
Receipts
. Disbursements
1 .1
$17,672 .15
12.327.80
$30,000.00
$ 705.00
$23,965.71
3,974.32
12,500.00
800.00
30,000,00
705.00
$71,945 .03
$25,7'Zl .72
6,448.85
12,500.00
800 .00
17,672.00
300.00
$63,448.72
8.496 .31
$71,945 .03
Sal aries and .House Rent due August 1, 1888:
Dqctor Broun
Professor Smith
" Mell ~
" Lane
"
" II
"
Thach
Lupton
Newman,
Bryant .-
$800 .00
500 .00
500 .00
500 .00
5QO.OO
500 .00
500.00
325 .00
193 .33
"
Ass.t·. in Chemistry
Gl enn, Treasurer
Reese,. Secretar,y and Audi tor
250 .00
87· 50
$4,780 .83
Respectfully submit ted,
E. T. Glenn, Treasurer
'UNITED STATES FUND
From United States Treasury
Disb.!l!semen..ts
By Agricultural Department
II Chemical "
" Nat ural History "
" Library "
" Trustees
" Prirlt1ng NP
" Contingent a/c
" UniontoJom Station . /e
Balance '
Balance Cash on Hand
Cash on hand paid by Col . Newman
" II 11 General College Act
11 " II Uilited States bond
t ..'l , 777 • 51
803 .75
318. 65
61 .20
... 1-73 .15
j 'l ~1 • .50
11.95
1, 50q.OO ..r
161.22
8496.31
6586 .29
15, 24.3 .82
Respectfully submitted,
r · . E ~ · T. GleIlIl, Treasurer
\ ~ . - ~ ...
Report of Auditor on Books of Treasurer
Auburn, Ala . , ' June 7, 1888
To t he Board of Trustees A & M
College of Alabama
III
b
$11, 250 .00
In compliance with my duty as auditor, I have from time to t ime carefully examined
t he books of the Treasurer, and I find proper voucher s endorsed by the Pr esident of the
College , and those approved by the Chairman of the Building Conwdttee , to correspond
with entries in their books of account, and t he char ges made to the appropriate
112
departments, in accordance with a resolution of t he Board of Trustees.
I found his addi\ions correct, and bank book showing correct bal ances .
As the transacti 0ns of the Treasurer involve a very large amount, I thought
it best and did make an i temized transcript from his books which are herewith presented
for the purpose of verifying his numerous vouchers amounting to about 900.
As the Treasurer ·presents to the Board a full synopsis of ill his transactions
for the fiscal year ending June 1, 1888 - a summary by us would only be a recapitulation.
Any special matter about which the Board may wish to ' be 'in any advis,ed is of easy
access by reference t o thLb, ooks of the Treasurer or transcri~ts prepared by ~self.
Respectfully submitted,
F. M. Reece, Auditor
_I
Sworn to and subcribed before me this 11th June, 1888. Jno. Haralson, Judge.
F. M. Reece, Auditor
Report of Auditor ~ Experi~ent Station
To the Board of Trustees
A.&M. College of Ala .
AU9~n, Ala . , June 7, 1888
-J •
On a cunsory examination of the books of the Director of the Experiment ~tation,
I thought it would be more _s~isfactory to the ~ard of Trustees tq p sent to them
a full and accurate stateme~ of all his financial transactions from the t ime he
assumed c:Olltl"Ol-of the receipts and disbursements of the Station,~ to wit; from the
1st of January-le85 to 1st April, 1888.
.I
After a thorough, critical and careful investigation, I find that the receipts
of the Station within that time have been:
Receipts
From the Treasurer
From Farm Products~ ~ etc .
Error in page 50 $1 .00, in page 52, 10
Expendi tures
Errors page 39, 29 .30,in 58; jO¢ '
Balance
$9040. 69
-30.10
9070.77
57 028
The balance has been paid to Treasurer.
$6, 000 000
3,126. 95
1.10
9,128.1>5
9,128.05
_I
113
In this connection I will state to the Board of Trustees that I have carefully
examined and compared all the vouchers, except comparatively a few and find they
correspond with entries on the ~ook of the Director.
He informs ~e that the vouchers nmt examined may have been destroye~ in the 1058
of the College Building by fire. It seem8,~~ver, they were passed on by the Stat e
Examiner and the President of the College.
J ~
The November pacrkage. of :vouchers for 1886 are also missing. The Director thinks
in the same manner. ' I find his book noted as to these vouchers and the sums bl a
commi tteJl of .the .Board. ' _ J 1'.
( .J
Since ttie 1st of April; 1888, the Director has made his payments of accounts of
the Station. through the Treasurer. 'I ,have' 'compared' th:e account. of the Director
submitted to me from the 1st April to l~t of June with the cooks of the Treasurer,
and I find only a small difference, one dollar and a few cents, which will doubtless
be ' cornected when I ma:k~ my quart~rly examination, the 1st oft July • .
It may not be ~mpr&per J for me under the circumstances to allude t~ a report made
by the Board of Trustees to the Legislature; of the State at the sessions of 1885-6.
In that report the Director furnishes the following statement -
Re-ce1pts from .'the 1st of .July 1885 to -lst of October 1886. (-
From Treasurer
From Products
$3',000-.60
1.766.80 .
$4,766.80
_ I In t he same report his disbursements of classified expenditures balanced the
$4,766.80,:
,This does not compare with the book entries of the Director which show that the
receipts in that time were from the TreaGurer $2000.00
• II , ~Irm and other sources 1502. 69
and that expenditures were ' $3,09o: b5 o' .
I find, however, on examination of the books of the Treasurer - that from the
1st of O'anuary;: 'le85 to 1st October, 1886 the Treasurer did pay-to the Director the
sum of 'J ,000: and further the Director informs me that' there was a typographical
error in the published report of the Board' of Trustees. ,That instead of July 1st
the report should have shown ~anuary l~t 1885 .
.. " • a"".'
. - I detected a small error..li rrlthe 'a'ddition of classified ~tatement in publishe~
report - ~ the amount should be $4,77?80 instead of 4,766.eO • .
, ~ ..:> • -
I will f urnish t o the Board of Trustees, as far as I am able an~information
of a detailed or special character they may desire in connection with t he books and
accounts of 'th~ Director. - J '. . .} .. ~ ,- " - ,d .:>,.
:)
Respe'ctfully submitted
.J
F • . M. Reece, Auditor
The above report was sworn to' before Jno. HaraIson, Judge on '11th June, 1888. ~ -
11.4
Meeting of Committee of Visitors
,_Auburn, Alabama
JulY' Z7, 1888,
The Committee of Visito~s met thi~ day and there were present: ¥~. Gilchrist,
Chairman, and ~essrs). Ligon and M~tche.ll . .
The Auditor read and submitted a report together with a statement, which on motion
of .Mr. MitchE!,ll was :r:eceiY!=ld and postponed for further consiqeration.
On mot'ion, It was ordered that the Treasurer be instructed to ..pay to Mr. Isaac
Ross the sum of eighteen 96/1.00 dollars , t he sum being in excess of expenses of
f.he sum , 9f, $15.9 aJ.~owed him by: action ,pf t he" Trustees {or, t.he purpose 011 visiting
dairy ,farms and creameries, for the purp.ose of .;information as to their - .
m~agement' and, appliances theref~r.. (Adopted,) ,- ".. " . " "
On motion, of Mr: ~igo'n, Resolved, That .the Co~ttee hereby ,:ccept the bid made bY' ...
Messrs Floyd and Stevens to build on the grounds of the Experiment Station a cow
house or .barn, milk dairy CU,ld brick , ice house. at a cost"not t-o exceed the sum o£
ei~ht hundred dollars, the plans and spec~f~cations of which to be furnished and
approved by Mr. Ross, the Director of the Station and the President of the College.
Adopted. , t ~
On motion of Mr. Ligon, Resolved, Th,.t M+. liose is her~by authorized to purchase
t he necessary appliances and outfit for a creamery, and to have dug a well the
same to be wal led w1~h b~ick with pump therein at a cost not to exceed the sum ~
of $300. Adopted. _ ~. _ _.,.
The Board adjourned untii 8:00 o'clock tomorrow morning • .
F. M. Reese, Secretary
,
JAuburn, Alaba,JJIa
July 28, 1888
The Committee met and there were present Messrs •• Gi}..chr~st, C~irman, and Messrs.
Ligon and Mitchell.
. .. ., ~
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolvf!Jd, That there be prepared for di.~ri?u!-ion _ an
i l lustrated PamPhlet of the School of Agriculture at a co~t to ~~cee~ the ~~
of one hundred and fifty do+lars. ,Adopted. -
On motion of Mr. Ligon, Resolved, That the chairs of Entomologist and Physiologist
be combined in that of Biology, and that the P!esid"nt o! the 9~11ege be, ,and he is
hereby authorized to take . th~ ne~ess~ry steps to. present a name ,for that Rrof~ssorship
for the consideration Qf the Board at a meeting to be held in Montgomery during
the year. Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolved, That persons holding a po,~ition of assistant
in any department connected with the Experiment Stat ion be required when the Board
of Director may order and direct, to do other work than that for which they were
specially appointed or elected in connection with the Station. Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolved, That this Committee recommend that Assist ant
E. R. 119yd be allowed the sum of ~:)De hundr~ dollars in ~&.ddition to the sala ry
ll5
of four hundred dollars heretofore allowed him, until the next .special or -regular
meeting of the Board of Trustees. Adopted .
,
On motion the Board .adjourned sine die.
F. M. Reese, Secretary
Montgomery, Alabama
November 15, 1888
At a called meeting .of th~ .'Board . of- Trus~ee8 of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Alabama. On call of tlte roll there were present: The Governor of the
State, Thomas Seay, President; Superintendent of Education, Mr. Palmer; and Messrs.
~alllon, Bishop, Ligon, Langdon, Mitchell, Stansel, and Gilchrist. v
Absent Mr. Kolb. A quorum being present.
Reports were called for:
Doctor Willi~ I;eRoy Broun, President of) the College, submitted 'a report which 'will
be record«i and constitute a par-ti, .t)f the.'proceedings cit the Board at this meeting.
The Report. of the Board. of !l!rust.ees .in r-.equir..ement of the Act of . the: General Assembly,
tQ the Governor of ~he' State ~ b.1 order of the Board handed to the p~ivate i
Secretary of the Governor, with the signatures of the members of the Boand present .
-On motion of Mr .• Palmer, Resolved, That tile, laemorial to the G.eneral· Assembly be . -
signed by the membe.rs of the Bbara. Ad~pted • ... . 'I
r -
On motion of Mr. Palmer, That the appointment. of Mr. Clayton, as 2nd Assistant by
the Board of Visitation, be confil"m"dlby.:the Board of Trustees and that suCh appoU.-
ment shall continue tor eme year. - - ~
, .
By Mr. Haralson, Resolved, That the Board of Trustees, hereby authorize and empower
the Board of Visitors, to adopt such plans as they may deem best to have field' 1
experiments made in the different agricultural sections of the State as recommended
by the President of the College in nis report to the Board at this meeting. Adopted.
{
By Mr. Stansel, That Al~redE. Mayer be chosen Professor of Biology and Biologist
at the Experiment StatlQn for the term of one year commencing 1st JulY next at a
salary of $2,000 per annum. Adopted. - ;
On motion of Mr. Haralson, 'That Mr. Sransel be requested. to prepare a bB.l for the
General Assembly to &m8Qd section 150 ot the Code regulating time of payment of
salaries of the Professors and officers of the college. Adopted •
. J .
On mot-ion of Mr. Gilen~~st, That the Treasurer of the College be and he is hereby
authorized to pay to George P. Harrison the sum of $50 as a fee for preparing a
copy of a lo.st deed. Adopted. ':' _
•
On motion, That the matter of payments for the purchase of what is known as the
Chambers property, by the College from the 'Administrator ·of .the Estate ott ~~~_
Ctmabers ·be referred to Mr. I. B .• Mitchell as advisor of the Pl."esident or the College,
who shall have authority to act in the premises on such advice . Adopted .
116
On motion the Board adjourned sine die . 11
Sirs:
F. M. Reese, Secretary to
the Board of .Trustees.
Report of the President of the College
To the Trustees of the A. & M. College
I herewith pre~.nt a brief statement ot the present conditiOD ot the~ollege, not
deeming an extended report necessary at this special meeting .
All the departments of the College 'are in succeasful .0peratioI\, with -& larger number
of matriculalants present, than were enrolled the entire session during the past
year. They exhibit diligence in their studies and in tha practical work in~he
different Laboratories.
J
The contract with James Smith for constructing the walls and roof of the Main College
building aJDounts to $43,500 . This the ' contrac.tor has been paid $20,048, 'the amount
in the (;olleg~ . Treasury availaDle tor building pll~poses-. H. has completed the work
of .the last story, or nearly 80' and expects to continue the work on the building
until the 'contract is , completed.. The collage is now in debt for work actually on .
th~ building, the sum o..l $1·5,800. • "
According to the estiulatea ot the Architects, Messrs.. Bruce and Mo:rgan, herewith
presented, there will be required to complete the building $26,(;)80 . That "is, there
will be required $49,532 to p~ the present con.t ractor and complete the building. . "
Whim the building is ~ompleted it will be neeesaa17 ·t.o furnish. ana equip the same
in order to give the scientific instruction demanded nf the College. ' ~ ~bmit· the
following estimate showing the amount that will be required to furnish and equi p
t h e building in a ' moderate way, with the necesaa17 equiJlllent. and applianees . _
Physics ~
¥-ng1nee.ring(Civil, Mining, Mechanieal & Electr.ical) .
Natural History, Musella, etc.
Mechaniq8 .
Machinery f &r testing strength e£ materials
Pr i nting outfit and t ype writers
Ill ustrative speci mens, models, etc.
Ill ustrati ng applied science
Furniture
Maps, charts, et ~ .
Fer Library
}l{aldng a t.tal
.
$5,500
. 3,000
3,000
. 2,000
1,000
. 1,000
1, 500
2,000 .
3,000
300
5,000
.25;800
It will be seen therefore t o complete, furnish and equip the buil ding t here wil l be
r equir ed accor ding to careful estimates the sum of $75,332.
, '
The preservation and safety of Langdon-Hall requires that ·the wooden t.ower should be
r emoved and other changes made . The architect est"lmatea that the necessary changes can
be mad~ for $800. . .
117
I respectfull y r ecommend that .application b~ mad~ to the Legislature for an appro~riation
not less than $75,000 to be paid one half during t he PJ'e8ent y'e~ ending Sept. 30th 18-
and the other half during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 18900 L .
'f; ' .( • .,. I"'" t: ~ 1
Your attention is respectfully i nvited to the necessity of a definite acceptance by the
State Legislature of the Act of Congress approved March 20, 1887,- knowm_as the Hatch
Act, in order that the college may continue to receive t he funds th~rein apPfop,riated
for experimentation and i nvesti gati on of s ubjects r elated to agriculture o
,'1. i f l..N - .... J"" ~ :' ,,J! ...
A. contract Lor the b.uilding. of the dairy- departme{lt~ #JIlountj.~ to $800; was ~de as
ordered by t he Committee of Vi sitor JJ .:to the Experiment stat.loll • . l l'he building",including
dairy, ice house and cattle house were by contract to be completed by Nov. l Otho
; l (,.f _ ~ e .. ~ ... ....
Ass't I . Ross i n charge o~ the Dai~ Departm~t~ expeets. t~ r.eport f or duty and have t en
cattle on t he college far.m the 15tp Novembero
Assistant E. R. Lloyd having resigned James Clayton was appointed by the Board of
'Directors t o fill the vac~ncy '.SJlbje-ct ' t o eorif irmation • .
Cooperative Cult ure Experiments -
I would again bring before the Board the Jle ee~it y .f.. llaving ,c~fa!-i ve cultuf e
experi ments made in different agricultural 'sect ionsl of tl;l~ State. ,to de~ermine the:
infl uence of soil and cl imate. One or two place~ canAa~ properly ref~e~ent the eptire
State - concl usions drawn f rom the combined result~, of cooperative f~eld exp~ri ~ent~
made i n different t ypical sections, would be far m.ore sat i sfactory, excit ~ a largeK
i nt erest and ultimately have of more value .to the . Stat~ . _.
r . , . .
I f this enlarged plan of experimentation is a pproved, I recommend t hat .• uthori t Y. fO.r ,
its execut ion be given to the committee of T~t~es cotlsti tuting the visitot:8 to, jih,e
Experiment St ation and that the officers of tlLeJ~t~tion be directors to prepare ~ p'1an
of cooperative field experimentation for s ubmi ss1 ~n, to the vis±tors at thei ~ ne~
meet ing. l • , .
" .. i .1 J " •
To complete the organization of the Expt . station there is t o be elected according
t e)- their r..esolution _a .Biologist'l.i .1, reC'.ommen<1 i!or t he posi tioJ) Dr . Alf'rpd. E,.... ~ :at
pre s~ntJ Fellow o~ the Johns BopldnSi Instittlt e l'( I]niv~I'B~ tyl. ! , - M<\' '1Q~
.l f Po' " <, ,
An examinati·on ot' the, reco.rds (If Le:e .C..ounty d~¥elo~d ~..he fac~;, t.AA,t "the},e -was n?
r ecord of a deed, showing a title by which the A & M College hold the property donated
in 187'2 by' the ·Methodist 'G-onference, no~ COJlld, t he: 'dee$i ~f whi ,c}1 mention ,is made in
the Act of th'e tLegislature establis.hing, the cJtl.lke~.be found ~ " . v
1',' ~.l r 'lrjr
No~ ' recently a -dupL[cate' deed. ha.5 been _de .and sigll.,ed ~y. David 'Ca0}lt0n i!Pd tGeo'. P.
Harrison, ,who were the original signers of the deed made in ~~7~ ~d the (same has Q,een
recorded in the Probate's office at Ope1ikao
_,.f ,I ': r ~.~ ~ \ ~,' .~ ... e _1 v ~j ';1
-Gen ., Geo . 'F. 'Ha~rison prepared! the dee..a" anq h~6J . ~sented a' 1;Ii11 of $50 ~for , ~e~ ; :r
Authority is asked for the Treasurer to pay the same .
r f ' ~
... ~ J " _ ..... ; t , :; ,
" The' $econd payment due on' the' p'urcha,se of, tju~· Ghalllbe.rs p~pperty, in accordance with legal
advice .aas not .. been p.dd. r rI e.uJ:)Jl1it tile tlett~r from vim. t~.J' Chamber,s .~rked B. ari~ ~sk
for instructions .
A & M College
Nov. 14th, 1888
Respectfully,
Wm. Le.'l\oy Broun
118.
R~port of the 'Board ' of Trustees of"the Agriculturai and MechanieaLJGollege of Alabama
for the, year 1886-7 and 1a87- 8. ; ( '{) t
Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 15th, 1888.
To.-Hi'sExcelleney Thos. B.eay
1:Exec·iitlCVe Deparl.m~nt ·
0' ~ ,,1 t ...
Sir: We have the honor to herewith transmit the r eport of the Agricultural and
~eeh~eal ,'College of Ala . for ,t~ year lSg6-71 and i887...s,· andrrespectfully request
tliat the same -be transndtted to the' Gen&ral Assembly. "
1:
'I J • ~ + • C~
C. C. Langdon
Jas. G. Gilchrist
Jon Haralson
Soloman Palmer
:)
W. R. Stansel
R' •. F. L1.gon
J . ~'B. Mi.tcheil
Jno . i ' . Bishop
Trustees· of the A &.; M College of Alabama
Trustees of the College:
His Excellency Thos Se-ay ~ Preside'l1t 'ex-0fficio
SS'lomon Palnier, Supt . of ' 'Education ",
oJ orithan Harilson, Exp~res· 188<). Selma:
R. F . Ligon n ) Tuskegee
Jne) . W. Bishop JI. It ; Talladega :.w
J . G. Gilchri at " 1891 MorrtigoJ1\ery",J - I
M. L. Stansel II II Carrollton
J . N. M&J.one*deed ' II II Athens
C. C: Langdon II , 1893·') Mobile
. R~ F .. Kolb ... • ., Eufaula
J . B. Mitchell J ... L' II Seale '
E. T. Glenn, Treasurer Auburn
F. M. Reese, Secretary & Auditor "
'I ,i:
,.,+
The Trusbees in presenting their biennial report of the. ! & M College for the years
1886-7 and 1887-8, respecbfully and wi. th muchl gratifl.cation, invite the attentj.on ot
the Legislature to the progress made in the different departments of the College, and
to t he excellent work.. -it·4.s now doi.ng 'in general and ' te~hnical education. '
t
This institution is justly recognized as' an essential factor in the educational
development of the State and by its close attention to these branches, tneor~t~cal
and practical that relate to agriculture and the Mechanic Arts and to other industrial
. urs . s, i t occupies an' educational fi elG of its own; and that i 's e'5sentia1. to _tbe
pro~perj;ty of the Statt; . - < •
The present condition of the college is especially gratifying when we consider the
diffi"culties under which it ha's ' recently labored, by means of its severe ,mi~fort\.\Ile~ .
'}
On the 24th June 1887 the main college building wi th its equipment \'las destroyed by
fire . Temporary offices -and lecture rooas were arranged by the _pur thase of a residence
adjoining the college campus, 'a1so t by using the audiencerooll. 'o:f Iang.dQn Hall. _".
"l
_I
. 119.
The ~ coll ege open'ed the session of 1887-8 at the appointed t i me in Sept . 1887 r and
though having suffered the less of its buildi'ng and equi}:ment, i t r eceived that year
a large number of students and hel d a session of marked' success . +
During th'e session of 188'7-8' there wer ~ 171 students classified as follows, according
to their studies:
English • 164 Agriculture 99
History 71+ Physics 72
French 33 Nat .t History & Geo!. 89
German 28 Physiology 19
Latin 48 • ~ Engineering 24
Mental. Science '. 11 DraWing 121
Pol . EConomy , • 15 MecHanic Arts 101 I
Mathematics 1 ~50 ' 'Mill tary Tacti cs 158 ,
Chemistry 81 ~ , . -+
Fifteen recei ve,d the d~gree of B. pc. and five were' awarded a pest graduate degree .
At the present time 175 have entered c~llege of whoa 21 are candidates for the degree
of~. Sc . and four for a post graduate degree .
Agricultural Experiment Station -
The Agricultural Experiment Station was partially organized Feb. 24th, 1888 under the
copditions expressed in the Act ot Congress, March 2nd, 1887, entitled "An Act,t. Establish
Agri'cultural Experiment Stations in connection with the C'olleges established in the
several states under provisions of an act approved 'July 2n"<f, 1662. " The Qevernor in the
absence of the Legislature, hav:i:ng previously given in behalf th8 State, hi's certifi ed
assent to the conditions of the grant. . ,
The attention of the Legislature is respectfully invited to the necessity of lots f ormal
acceptance 'of said grant and conditions expressed in order that the College, under whose
direction the Experiment 'Station must exist,-shall co~tinu8 to receive the !unqs ~ppropriated
by said Act for experimentation and scientific investigation of subjects re-lating
to agriculture. . ... "" -
The disposition made by the Board, of the funds received under .this Act is sl;lown ,in . the
report of the Treasurer herewith forwarded.: . .
The object of this grant by Congress is to benefit agriculture by experimentatio~ aQd
scientific investigation, and by diffusing among the farmers of the State useful knowledge
of practical value. It is the design of the Board to .institut e ~eas~res tQ h~ve
careful scientific experimentation' maderin field work in the, different agricultural
sections of the State, in order that each secti~n of~ tne State may receive all possibl e
benefit from the experimentation designed by tn8 ~ct of· Congress.
The organiZation of the Station also authorizes its officers to lecture at such fa~er's
institute.s aS ,may be held in the State! ~
.J
The_Station ha~ b~en well equipped tdth agricultural machinery~ and is now p epared to
conduct varied experiments with care and. • scientific"precision. The Direc;1for was gi ven
Jtwo -as,sistants, one of whom f:1r .r Issac .Ross has charge ~f the L:iv~ Stock and Da:!-ry departrpent
. The department will, 'it is')believed, excite int.elligent ~nt,ere1>t i n tpe
State, 'and if it meets with the success anticipated, will prove "of v-4i.J.ue to all farmers
in introducing silos and showing how a silage made of forage plants may be profitably
. 120.
converted into .butter and ~teef; thus tending to. diversify agri culture , and will._ also
be of e$peeial value in qetermining the true. value of cot ton seed or feed for cattle ~, ( , .... • - .. I I , '.. f ...
and the best form in wPdch it should be used as food . i
'-
In the ·Dept .• of, C]lemistry, more .t,han 400 analys~ ~ ,ot:. ,soifs, . fertilizers, et-c., have
been by the state Chemist, and his assistants in the past two years, ~n the interest
of the far~ng community. Inferior and valueless fertilizers are thus determined and
being made known to the public by the Commissioner of Agricult~e, serve to protect
the f ar mers from impo.sition in the s4e of inferior compounds. An addi~ional assistant
was appointed to the DeRt . ot Oh~stry,. and it was made the duty of the Station to
analyse, free of charge all articles ~elating to agriculture sent to the Station by
citizens of the State when of puJ?li.c }l~ility. A Dept o of Botany with meteorology.'
attached was assigned ~o the Station, and ,there was also established t he Jmportant ·
Department of Biology. It is d~signed to fill this l atter pos~tion with ~ ' officer
qualified to make scientific i~~.e8tigations, representing plant ~nd animal phys~oJ:ogy
and pathology; and to equip a biological laboratory with the aPPliances needed fGr
such work . The Board entertained very positive convictions, that the Experi ment Station
will i~' the not ~emote future, be o~ grea~ value~o the .farmers of ,our, sta~e ,and they
are e qually convinced that the united action in each 'sta~e Qf' an organized bOdy of
scientifically trrined officerf; engaged ;in agricultural, , ~xRerime~tation ~nd in investigat
ing subjects related thereto must ~esult i~large benefits t9 the ,agricultural ',
interests of the entire country. ~ ,. • ~
Chemical Laboratory
Ii The Chemical Laboratory q,ompleted last May' is a ~r:i.ek· building of ha~dsome appearance
and contains II rooJlS including offices, lecture .room ~d working l.,boratorie's' apd is
furnished and equi ppe<;l. One laboratory is devote? exclusively ~o the analisis :of soils
and fertilizers, etc . , in the iI;lterest of ,~griculture .· The organization 'of' the '.
Agricultural Experiment Station is as follows: ,," - ~ ,
Board of Visitors
Hon . J . G. Gilchrist ,- Hon . R. ,F. Ligon - Hon . -J. B.
Board of Direction - Officers of the Station
w. ·L . Brown
J . S. Newman
N. T. Lupton
P. H.- Me 11 ~
President
Director and Agriculturist
Vice Director and Chemist
Botanist
B.i:ologist •
J . T'. Anderson,Ph . D. Asst. Chemist _
I ssac Ross
James, Clayton
T. D. Samford
Mechanic Arts
Agriculturist in cha~ge ' o~
. Asst. 'Agriculturist ,
. Asst • . Botani~t, Mechan
The Department of 14echanic Arts has increased i~ e~uipment and grown in form. With
part of the appropriation made by the Legislat;tlJ;'e; ,the Machine Dept . w~s equipped with
ten machines' necessary for instruction, a~ , the rooms are now filled with ,students
l nter'ested in their daily worke The manual:: traioing h~re given tends to train our youth
to rh61 bi"ts of 'i'ndUstr,r ~and while developing the ~ onsj.ructi ye faculties ~ ve aelf- I
relianee 'and increased,@6Wer . While -the system of t Baching is bY instructioh~ studenta
f
·121.
\ n ~he higher classes enter upon a J co~s~ of constru9tion . , La~t ~e a~on there w~s ~de
by the students two small steam engines, and at present the construction class is engaged
in making a 10 horse power engine to be used ·at the colle~e in running the engine . When
we consider the relation of this education 'to the future development 0t manufacturers in
the State, the importance of f08t~ring the same by suitable legislation, cannot be too
strongly presented. '..... .. • . - . .
It is with sorrow, the Board expresses their great regr~t at the -sad loss )~st'ained oy
the death of two of the members - Col. WlIl. Ii. Barnes of Opelika and Judge J . N. MIilone
of Athens . Both had be,en members of the Board of Trustees since the inauguration 'of '
the College in 1872 and had given unreserved!Y of their time an~ talent to the wellbeing
of the insti tution, ~hose "'interests were entrusted to their charge, while their
valuable services, prudent counsels and earnest devotion to the college are gratefully
remembered by all friends of the institution, the memories of their many private virtues
are cherished by their colleagues . To fill the vacancy in the third district, J . D.
Mitchell ~.f Russell was appointed by the Governor . ~
Change in the Facul, t.y , ,
In June 1887, a Master of Arts of the Uni versi ty of Virginia, was 'elected Adjunct
Professor of Modern ' Langul:ges and History, and in August 1888, Lieut . J . B. McIkmald
10th ea~iry U~· S. A., was by the Secretary of War on the application of the Trustees ,
assigned ~io duty at the college as Professor of Military Science and Tactics .
Mining Engineering
The courses of study off ~r d t o students properly qualified as set forth in the 'annual
catalogue have been ' expanded by establishing a course in mining engineering, which ~s
properly made to constitute a post graduate course.
"
In the basement of the rtew chemical laboratory a special' room has been provided to work
in metalurgy, desi~ed for students who may enter upon this course of study.
Pharmacy
By means of the excellent facilities provided the Chemical laboratorY, the College is
enabled now to offer to students a special course in Chemistr,y . and Nat. Hist . preparatory
to technic~ ~harmacy. Several students have entered upon this course 'of study.
It is designed to make such arrangements as will enable the young men wbo so desire ,
to thoroughly prepare themselves at this college to become practical and scientific
Pharmacists and CheD:dc&l manufacturers . This line of practical and industrial education
being legitimately the province of this college. All the departments bf the College as
set forth in the annual catalogue with the courses then prescribed and conducted by
their officers in ~ -~~f~ptable and satisfactory manner .
The Faculty is organized as follows:
W ~ LeRey: ~r~un - President and Professor of Physics and Astrono~
P. H. Mell - A.M. Professor of Nat . Hist. and G,ology
o. D. S~th ~ A. M. Professor of Mathematics : . .
Jas. "'H : J.ane~ ,,:, Prof. Civil Engineering and Dra~ng · '- Jas.
S. Newman - Prof. Agriculture and Director of Experiment Station
Charles C. Thach - B. E. Profc'3sor of English and Latin
N. L. Lupton - A.M., M. D. , L.L~D. Professor of General and Agriculture Chemistry and
State Chemist
Lieut . J. D. McDonald - 10th Cav. U.S.A. , West Point, Comdt and Prof . of Mili tary Science
'122.
Geo. H. Br yant, M. Eo, Mass . · Inst~
'-Meeh. 'Arts T"
Technology, -'Director ·of Labora1-oty and Instructo/{n
f., ..J '. .,J \. _ L #' .,J.;.
Geo . 'Petrie - M. A. , Un'iversitry'o f" Vir inia, Adjunct
, . Histor'y . -' I
L 1'1 . 1'1ilkerS'on - B. Sc., -Assistant: in Chemical Laboratory
P. L. Hutchinson, - B. Sc . , Assistant in CheDical Laboratory
J . H. Drake - M D. , Surgeon '. ~ r4
O. C. Thach - Ubrariail anQ: recordi'ng ,secretary
O. De Sm.i tH. - Corresponding Secretary .
Report of the Treasure~ 'for the yea
, ~
Coliege Account
To balance June l5th'86
Amt from Endowment account
" " Incidental and Surgeon account
" " Diplomas
" " Chemical Fees'
Disbursements
By paid expense act
11 sta.tionery "
" "'military 11
" trtlstees "
" l!1Usic " II sa~ary II
" servant "
" postage . tI
" fuel "
" speakers "
" house rent " "insurance . jl
" ' surgeon "
fI spec:i.alapp:t 0 "
" t printing "
" repairs ' &~ groimds
II chemical ," .
" physic~ , ,
" balance'" 4
Agricultural Bureau Act
Recei pts
To bal . June 15, 1886
Amt . due recd August 10
'.1 .1
" froll Com. of Agriculture
.1i:l , .
. ' I
od . 'Lafl..guages and '
~ .l
474.30 'I
,, 45 .40
'105 .82 ' ,
1) 26~ o 95
9:25
19, 100.00
213~00
125 .24
220.38
50.00
200 .00
. 360.00 . Ii
67Q'.00 t .
. <186 .00 ' , . 0" f~
399 .73 b n
14~ . Z2 '
255 .00,) 11
200 . 00
429.71
'24,332 .07
.r
1
I
-1
Disbursements
By paid Mechanic Art Dept .
1/ salaries" ·U ) . 1/
" Experim.ent Station
" salary of director
1/ State Che.mical Laboratory
II Salary Asst . Chem. ( Laboratory
" Rous" rent Prof ". : Chemical Laboratory
II Nat . Hi st . Def,t". '
II Weather Service" Dept .
II Apptu to Pror'~ Stubbs
1/ Balance '
Report of Treasurer cont'd.
State Appropriation account
Receipts ·
r 0 balance June 15th
DisburseJ:rtents
, .
By axlt . building and equiping Foundry
By amt . Physics account
r
ol
Library Act
Receipts .
To LibraFy'Fees
Disburseel
Analysis ac..count
To bal. aune 15th '86
Cash from Prof . Lupton
Disbursements
By cash paid Prof . Lupton
Balance
Report of ' Treasurer continued .
To the year 1887-8. Ending June 1st • .
College Account
To balance June 1st
Cash - Endowment fund
1/ Incidental and Surgeon
" Library Fees
" Diplomas
. " Chemical Fees
Balance Overdr~w.n
Disbursements
By Paid EapeBS8 act .
" Repa:irs Jand Gr ounds act.
" Stationery
" Music
" Military
" Trustees
" Salaries
" Servant
" Postage
" Fuel
oJ •
1305 .90
ll55 . 50
1500.00
700 .00
625 .70
1100. 00
150. 00
50 .00
99 .8)· .
400 000
1974032
9061 .29
570.
~
300
420
20,280
'2,rt75
. 279
, .)
720.
429.71
70 j ."' ... '! .A.~,~
132
17.062.01 25,292.01
503.46
1,414.17
49 .25
76 .60
lU.16
361.05
19,812. 50
201 .00
137.20
93 .48
123.
. 124
Disbursements (can't)
By Speakers Act .
" House Rent
" Special Apptn .
" Insuance
" Library
" Printing
" Surgeon
" Chemical Department.
" General Equipment "
" Mechanic Art
Agricultural Buraau Account
Receipts
To balance June 1, 1887
Cash from Com.
Balance Overdrawn
Disbursements
By cash paid Experimen'\ Station to April 1
" Salary of Director
$ 2,000.00
2,474. 53
.. Current Expenses Mechanic Arts Department
" Equipment " " ..
" Salaries Instructors " " "
" State Chemical Lab,,~atory
.. Salaries Assts. Chemical Laboratory
" House Rent Professor Chemistry
Report ot the Treasurer, Con't.
_ State Appropriation
To Cash tram state Treasurer
By Paid Chemical Laboratory Building
Equipment Department ot Mechanic Arts
n II Physics
" " Nat . History
" " Ohemistry
" " , Engineering
General Equipment
Books tor Experiment Station
$ 5,090 ~00
4,000 .00
446 .96
472 .75
996 .34
591 .71
659.33
62.91
$12,500.00
, Real Estate Iccount ,.
Receipts Sale or La.J:1cI. '. r
. Disbursed
By Cash Paid tor ChamP~~s lot
n "! Dire.c tor Experiment Sta. "
'.
!O:o.oo
300 .00
$ 50 .00
850 .00
36.50
225.00
2?9.14
349,.27
692,. 50
232 .00
164 . 6~
48.81
$ 25,727 .72
$ 1,974 . 3~
4.474.53
$ 448. 85
$ 1,200.00
700 .00
BOO .OO
1,000.00
1,.085 . 55
600.00
913 .30
150.00
$12, 5OO.~OO
t.
Balance June 1st . ~
Cash from Protessor ' Lupton
Cash paid Prores80r Lupton
Balance , ..
• l
By cash L8boratory Building
" " J Bruce & 'Horgan, Architects
" " College BUi:ld1n~
Treasurers Coin. ' "
Balance
-'
Fran Po-}1cies Collected
By Cash on College. Build1rig
Chemical Laborator,y
Treasury Com.
..
Analysis Account
.' Disbursed .
$ 300'.00")
.~ 405 .00
D~sbur8ed
.I $ 7,720..90
j 150.00
, -9,501 .25
300 .00
- 12,,27.85
'1
... .
Disb\:lrse4
J , ' $21,339.00
8,000.00
600 .00
United States Fund for 1887-88
To Cash from United' States Treasurer ,t
Disbursed; . .
By Cash Agricultural Depart.an~ Equipment $ 2,582. 20.
Building , 3,000.00 1
Chemical Department Equipment. ' 4,400AQO
Uniontown Station 2,00Q.OO
Library ; , 1,499.02
Botanioal Dept . Expat. 508~. 0~·
Printing 105.~61
Trustees 200.00
Salaries .r; ill . 612.50
Contingent 100,00
125
~ .
$ 30,000.00
_ ~ . _ ... t . _
The trustees submit herewith .the special r~po~s of .those departments that relate .
more directly to the subjects of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.
Report .of Prof~ssor I. S. Newman:
I
Dr. W. L. Broun, President
Agricultural Experiment St.tion
November ,12, 1888..1
- ,
~response to your request I submit the following report of the work of ~ departfor
the last two years, .
126
J J .- s
Two years ago last June the first class in Chemistry and Agriculture were graduateQ .
Six of the nine then graduated are nov engaged in practical or scientif~c: wort iD 0 .
connection ~~h Agricultural Instruet~on in the School of Agrieul\urei. -uch more
satisfactory now, than then on account of the increase. facilities for field work
afforded by the growth of the Agricultural Div1:sion of the Experiment Station. Tl'en
there was but little work of an educational nature to occupy the tiine of tne sty.dent
in the fiel~ rorchard, garden, vineya~~ or stock yard . Now classes are engaged p~~ r
f itably 12 nours per week and could find instructive, praciical work for many more
hours, did the time of the classes 8ll~ Pro~8&rs allow, without conflict with other
duties . I ~ at{present engaged 12 hours per week in class and Jiel~ in~t~ctlan )
which, on .the baas of 8 hours per day leave&-28 hours per week for preparation of
l ectures and ,for discharge of the duties d~~ by the Experiment Station, which
l atter becomes more exacting each y~ ... ''"' 1'pe amount of clerical ;yo ,k wh~ch cannot ~
be done by assistants has quadrupled ip the last two yeJ,rs, while, t;.b.e g:rowt:b~ 9f the "
Experiment Station and multiplication. Dt subjects of inquiry demandeg ~~~ tho~ht
and greater watchfulness . So far asl can judge the members of the three. cJ,.,.sses of ·
whom practic.a;l,!e1'k J.s required do moat .c~rfully whatever is required of them, many
seeming eager to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of making practi-cal
application of what they have, leaJDled in they+ecturiS;j room. Indeed the experim |
| title |
1888 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama |
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1888 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama |
| author |
Auburn University Board of Trustees |
| author_facet |
Auburn University Board of Trustees |
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AUbot7352 |
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http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/bot,7352 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/bot/id/7352 |
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1782466962703515648 |
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1888 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of AlabamaAuburn University (formerly Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama); Board of TrusteesMinutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 188877
At 'the request of W. L. Broun, President of~ theCollege
letter addressed by the Governor of the State to Hon. C:
ordered .,'iiJ. ~I\d upon the reco~ds.
a copy of an original
S. Fairchild was
Chief Executive Office
Subject: .Agricultural Experiment Stations '
Montgomery, Alabama
Novemer 12, 1881
Hon. C. S. Fairchild
Secty of Treasury
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir
Whereas on the second day of. March, 1887, the' Congress of the' United States
passed "An Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with
the colleges, established in the several states under the provisions of an Act
, approved j~ly 2, 1862, and of the acts ;ru.pplementary ,ther.eto f' and whereas '
by the ninth section of said Act the grant of ~one~ authorized thereby is suvject
to tne assent, of ,the several states vand ,territories to the purposes of said grant;
and whereas the Legislature of. Alabama did adjourn sine die on' t,he' 28th February,
1887, without assenting thereto and the next , regular session thereof does not
~_/ occur with' th~ 13t~ day of November, 1888; and whereas s~id section 9 provi des
in such an "event for the exercise of the discretion 'of the Governpr of 'said
state now therefore, .I, Thomas Seay, ~overnor of the State Qf Alabama, ' do hereby
assent to the grant of the money authroized by the act 'approved March' '2,' 1881.
Very respeqtfully
Thomas Seay ...
Department ~f Agriculture: and proceeding~ relB,ting thereot, February 24, '1888
"
At a. cal~ed meettng ,of the Board of Trustees of t~e Agri cultural land Mechanical
College of Alabama by order of Thomas- Seay, ,Governor of the State, and ex officio
President of the Board, the Board met· in the office of the GovernQr on the
24th od February" 1888. On call of the roll there were present
The Governor Thomas Seay, Pres. ex officio
Absent
Palmer, Sup~ . Education
Bishcip
Haralson
;Kolb
Langdon
Ligon
Malone
Stansel
Gilchrist
18
On motion of Mr. Langdon that the Presi~ent of the College submit sucnreports --~
as he has prepared for the consideration of the Board. .
The President thereupon read the following report:'
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees:
I respectfully submit the following report in ~elation 'to the Agricultural
~eriment Station to be established in connect ion with the college under the act
of Congress approved March 2, 1881. The grants of money authorized Qy this act
of Congress are conditioned in the assent of the Legislature as of the Governor
of the State to the purposes of the act. The Legislature having adjourned
prior to the approval of the act, the November 12, the Governor ~n mbalf of
the state of Alabama gave the assent required for the acceptance 'of the
t rust by the authorities of the college.
Whatever credit belongs to the originators of the Agricultural Experiment
Stat iBn bill rightly attaches. to the several ,agr i cutlural colle ges of the state ~ ~
They ·were the f i rst to r ecogni ze their i.pbility . to promote the large
and varied interest s of agriculture as they should be by m~rely ·-teaching stUdents
. under t heir charge' the elements of those sciences that relate thereto and
were among the first to urge that investigation and researc~ with e~erimen 1;,.5
for verification and discovery· and dis'semination of results to those
engaged in practical agriculture were the proper means to ef fect
general improvement. These coll~ges appreciqted the inportance to one
county of a wide dissemination of the principles of a na~iona1 agriculture
- whereby: exhausted soils can be renovated ' and made fertile and the .
. .fert:Lli ty of the virgin soils retairied; and in conjunction with intelligent
farmers throughout the country they pressed this measure upon Congress, insisting
that the gradual exhaustion of the cultivated coil as shown on _official reports
demonstrated that means should be adopted commensurate with the importance
of the results to be accomplished.
The demand for the eStablishment of these stations finally exhibited such
unanimity as to· secure compliance then with in the enactment of what is known as
t he Hatch Act whereby' there is established in each state and teITitpry in
connection with the ~and grand colletes an agricultural experiment station. The
duty of the college established by the act of 1862 is to teach. The duty of the
college established by the act of i887. is to investigate. ,The act, constitutes
a grand national endowment of research in behalf of agriculture.
Object' 'Of the. Station '
. '
The act of Congress defines the purposes of the grant ~ be: (1) to diffuse
among the people useful and practical information on subjects connected with
agriculture ~2) to promote scientific investigation and e~iments respecting
the principles"of agricultural science. It more definitely dEdares in Section
2 of s aid act the object and duty of the experiment station to be "to conduct
researches or verify experiments in the physiology of plants and animals-,
the diseases to which they are severally subject with the remedies for the
same --the chemical compositions of useful plants at their . different stages of , .
I
f _l
79
growth - the advantages of rotation' of crops as purpued under a 'varying -
series of crops - the capacity of new plants or, trees for acclimation -
the analysis of soils and water - the chemical compsotion of manures; natrual
and artificial with experiments to t est their comparative effects upon crops
of different kinds - the adaptation and value of grasses and ' forage plants,
the composition and digestibility of the different kinds of food for domestic
animals - the scientific and economic questions involved in the production of
butter and cheese, and such other researches and experiments bearing directly
on the agricultural industry of the United States as may be in each case
deemed advisavle.' '
The experiment station as is seen from this enumeration of duties is not to be
simply a fann or plot of land where experiMents in 'crops and fertilizers are
to be made/ but is do be an organization of men qualified by study and training
in science for experimentat ion ,and research,whose tlble and energy will be given
to the investigation of subjects of scientific and pratical 'interest to agriculture.
Therefore the station must have a practical and scientific side. It 'must ;
consider agriculture both as ~ ari art and a science. ~
Its Duty Will Be '
1st To acquire and diffuse' to those enga&ed 'in farming useful and practical
information on subjects relating to agriculture of, interest and profit. -
2. To engage in scientific investigation and research in relation to the nUmber
questions that belong to the ~arge 'and varied interests of -agriculture,
questions which can only be determined by repeated experiment and the continued
study of scientific experts. To make this station a success and of value to the
farms each 'side of its work must be held to the highest efficiency both by the
appointment 'of officers of large and extended knowledge relating to 'agriculture
as practiced in the South as well as of those who -by long · and successful study
in tbe Depar.tment of 'Natrual Science become qualified to engage in scientific
research.
,
Location,
; ,
The Experiment Station by act of Congress 1S placed under control of the Trustees
of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and hence must be located at the college
to 'secure. the advantages o..f the farm buildings ana. the equipment alr ~dY provided
ancr -the _services of the offibers of the college engaged in kindred subjects.
It field experiments in agriculture were made only at one location in the' state,
1£ would not be possible to select anyone such place that would represent in
soil, and climate all the different agricultural sections which compose the whole
state. Hence then will at once arise the necessity on the part of the station
of select.~l in each one of the different agri'cul tural sections of the j tate
one or mope intelligent and progressive farmers who will repeat',accordfug to I
careful and specific direction, the experiments desired and report the reSults
to the station.
These adjuncts of the station have been found of great value in other states
in multiplying experiments under varying conditions. The reliability of the
general average of the results will be thereby increased and the interest in the
work of the station throughout the state largely extended.
80
In this manner all the different sections of the state can be represented
in the experiment station at a minimum cost and all valuable work accomplished -...--
that can be done a t a separate farm 'or station designed only for field experiments
These different results when reported would under this S,1stem be compared and
analyzed and conclusions of value drawn by a corps of officers assigned to
station dut,y while the field experiments would be made ,t& represent the 'different
agricultural sections of the state. " '
Nor does it follow that all the officers of the station shQuld necessarily
be at the college especially specialists though nonresidents who are skilled
in scientific work could be profitably employed to investigate those subjects
to which they have devoted year s of study.
Work ' of 'the Station
Field experiments of crops, seeds, f ertilizers, arid different modes of cultivation
will constitute a large and important work of the station, 'but only a part of
its legitimate work. "When field by the work of the chemical laboratory and by the
cultivation of plants with .different soils eliminated, they are 'given little
weight by scientific agriculturists in the search for results of value.
Besides field experiments the work of the station will demand accurate experiments
of the growth of plants in pots with soils whose constituents are known by analysis
wher,eby the source of error in field experiments, arisiIig from natural and unknown
d1ffe~ences of soils in adjacent plots is elimfMirlated. This plant growth
in pots willdeman careful attention and will be essential to 'check the
unanticipated 'varlationsof the plot experiments. i
The work of the station of tne first imporatance ~hould beta determine and
spread wide the knowledge of the cause of the fertility in ' the Soil, to show how
the original fertility may be retained, and how the exhausted soils may 'be
restored and also to demonstrate the methods of culture that will give
l'elliUlleratiVEi crops and a t 'the same time retain and regain the ,.. ! 'Iertility
of the soil. Among the numberous questions the investigation of whi-ch will
become the special duty of the station, may be mention~d the digestibility and
function of different cattle foods, the value and economy of ensilage, the
value of cotton seed as a food for plants, and animals, the growth of grasses
and forage crops, the effects of different kinds of fertilizers "and' different
constituents' by chemical analysis, the effects of different"modes of culture,
, rotation of crops, acclimation 'of pla'nts 'and trees, testing germination of
s.eeds, SB well a's the numerous questions that reJ.ate to horticulture, fruit
culture, etc •.
---'
But among all, the~ and Qthers questions which readily suggest themselves, the station
should first select those which are of direct practical interest to the' farmers
of A,labama and should consecuti vely for a series of years inves'tigat e these
qu~stions unti l ,definite cordlsiolls are reached ani not direct its 8nergies
in too many ·different directions.
81
Chemistry to which we are all indebted for all we know of scientific agriculture
should receive due consideration in the organization of the college experiment
station. Fortunately in the new chemical laboratory to be completed in a short
time rooms have been especially provided for the work of the experiment station
and when these are provided with the special appliances needed the college
will be splendidly eqltlpped for doing excellent work in this department .
Questions relati ng to botany and entomology will demand careful investigation
and research, especially the stuQy of insects useful and injurious to crops
in the South as well as that of insecticides . Climatic influence must be
daily noted, including amount of sunshine, temperature of soils at different
depths, etc .
The station will require a specially qualified expert to investigate questions
re13,ting to vegetable and animal physiology, the diseases of plants, e,nimals,
and their remedies. And means should be taken to diffuGe a knowledge of
veterinary medicine and surgery among the practical farmers of the state. These
are some of the subjects for the investigation of which it is recommended that
immediate provision be made .
Diffusion of Knowledge
The act of Congress wisely provides for the diffusion of t his knowledge obtained
by experimentation and research by requiring that bulletins containing the
results of the experime~t6 shall be published every three months and distributed
to those engaged in farming; and to facilitate this distribution is provided that
the bulletins may be sent free under the frank of the officer in charge Q The
distribution of the bulletins will be a matter of importance for which special
provisions must be made.
Farmers Institutes
As an additional means of diffusion of information, Farmers Institutes should
be held in different sections of the state and before these institutes provisions
should be made to have dell.vered by the officers of the stat ion and by others
who have made a special study of subjects relati.ng to agriculture .
Buildings and Equipment
In addition to the new and elegant chemical laboratory now building and to the
farm buildings and appliances possessed by the college there l'rill be iIJ'l.mediate
need . of other suitable buildings at the farm to do the work required for accurate
experimentation in cattle feeding; and also need for other appliances . The other
departments must also be provided l.>ith apparatus adapted for scientific researcho
Library
Books as well as apparatus const! tute the tools and vorking equipment of the
investigator. A good technical library must be provided - it is absolutely
essential - without it good work CRnnot be done .
Fortunately for the college, the experiment station previously established by
the trustees under the act of the State Legislature, has provided 'a partial
equipment for this work and gives experience which will prove of value in
assuming the gross responsibilities i mposecl. by the act of Congr es s .
82
When we consider the importance and extent of t he work, it will be ~eadily
seen it will require that the appropriation be expended wtth thoughtful care
and economy to accomplish suc~e s sfu~ly the end desired .
With a competent corps of officers and jurdicious expenditures we can
confidently expect that, by this work of the station a wide spreud and increased
interest in agriculture vfill be excited and that there will "r esult
to the entire state benefits of a permanent character .
I therefore r espectfully recommend that the experiment station be organized
as a department of the college by appointing a corps of competent office.rs to
engage in experimentation and research as defined in the act of Congress and
sub~it herewith a proposed plan of organization .
Respectfully,
Auburn Feb . 24, 1888 VIm. Leroy Brm~n , President
On moti on of Mr. Langom, that Professor Newman and Lupt on be i nvited t o come
bef ore t he board . Mr. John of Selma was also in\~ ted to come before the
board .. Each of the gentlemen ll'ade st ,'3.tements and submitted r emarks .
The report of the President of the CQllege ~~s then taken up, together with
a plan for the organization of the Department of Agriculture, which vias
consider ed as resolutj ons and wl\\vl\J). r.e... as follows o
1 . Resolved - In accordance with the Act of Congress approved March 2, 1887
to establish Experiment Stations in the Southern States, the Governors of
these states having given certified assent to the purposes of the grant as
required in the act, there is merely extablished under the provisions of sai d
act for the purpose therein named, the Agricultural Experimental Station of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama; and said station is merely
made /a department of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and as such, shall
as other departments, be under the gener~l supp.rvision of the President of the
College .
~(\""" .
2 . Resolved - That all moneys rec eive d~ the United States Treasurer, under t he
official Act of Congress, shall be faithfully used for the purposes designated
in said act .
30 Resolved - That the Pr esident of the Col lege shall present in his annual
report to the Trustees and such recommendations ~s in his opinion will promote
the efficiency of t.he station; and to him all the reports of the several
departments of the station shall be madeo
4. Resolved - That the President of the College and such other officers attached
to the station as may be appointed by the Trustees shall consti tU.te a Board of
Directors and to the said Board all subjects relating to the Experiment Station
shall be r eferred . And in order to secure unity of the purpose of r esearch, the
Board of Directors fhal1 confer together and determine the experimentation and
research which shall be undertaken and adopt each year a definite line of work;
it being provided the work undertaken, shall as far as possible have reference
to questions of practical i nterest to the furmers of Alahama . Th9 Board shall
meet at r egular periods a,nd at any time subject to the call of the Pr esident and
shall keep a record of its proceedings .
.'
5. Resolved ~ That "a member of the Bo~rd oI Directors snali 'be appointed by the
Board of Tvustees of.fic e~ in charge, who in ' addi t ion to the' special duties of
the stati on to which he may-be assigned as, Director, s.hall conduct t he gener al "
cor respondence i nci dental to t he work of the stat ion and i ssue bulletins 'in'
accordance with the Act of Congres s .
r
. -
.6. 1:n order 'diffuse infonnation of value to the farmers , the BCiaI!d of Directors
shall provide ~tor c~nducti (~ ' far-mers institutes in ' different sections of. the
State, in connect i on ,iith the Commissioner of Agri cultur e, before which officers
of the stations shall 'lecture on subjects under their charge: The di~e ctors of •
t ne Agricultural ,-Experiment Sxation shall cause field experiments i n agricult ure
~ to be made at ~ne Branch Experiment Stations at Uniontown, and ·the sum of two
thou:sand ·dollar s i 's hereby appropriated' for said field experJ:m.ents; and 'for other
needs of 'sald 'station other than' for building purposes~ .
7. Each officer at t he head of a department i n t he Experiment Station, shall
prepare for publication, at least once in three months a repor~ of the work done
in his ,department, and the same whe'~ approved ~hall De is:sued ,as ~ bulletin. " .
8. The Treasurer of t he College is her eby appoi nt ed t he broker offi cer to r eceive
from t he United States Treasury i n behalf of this college, the funds~ appropri ate d
by t he act s of Congress to establi sh Agricultural EKper-iment Stations in t he .
several states. That the ,Treasurer' of t he- College before recieving "any .of the
furide Under the ac't of Congress approveCl March 2nd, 1887, known as t he {iatc,h Act ;
be and he is her eby required eo ent er into bond with security to be approved by
t he Gover nor of Alabama, payable to t he Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Al abama in the sum of' ten thousand dollars ·($lO,OOO. ) condlti oned i n the f aithful
perf ormance of his duties i n r ecieving, keeping and distributing said fund.
And that the ·TrErasurer be aliowed f or hi s services ' i n ree.iving and, 'distributing
said f und a salary of five hundred dollars ($500) per annum. ' He shall keep a
separ ate account of the annual records and expenditures and report the same as
r equired by this Act . .
9. R~sol~ed - Tha~ i t shall be the duty of the stati on to examine free of char ge
a r t:i,.cl es relat i ng to Agriculture sent by" citi zens of the State, when of ,public
utility under ~uch: ~egulati on s as may be p'r eseri bed, and t o_ perform an duti_es '
no"t required by t he experiment station est ablished at -thEr eollege by t he Trustees
under the law of the state.
10. No office of the station shall engage in any accupati on , or acc~pt any .
position that wil l in any manner i nter f ere with the ~aithful performance of his
duties ; and no property of any character bel onging t a tb e experime~t stat i?n
shall be u~ed for private pur poses .
. ' .
11. All proceeds arising from sales from the produce of the farm s~a1l be pai ~ _
to the Treasurer of the College, who shall account t or the same to ~he Trustees ;
and when the Director receives any money from farm products, he shall make an
i t emized statement. in writing from what sourc ~ such mopey i f! recei ved, which .'
statement, shalt with the ~urYey be turnea over to the Treasur er and no money
shall be paid t o the Director unIess ,upo~ warrqnt s~gned by the President of
the Col lege . . . ,
84
12. That a committee of visitors composed of three trustees shall be appointed,
who I!Iball during the yea:$ aa often aa ' t hey may, deem necessary, visit and. inspect
each department of the Experim~nt Statio.n and make a special..:report at. the annual
meeting of. 1:!hQ .Board: And no permanent improvement shall be c,onstructed without
the app~Val. of the cOl1U!li ttee. .;; . f ,''3) 1 • .",
, "1.' . • 1
13. Resolved - That the organization of the Experiment Station shall take effect
1st Qf\ April, 1888, and to contimle so l ong as the a 'tf, ·o.f Oongresa ~ remains i:n force :
and the Agr.' and· Mee. College receives the .money therain appropriated.
f _:""'<:J i.. f'
14.. Resolveq· - that the Experi,ment statio . shall ·be-\organi.zed wi·th the 'folloiing
officers: First, the President of th,e College'. Second, the Agri,culturi:Sti ~o shall
be a director: Third, a chemist . who shall be a vice-director: Fourth, a P~{iliologist:
Fifth, a Botanist: .SWh, an Entomologist,. who sh$Ul hav.e charge o'f meteQrolfolgy.., ""with
the following assistants .. ~st ( ass~stant Chemi,at -. first ~a~istant Ag~~ulturist ~
assi stant in Meteorology.
d t r)... .....
On motion o~f Mr.· Malone that . the resolutijlns be Q9nsidE'tred and acted_ton .
seriatin\ - . adopted.. The 1st· Resolution as in origi~l draft was amended so as, to
read as is set forth in said resolution and was adopted.
The 2nd resolution - was ~dopted .
The 3rd resqlut ion - was 'adopted. ,"., . ,~ . . _,
The 4th resolution'1:8ing . under consideration and pending .~t_hef!.ame on 1ll0t;iPQ of the <
Gov-ernor,. Mr. Langdon~ bein~ in the Ghair, the Board adjourned ~nt).l 3 o.'clock, p .. l1~ ,_ , " t A . . . ..~
*_c .... l ~.."
-The' Board met .a:\; 3 o:' clock ;in t}le office of t ~ 'Goverl}or at the Capitol build.:Lng
am 011 call of t he roll - ;. thes~ wer~ pres.ent· - The Goverpor." and Mess:rs-. palmer,
Bishop', Haral®n, Kolb, Langdon, Li,gon, Malone, StaP$el, ' .Gilchrist - all. the. members
of the Board were presen.t • _ J,. • '
The 4th Resolution was then further considered and adopt~d ..
The 5th Resolution was adopted.
, (:
The 6tb Resolutiop was amended as it appears ill the recor d, on M.ption to ad9pt -the. )
same liT. Langdon cal~dfor the 'Yeas; and, nays. T}1ose :wtw~ .for, t~e : ~doption of
the reaolution. wera the PresideI!t of t~ Board and Mes.srs. ~almer , . ~isho~" Haralson,
~olb, Ligon~ Stansel - 6. Those, v.oting nay .we~e M~ssrs. pdlcprist~, Langaon~
and Malone - 3. The resolution was adopted.
The 7th Reoolution was ~dopted •.
The ath ~esqlution was adopt~d.
The 9th Resolut~on was adopted.
The lOth Resolution was adopted. ~. ." " .
The 11th Resolution as in original resolution was amended as now on the record and
adopted.
The ~2th Resolution wa~ adopted.
The 13th Reool-qtion was adopted..-
The 14th ResoJ,ution was adopted. .... '{
The resolutionS as stanq, on .thp re,cord were then adopte1d _as a whole.-
• I 1 , L ... ,.
The Board adjourned on motion till nine o ' clock -tomorrow.
Feb. 24th, 1888.
F. M. Rease
Sec. to Board
85
Saturo.ay, February 25th', 188"8
The Board met at the office of the Governor in the state Capitol and on call
o~ the roll the~ were ·present:
The Governor ot the State,.Ned Seay~
Superintendent of Education, Mr. Palmer,
and Messrs. Bishop, Gilchrist, Haralson, Kolb, Langdon, Ligon, Malone and Stansel.
"
The .. subj ect of appropriations coming up - on motion the following amounts were
.appropriated from the $15,000.00 appropriated' by act of Congress March '2I1d, 1887.
t •
t For~ farDl buildings the sum of
For equipment of farm, labor and
assistants
Completing. Chemical Laboratory'
Equipment of Chemical Laboratory
~quipment for Entomology .
Libra:ry
For assistant chemist
For assistant"meteorologist
For printing
Stationery and contingent expenses
Expenses of trustees
Treasurer to be paid quarterly .
Secretary to be' paid quarterly '
Uniontown Branch Experiment Station
$2,200.00
2,340. 00
800. 00
4,000.00
500. 00.
1,200. 00
375.00
7,.00
:300. 0D
1~.00 .
300. 00
500~OO
150. 00
2,000.00
J14,Mo. oo
_There beipg an unappropriated balance of $110.00 and the further sums of ·
three-:-.rourtl'}.s of ealaries of Treasurer and Secretary would make the sum . together
with the $110.00 not· appropriated an unappropriated balance of ~ $'97 . 5b .
-On motiQn of Mr. Haraloon"!' That ,from the amount of $,97.50 there be added
to the $1200. 00 appropriated to the l ibrary, the swm of $300.00 for scientific
works and b09ks - making the appropri ati on thereto $1500.00. Adopted~
On motion of Mr. Palmer - That the- balance ot said sum of $597 .. SO, to wit,
the sum of $297 • .50 be appropriated to the contingent fund of the Department of
Agriculture at Auburn, Ala. .
On motion of Mr. Palmer - that the Board reconsider the vote by Which the
office of Bo~ani st was carried - also that of Physiologist (carried) .
Election of officers was on motion gone into. Professor J . S. Newman was
elected Agriculturist and Director of Experiment station. Professor N. T. Lupton
Chemist and Vice-Director of Experiment Station. Profesoor P. H. Mell .Entomologist
and Meteorologist •• ·
The chair of Physiologist was e stablished and when the ProIessor thereof is
selected by the Board he shall recieve as compensation for his services the sum of
two thou.sand dollars. ($2000) per annun. ""
. ,
The chair of Botanist is e'stablished and' when filled that officer shall re-cei
ve a salary of one thousand dollars ($lQOO) per annun.
No change was made of present assistants in the Department of Agriculture under
Pro f • Newman.
86
A ssist~t in Meteorology ~o be named by the President of the college whose compensation
shall be at the rate of $SbO. oO per ~num.
Dr. James T. Ander son of Little Rock, Arkansas was elected Assistant Chemist
with a salary of ($1500) fif teen hundred dollars per. annum and secretary inst ructed
t o notify him t he reof. "
-
By Mr. Bishop - Resolved - that W. L. Broun, t he President of the college be ,
and i s hereby authorized to execute for and in the naile' 'of ,the Board of Trustees
of, th,e A,gricul tural and Mechanical college' of <All}.. a deed. to Am:os A. 'Cox, 'to a cer.;.
t ain lot or parcel of ground in the corporate limit s of the town of Auburn, Lee Co. ,
Ala., and northwest of the college puildings forrnerly known as the ' college f arm,
descr i bing the same by meter and bounds. (ldopted)- . .. ,',
• t
By Mr. Haral oon - Resolved~ - t hat t he President 'of the college, be and he is
hereby authorized to expend the . sum of $.300, three hundred dollars,. or so much
thereof as m~ be necessary for . preparing an illustrated catalogue 'of t he col legeo
(Adopted.) ,
By Mr . St ansel - Resolved - t hat t he visitors designated in secti on 12' by-which the
Dept. of Agriculture is organi zed - be appoint ed by the Governor as President of
thi s Board with Mr . Gilchrist chairman. ' ' .
By Mr. Kolb - Resolved - t hat tbere be appropria~d from the $15000 'appropriated by
Act of Congr ess March 2nd, 1887 . - t he sum of .$150. 00, one hundr ed and fifty dollars,
as addi tional compensation to F. M. ,Reese secretary of the Board and that his salary
as secretary be (3500) five hundred doi lars per ' annum. (Adopted.)
By Mr. Kolb - Resolved - t hat in_accor dance with the estimates reported by Pr of
essor New.man, of funds needed at the Experiment station from Dec. 22nd, 1887, ~ ,
September 30~h, . 1888"the sum of ' ($lSbo) fifteen hundred dol lars i s hereby appropriated
f rom the ($2000) two thousand dollars by the Commissioner of Agriculture to
t he Treasurer of t he' coll~ge on December 24th, 188~, which ~as .~dopted . ' ,
, . " \..
By Mr . Langqon - Resolved ~ that the report 'of the Pr e sident of the College to the
Board of Trustees at this session, be furnished to the Montgomery City papers
with t request . th~t the papers of the stat e publish t he -same. . (Ad?pted)
On motion the Board adj ourned sine die .
F. M. Reese
Secr etar,i to Board of Truste es
, .
Proceedings of the Board of Trustees of the A & M College, ~ferring to the
college proper at a meeting held i n the office of the Governor in the State Capitol,
February 24 and 25th, 1888. , ' ,'" ". , . ,
The Board being in session with all the members present . , It was by Mr.
Haralson - Resolved - t hat the President of the col lege, be and he is hereby
authorized and empowered to sigh the name of the Agricul tural and Mechanical
College of Alabama to the bond required by t~ ' United States Government for '
neces sary arms and accoutrements for the military department of the college, and to
87
bind the . college thereto: and to procure the necessarJ s'Qr~ties 'thereto: ani the-..
Board her eby promise . to indemnii'y and to save harmless . any surety or sureties
on such bond, in consideration of thei r becoming sureties on the same , for the
benefit of the college. (Adopted) .
By ~o St~nsel - Resolved - t hat the sum of ( $300) three hundred dollars be
r
• •
allowed the comi!landant of corps of cadets' as compensation for his servi ce s, as
such comiiiandant , urrler t he direction of the Pre sident of the college, when
detailed by the Secretary of War. . (Adopted)
BY Mr. Ligon - Resolved - that as the detail of 1st Lieut • . M. C. Richards, .
Col. commanding· the corps of :cadets will expire Oct. 1st, 1888 - that the President
of the college is hereby authori z:ed to apply to' the Secretary of War for the
detail of an officer in his place .- He shall make application , first for Lieut.
John B. McDonald, 10th Cavalry - second, Robert L. Bullard, 10th InfantI""J, "and
if neither of the above named officers a'annot be' detailed "then for Lieut. John
H. Wills, 22nd Infantry. Adopted.
Note. As the swm of $800, for which the .cQllege farm was sold was appropriated
to Dept. of Agriculture, the resolution directing a· deed· to be made to the
same to Amax A. Cox the pu:tchaser, is embraced among proceedings relating to the
Dept. of Agriculture.
Also the Tes:>luti.on by which the salary of tHe secretary was increased,
making his salary five hundred dollars ($500) per annum, the additional salary'
being allowed on account of services requir~d on account of establishment of Dept.
of Agriculture. : .
On opposite' page .on resolutions on the ,death of Hon. 'WIn. H.~ Barnes whi ch were
introduced at this meeting of the Board.
Montgomery, Ala.
Feby 25th, 1888
F. M •. Re'ese.
Secretary to Board of Trustees
A & M College of Ala~
The Governor has designated Messrs. Ligon and Mitchell to complete the
committee of Visitors, to be appointed in accordance with requirements of
Resolution 12 of Act of Organization.
In Memory: of ~. William H. Barnes
F. M. Reese
Secretary Tr.
By Mr. Stansel - Resolved - that whe~as since the . last annual meeting of thi.s
Board, Col. Wi~iam ~ • . Barnes, .one of our members departed this life at his home
in Opelika, Ala., therefore be it resolved, .
1st That the Board of Trustees 0+ the A & M College of Ala ~, has sustained 'a
serious l oss by the death of our esteemed and able associate : _ and that the '
Institution has lost one of its wisest and most able supporters.
88
2nd -That in the death . of Col. Barnes our. state has lost one of its best citizens,
finest patriot~ and ablest statesmen - the bar one of its -most learned and eloquent
advocates - A bright light in the profession has been extinguished - a strong man ~as
fallen. . -
3rd That we his intimate friends and associates in. all the relations of , life, mourn his unexpected departure - we shall miss him - the ties of friendship of
many years are broken - we· will ever, cherish in memory the manly v~rtues - the
genial and social nature of our deceased friend.
4th That these resolutions be spread upon therecord~ of this Board - that a copy of
th~ same be transmiited to the family -of the -deceased, and that the State papex:s be
reque sted to publish the ~ame .: ~ _'
- Mr. ~gon moved the adoption of the r~solutio~s seconded by ~r. Malone .- and they
were adopted unanimously. .
Meeting of the Committee of ·Visitors
Aubu~n; Ala. Apr. 3rd, ·~888.
The committee of visitors consisting of Mr. Gilchrist, chairman, and Messrs.
Ligon and Mitchell met in Auburn, April 3rd at the oall of Dr. Wm. L. Broun,
President of the College, ~y request of chairman of Com.
By Mr. Ligon - Resolved; that the bid made by Mr. James Snith, !lith such alterations
in the plans and specifications for t he buildings to be erected at the
Experiment Station, and therein naIlEd, as m~ be consented to arAi agreed on by the
Committee, so that "the" cost of such buildings does not exceed the amount heretofore
appropriated, to wit, the sum of two thousand, two hundred dollars ($2, 200) , is
hereby accepted; and that Dr. "'Tm. L. Broun, the President of the College is hereby
au thorized and empowered to sign _the contract for said buildings with sald-Jame s
Smith, when plan~ and specifications are agreed on. (Adopted) .
F. M. Reese
Secretary to Board of Trustees
AUBAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
A & M. Co~eg~, Auburn, Alabama, June 4th, 1887
Dr. Wm. leRoy Broun, President:
Sickness has prevented an earlier preparation of this
report.
Chair of Agriculture
My work as Professor of Agriculture, during- the past ses~ion" has b~en bQth
agreeable and satisfactory - Each succeeding year brings manifestat~ons 9f increased
intere st in the study of Agriculture on the part of the cadets. MUch of this is no
doubt due to the kindly interest, which you have shown in the welfare of this department,
for which and ' the uniform courtesy and kindness you have shown and ex- .
tended to me both o~ficially and personally, please accept my appreciative aoknowledgement.
89
One of 'the most marked feat ures of 'the experience of the session just ' ended is
the decided interest shown by the cadets in the practica. work of the station,
in which the three higher cl,asses have engaged most cheerfully.
. .
Owing to the large amount of laboratory work done in other. departroen:t"s by
cadets taking the course of chemistry and agriculture; I found it 'necessaIY to
occasionally, to devote an hour which s~ould have been used in class room instruction
to field work, which demanded immediat e attention, while the best instruction
could be Kiven. This was especially the case in \.t)rk in the. horti cultural
department in which planting and pruning rrmst receive attention at the proper .time
or the lesson be' lost.
When the weather admitted ten hours a week were devoted to field instruction
as follows. Sophomore class six ho~s Junio;r Two and. Se~or Two •
. There have been 96 in attendance upon ten cl~sses in Agriculture dur ing the
session just end~d, . distributed a~ follows. Senior class 7. Junior 8. Sophomore
41. Freshman 40 - 96. The e?cperiment. of in~tructing the Freshman class in
Agricultur~, has prove~ succe.ssfu;I. beyond my expectatipns. Nptwithstanding the
fact that you gave them to me only once a week ver,y satisfactory progress has
been made as shown by the examinations just completed. If practicable; I would
like to have this class recite twice per week during the second term. This would
enAble me to extend my course of instruction by commencing in the Sophomore where
the freshman ended. When not interrupted by unfavorable weather my collegiate
duties occupy eighteen hours per' week. Eight in the lecture room and ten in the
field. Add to this the conduct of the aation, planning, planting, observing
developments and weighing results of expe;riments, the preparation of bulletins
and monthly visits to the canebrak~ station and I find little leisu're time of
the 'year, vacation ·included. Indeed it would hQve l b~en utterly impossible for me
to have accomplished the work that has been done without the assistance which has
been rendered by-Mr. C. L. Newman, who has received for his services the pitiful
sum of $15.00 per month from the Station. This, however, has been supplemented
from private funds. I make no complaint of any kind. I have endeavored to perform
with fidelity the duties. assigned me and am gratified to be able to state
that so far as thS cadets are concerned, the old prejudice against t he study of
Agriculture ' no longer exists.
IV relations with the cadets have been of the most pleasant . character, both
officially and socially. They have so far as has come under my observation conducted
the~selves as gentlemen and as such have done faithful wQrk. MY' dut,y 'as
te~cher h~s bee~ a pleasant one and I trust not without profit to those who .have
sat under my instruction • .
Experiment Station
The bulletins accompanying furnis h a partial report of the work of last year.
During (this month another will be issued. giving results of experiInSnts upon sweet
potatoes and sugar cane , to be ~ollowed 111 July by a maInlal o~ forage culture and
llay m~ing for Alabama, with some comments Up 011 the most economical and profitable
manner of feeding our stock. This will be followed in August by a report of
investigations made upon the fruit trees and plants and a rep(jrt of tests of
varieties of smal~ fruit~. .
The usual investigations are in progress in regard to the methods of planting,
fer:tilizing and cultivating our -principal field crops, besides some intera.stirig
enquiries in the fieldf:j of horticu.lture and homology~ ' Preparation i s being made
90
to afford additional facilities for investigating the underground developments of
our c:ult-ivated plants. • -'
The seven acres which belonged to the estate of William Stenn, were planted
last Nov. and steps .are being taken to improve the soil and heal the unsiehtly
gullies with which it was co:r:rugated. ,
Financial
I herewith submit my book o£ accounts with vouchers classified
It will be observed that these have been received from all sources.
Expended
Unexpended balance
and numbered.
$2781. 91
, 2307 . 78
$ 474.13
The unexpended balance will be paid for pike and ram purchased, erecting tank,
replacing building de~troyed by fire and in payment of wages, etc., this month.
" .
I trust" you will recommend to the Board as liberal appropriation as their m~ans
will j ustify for the purchase' of additional improved implements, prepar~tion for
accurate experiments in feeding stock, and , otherwi~e developing the usefulness of
the station.
Ver.y respectfully
'~. S. Newman .
Prof. and Direc,tor '
The above report by some means ' went into possessio~ of Dr. Broun' and was not
found until this day, May 31st, 188, hence-not with oth~r reports'.
Auburn, Ala., June 11th, i888 ,
This being the day designated by the Board of Trustees of the Agriculturai
and Mechanical College of Alabama for their annual meeting - on call of the roll
there we~e present:
His Excellency, Thos. Seay, Governor of the state
Mr. Palmer, Supt • .'of Education and Messrs. Gilchrist, Ko~b, Har ~son, Ligon;
Malone and Stansel.
Absent: Messrs. Bishop, Langdon and Mitchell.
A quorum was present.
The proceedings of the Board at their meeting in the city of Montgomer,y, the 24th
day of February, 1888, were' read and approved; also, the resolution of the Board of
Visitors adopted at a called m~eting , held in ~uburn on the 3rd day of April, 1888'.
The entry of the secretary was corrected in reference to the call of said
meeting by inserting after the words "at the call of WIn. 1:. Broun, President of
the College" by order of Mr. Gilchrist, chairman of the c~mmittee .
Also, the 'note made by t~ secretary on page wag amended to read as follows,
liAs the sum of $300.00 for whic;h the old college farm was sold w~s appro~riated
91
: to the Experiment Station and $500 ~s payinent on the property knO"iffl cas the Chambers
property, purchased by the col ege. ~ .
The 'President or" the colleg~ r~ad his ·'report and submitted the ' same to the
Board of Trus t ees.
On motion of Mr. Haralson - Re solved - that the degrees recommended Oy the
President of the college i~ his report, be conferred on those persons named by
him in the , report., which was adopted.
On motion of l-f.r. Ligon that the report of the President lie'l on the table '
until he furnish a s,ynopsis thereof in order that the same ma~, be referred to
appropriate c~mmittees . Carr~d . • "
The Treasurer read ani submitted his 'report which:, on motion of ~. Stansel
was referred to the Committee on Finance.
The Auditor read ~n,d: sUbro'itted hi's report -on the ' Experiment Station and tha t
'of the Treasur~r ' of t11e c olJ;ege which .:were on ~otion of Mr. 'Stansel referred to
the CoJDllfi t tee on 'Financ Ef. • - "
Mr. Mitchell;a memb'er of the Board, appeared and' too~ his ' sea't 'with the Board.
On motion of Mr. Malone - Resolved - that 'a. committee be appointed by the President
to report, for the future the regular order of business of the Board. Adopted.
• ~_ . I . '. ' 4 _. os .
And the President appointed as, that committee Messrs. Malone, Haralson and Stansel.
The several reports of thEfFaculty were t hen read and submitted.
,J.... ' "' ~.
That of the Director of the Experiment Station was referred to the committee on
Agriculture ; and the report of Professor Newman as Profe ssor of Agriculture was
referred to the C?0prrnittee on GOUT-f?e of Study. On motion of Mr. Kolb the Board
adjourned until 3 o ' clock -p.m.
J F,. M. Re~se ' ,'" 'f
Secretary of Board; '
EVening' Sess:Lon
,I
Jt - , '"'\ •
The Board of Trustees met' at ~ 'o ' clock and~ there were present, -and on call of
roll: Thos. Seay, Governor of the state, Mr. Palmer, Supt. of Education and Messr s.
Gilchrist, Haralson, Kolb, Ligon, Ligon', Malone,' Mitchell' and' stalisel: ,Absent:
Messrs. Bishop and Lapgdon. There being a quorum p~esent.
On motion pf Mr~ Maloite.~ the report of Prqfs s;,>or Luptoh 'wa,s re~d and, rEf! ez:red to
the Committee on Finance. ' . ~ ,.' J • J 1 J • l
'-'- " ,
That of Professors Smith and Thach was read, received and ordered ,on file.
The report of Professo~ Lane was refe~e? tot... the -' C6mrirl.ttee rip F~.ance. , On
moti on of Mr. Malone - Resolved; that the regular annual meeting of the
Board of Trustees of the Agricultural and. ~ Mechanica.l Colleg~ of Al'aban;ta(, ' shall
be held at the college in Auburn on Monday preseding cOtrunencement Clay, unt-il'
otherwise ordered by the Board, which was adopted. '
Mr. I saac Ross by invitation came before the- Board "and atldressea them in
reference to establishing a dairy and creamer,y in connection with the Experiment
Station._
92
The report of Professor. Mell was read and referred to the Committe.e on Finance ;
also, that of Professor Bryant to the S~le commi ~tee .
The pr oposition of Mr. Ross submitted ',by him after conferring with the Board
was on moti on of Mr. Haralson referred to the Committee on Agricu~ture .
The report of Adjunct Professor Petrie was reag - receive~ and ordered on file.
On motion of Mr. Stansel - Resolved - that the President of the Bqard, revise the
st anding commit tees to t ake effect at the next meeting of the Board and that such revision
be made ever" two years thereafter.
The President of the Board assigned Mr. Mitchell· to the Committees on Finance
and Revision of Laws and Claims. On motion of Mr. ' Ligon - that the report of th
President and aC,companying papers referring· to .appropriations 'be referred to the
Committee on Finance. Carried.
The Committee on Mechanic Arts, a standing committee, having been. created at
the last ·regular annual pleeting of the Board, and the committee .not named at the' time,
the President QDm0unced as that committee - Messrs. Palmer~ Ligon, Stan~el, Gilchrist,
and Malone. On motion of Mr. Malone the matter of the purchase of the safe in the
office of the f reasurer b~longing to ~he Department of Agriculture of the state
was ~eferred to the Committee on Finance. ' _ ' . . - .
On motion of Mr. Palmer the Board adjourned until 9 0 t clock tomorrow morning.
F. M. Reese .
Secretary of the Board
j{.A)I __ •
Aubur~, • Ala . , -A~ril 12, 1888.
The Board of Trustees of the Agricultural & Mechanical Col lege of Alabama met at
9 o ' clock Ao Mo and on call of tne roll these were present: Thos . Seay, Governor
of the State and President ex-off . of the Board, ~~ . Palmer , Supt. of Education,
Messrs. Gilchrist, Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel. Absent:
Messrs . Bishop and Langdon . A quorum was present .
The minut~s of yesterday were read and aooroved . .. ' J; ,& • , .
. Leav~ was granted Mr • . Maone .to maKe a treport from . a. speci.9.l comnittee . .. ... . ~
Mr." Presi,dent.: Your"specie_l committee to whom v-las referred the matter of
action of business of the Board; has had the same' under consideration and ask
leave to report the follOwing and to recommend its adoption .
"I . Calling the roll.
20 ~ eading winutes of last meeti ng"
3. Reports of President and Officers of the College
4. Reports of the FacWlty • .
5. Rep9rts of the Standing Co~i ttees .
6. Repor~s of Special COmmitt ees .
7. Miscell&neous business ~
This report was concurred in.
Mro Presi dent suggested, and it was ordered, that hereafter the Secretary prepare
the daily proceedings of t he Board in such manner and f orm, that t hcy be ready to be
93
t r an sferred t o the minut es ~
Mr. Kolb on motion introduced t he following resolutions:
I. Resolved 1st, That i n. t he future t he incident al fee charged t he students of t his
college shall be as f ol l ows: .
Surgeons fee f or half. ses sion
Incidental fee f or half session
Li brary fee f or half session
$ 2 . 50
2 . 50
1.00
II . Resolved that no fee shall be charged Alabama students in the Laboratory f or
the use of apparat us and material consumed .
On moti on of Mr . Li gon the resolutions were laid on the t able and
On moti on of Mr. Ligon the Board adjourned until 3 o'clock p .m.
Evening Session
The Board met according to adj ourmnent , and there were4 pr esent : Thomas. Seay,
Gover nor of the State, Vtr . Palmer , Superintendent of Education, and Messrs; Gtlchrist
, Kolb, Har alson, Ligon, Malone , Mitchell and Stansel . A quorum.
On moti on of Mr. Ligon, the Board took a r ecess unti l 4 o'clock .'
On moti on ,of Mr . Malone t he r esolutions i ntroduced by Mr . Kolb were t aken f rom t he
table and considered seriatim.
Mr. Gilchr ist moved to amend the 2nd r esolution by striking out t he -and~.t Alabama 0
The amendment was adopted .
Mr. Haralson moved to amend 1st resolut ion by st riking out $2 . 50 and inserting in
l ieu thereok 10 as i ncidental fee . The amendment was not adopted .
The resolut i on as to amount of inci dent al f ee , viz: $2 . 50 was adopt eci .
That relating to surgeons fee and library fee was adopt ed .
On mot i on of Mr . Haralson, Resolved that the requirements of students in the Chenu cal
Laboratory bei ng r equired on entering t o deposit a fee of $5. 00 as f ound on page
38 of the catalogue, be and the same is hereby r escinded . Adopted.
Mr . Kolb asked leave t o make a report from t~e Finance Comnuttee . Leave was gr anted .
The Finance -Committee beg leave t o repor t t hat they have .examined the account s and
vouchers of the Treasurer. of the College, that they compared the vouchers fo r di sburs
ements in the several departments wi t h his accounts as pres ented and f i nd t hat
his report i s correct exc ept in two sma.ll i tems - one of 8 cents and one of 10 cents,
making 18 cents to which t he attention of the Treasur er has been called.
They beg leave f urther t o report that they have consider ed the mayt er of Appropriat
ion t o t he several departments from the several funds and without making an itemized
recommendation for appropriat i ons beg to st ate that t hey have taken the estimates as
94
recommended by the President of the College and have considered the same by it'ems. and
general~approve the same, but report back to a full Board to be modified as in
their judgment may be wise .
The resolution was adopted .
R. F. Kolb
J . B. Mitchell
Jas . G. Gilchrist
J . N. Halone
Jno . Haralson
On motion of Mr . Haralson, the appropraitions recommended by the President of the
college be considered seriatim or by items .
From United States Fund
For Uniontown Experiment Station
Part Salary Professor of Chemistry
Part Salary Professor of Botany
Salary of Assistant Chemist .
Asst . Botanist & Bacteriologist
F.or Printing
Equipment f or Botany .
Equipment for Chemistry
Salary of Treasur~r
Salary of Secretary and Auditor
For Stationery
For Postage
For Arboretum
for Trustees
For Library
For Farmers Institutes
To Experiment Station
On motion of Mr. Kolb ,
.$ 2,000
1,600
1,600
1,500
500
500
800
400
500
15 0
200
100
150
225
400
300
"400
$6 ,125
The resolution strikLng out the fee of ten dollars was adopted . Refer to 2nd
resolution of Mr. Kolb .
,
On motion of. l>1r . Ko+b, Resolved that four hundred dollars ($400) of the proceeds
of the crops of tQe Experim~nt Station be appropriated to purchase chemical apparatus
for the use of the students.
Appropriations as suggested by the President of the college being again under
consideration, the f ollowing appropriations were made from the Agricultural Fund,
the runount thereof being aniticipated froTIt \ he sale of tags .
Salary of Director
Two A s si~tants, one at salary of
and one at salary of
Labor and E uipment of Farm
Two Asst~ . in Chemistry - one at salary in part
One at salary of
Chemical Supplies
House Rent for Chemist
$2, 500
600
400
2,lGO
800
300
600
200
Appropriations from Endowment Fund
Salary of President
" Profes·sor of Hathematics
" "" Engineering
" " " Engli sh
Chemistry, part sal ary
Natural History, part salary
Hechanic Arts
Adjunct Profs . Modern. Languages & HistorJr
ala~J 1st Asst . in Mechanic Arts
Salary 2nd Asst . in Mechanic Arts
Three{As st. Instructor s , $250 ea ch
Commandant
Treasurer, part salary
ecretary and Auditor
Asst . in Chemist ry
Chambers property
Commutation house rent
Insurance
Trustees
Fuel
Pri nting
Stationery
p.o stage
Servants
General Expenses
Mil i t ary
Music
Commencement expenses
Repai t s and Grounds
Supplies for Mechanic Arts
11 " Physics
11 II Engineering
II II Chemistry
" /I ' Natur~l History
$3, 000
1, 800
1, 800
1, 800 .
. 200
200
1,400
1, 000
750
250
750
300
600
3~0
200
540
1, 000
250
225
250.
~OO
50
150
350
400
100
100
100
100
700
500
100
100
100
95
From funds of Department of Agricult ure due t o the College on the 1st day of October
next .
On motion of :Hr . Kolb, Resolved that so much of the fund of the State Department of
Agr i culture which will be due to the College on the 1st day of October next viz , the
sum of $2, 474 . 53 be appropri ated from that fund to cancel the defi ci t in the Agr i cultural
Fund of the coll ege which was adopted on motion of for . Palmer . Resolved : That
the sum of four hundred dollars (~ OO) of the Agr i cultural Fund d1.le · on the 1st day of
October next be appropriated as part salary of the Treasury, which was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, that George H. Bryant be styled Director of Laboratory of
Mechanic Afts and that he be a member ,of th~ Faculty.
On moti on of Mr . 14alone the Board adjourned unt il tomorrow morning, 8 o' clock .
96
(
The Board met at B o'clock and t here were present :
Auburn, Alabama
June 13, lBBB
Thos . Seay, Goy-ernor of the State , Mr . Palmer, Superintendent of Education, ani
Messrs . Gilchrist, Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel.
Absent ~ Messrs . Bishop and Langdon .
A quorum present .
The minutes of yest erdays proceedings were read and there being no objections, the
s~ne were approved .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved, t hat the degree of Ll.D be and the same is hereby
imbued on Reverend Doctor A. S. Andrews, President of the Southern Uni versity at
Greensboro, Alabama, which was adopted.
Elections being in order:
The name of J . J. Wilmore of Purdue University, Indiana, was pr esented and he was
elected 1st Asst . in Mechanic Arts with a salary of ~75 0 a year .
Boling Glakey of Montgomery, Alabama, was elected 2nd Asst . in Mechanic Arts with a
salary of $250 per annum.
, ,
On motion of Mr . Malone, Resolved, the kindness of the Presbyterians of Auburn in
tendering their church building to t he Faculty of the college for recitation purposes
is gratefully appreciated and acknowledged and the thanks of the Board of Trustees
are hereby tendered to them for their generous consideration; and that t he Secretary
of the Board be requested to notify them of the action of the Board.
The Chairman of ' the Committee of the Board of Visitors of the Experiment Station sub~
mitted a report, viz; the Committee of visitors shall have full power when the Trustees
are not in session to act in all matters relating to the Station, it being provided the
action of said cornnatt ee shall continue of force until the next meeting of the Board .
Resolved 2nd, All assistants in the Experiment Station shall be appointed for one -year .
Should a vacancy occur it may be fil led by the Directors sub j ect to the approval of
the committee of visitors .
Resolved 3rd, All offices of the college and of the Experiment Station, will in their
annual reports, state the number of days they have been absent from duty and the
cause of such absence. The report was concurred in .
On motion, the Board adjourned until 3 o'clock p .m.
-"
Evening Session, there were present: Thos . Seay, ' Governor of t he' State, Mr . Plamer,
Superintendent of Education and Messrs . Gilchrist , Kolb, Haralson, Ligon, Malone,
Mitchell, and Stansel .
Absent Messrs . Bishop and Langdon . A quorum was present .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved that hereafter when any officer of this college
shall absent himself without leave of the President of the College from the diwcharge
of his duties, unless on a ccount of sickness of himself or family, requiring his per-
,
97
sonal attention, his salary shall .be abated in pr oportion to the time of any such
absence; and the President of the College i s charged with the duty of reporting to
·the Board such ab sences. Was adopted .
On moti on of Hr . Gilchrist , Resolved that the Treasurer,be and he i s hereby inst ructed
to pay Mr . ~<J . M. Bennet t the sum of sixteen dollars ($16) for interest on $800 from .
the 15th October, 1887 to 15t h January, 1888, the same having accrue~ in account of
paYment of said sum of $800 to the A •. & 1,1. College fop the old college farm and possessi
on thereof not given by the coll ege until three months after payment .
The res olut ion was adopted .
On motion ~ of f r . Ligon the Board adjourned until tomor r01'l morning, 8 . o'clock .
F. H. Reese
, Secretary to the Board.
Auburn, Alabama
June 14, 1888
. The Board met at 8 o ' clock' a .m. and on call of the roll these were present: Messrs. '
Gilchrist , Haralson, Li gon, Malone, Mitchell and Stansel.
Absent : The Governor , Hessrs . Palmer, Kolb , Bishop and Langdon .
A quorum was present .
... .
On motion of Hr . Stans el, l r . Halone was call ed _to t he. chair .
I . ' On motion of r . Stansel, Resolved, that the proposition of Isaac Ross to conduct
the livest ock and dairy department of the ~kg ricultural Experiment Station of Alabama
for .the term of three years , be accepted as follows: his salary for the -first year
is to be.fi fteen hundred dollars ($1 , 500) and for the two succeeding years eighteen
hundred dollars ($1,800) per annum, payable in like manner as othevcollege officers,
and also two hundred doll a~s as house r ent per annum all out of f unds under what is .
known as the Hat ch Bill.
.
II . Said Ross is to furnish the first year ten head of thoroughbred registered
Jersey cows free of cost to the Station, for succeeding years ten, fifte en or twenty
such cows per year at the option of this Board with the privilege to the Board of .
buying the same , or such number as the Board may submit after the 1st of July, 1889,
on t he basis of three hundred dollars for three hundr ed pounds of butter per cow per
annurn . 'That is for a 200 lb . Of butter from a cow; 300 lbs , $300; 400 lbs . at $400 ,
and so on at that proportion and rate . In case of purchase under t his arrangement
at any time , this board is to select the cows to be purchased . After th-e clo:;;e of the
first year, the Board is to pay f ifty dollars per cow rental per annum on such cows
as may not be purchased as aforesaid .
III . Said Ross agrees to take all Qutter produced under this arrangement at thirtyfive
cents (35¢) per pound, and all milk not used for the production of butter or
experimental or other purposes on the farm without cost, and he further agrees that
if such cows are fed accor ding to his direction, they shall produce each not less .
t han three hundred pounds of butter per annum; and the trade mark of such butter :;;hall
be A. M. C. Ac Hr . Ross to procure the stamp at the expense of the College .
98
IV . In the event of t he dissolution of thi s compact, at any time by death or otherwi
s e , t his Board shal l have t he option of pur chasing such cows or any number t hereof
as the Board may see fit on t he basis indi cated in s ection 2 of this resolution and
agr eement .
V. The StationE ' to furnich feed, quart ers and dairy fac i liti es for such. cows f ree of
cost t o said Ros s , -and al so a competent dairy man such as said Ross nay ' select and
quarters f or him free of char ge - the price for the dairy man not t o exceed $40 per
month , payable monthl y, and such other help as may be necessary for him t o conduct the
rr~n agement in accordance with i ts designs under the Hatch Bill .
VI . In case of death, di sease or other cause that may r educe the productive value of
any said cows, Mr . RQss by subst itution of ot hers of t he same kind and .gr ade, shall
keep up the standard of said cows according t o the i nterest of this agreement .
VI I . The salary of Mr . Ross is to begi n under this agreement on the 1st day of July
1888, and the cat tle are t o be pl aced at the Experiment Station for the purposes indicated
as soon thereafter as sui table pr eparati on can be made at the Station for their
r ecept ion .
VII I. If for experimental purposes any or all of sai d cattle shall be fed differently
from directi on of Mr . Ross, he i s r elea sed from his guaranty as to minimum quantity of
but t er to be pr oduced - he onl y accounting f or amount pr oduced during the t ime of such
exper imentation .
IX . It i s further agr eed by sai d Ross , that he will and does hereby accept as part
of his arrangement the office of First Assi stant at Exper iment Station , i f as s i gned
ther eto by the Boar d of Tr ustees and t o perform such servi ces as pertai n t o sai d
pos i t i on not incompati ble .wi th ,his duties under t his agr eement • .
X. Under this a r rangement sai d Ross will keep a f ull and a ccurate. dai l y record of all
milk and butt er produced and t he kind and quantity of food used and t he condition of
the animals, so as to show r esults in accordance with t he design of the Hatch Bell ,
and make r eport s as often as required by officers tin char ge of the Department .
XI. 'The purpose and design of t he Board of Trustees and Mr . Ross i n this agreement is
a s far as pract i cable at thi s time to carry into effect the eXfiJeriments as to domestic
animals indicated in Secti on 2 of what i s known as the Hatch Bill . •
XII . All calves dropped on the Stat ion belonging t o Mr . Ross t o r emain unt il si x month s
old .
XIII . 1he' f eed t o be furnished shall not be unusually expensive but such as is general
l y used in making butter ,test s in ~the Sout hern States • . Pr ovided that i n making
exper imental te sts no feed shall be pr escribed which does not have t he approval of
Hr . Ross.
The r esoluti ons were ~dopted and signed as an agreement i n fol l owing words :
Witness on hands and seals this 14th day of June A. D. 1888.
Attest
F. H. Reese
E. T. Gl enn
Agricultural and Mechanical Colleg e
by Wm. LeRoy Br oun, President
I saac Ross
_ I
99
Reports of Committees
r . Ligon from t he Committee on Agriculture submi t ted the foll owing report:
Mr . President : Your comrrlittee have examined the Experiment S t at~on farm . Various
experiments are being made in fi el d crops which at t his season of year cannot be
reported on, the crops sufficient advanc ed or matured .
The Cowmittee st ate t hat they have ey~min e d the "r ecei pt s . and disbursements for the
past year of t he Direct or of t he Station and find them in correct and dUe form.
t
The report was r ecei ved and concur r ed in .
R. F. Ligon
Chairman
Mr . Gilchrist from t he Comrnittee of Visiters :
Hr . President:
Your Committee beg leave to r eport that they visited in April. last the· Experiment
Station and at a meeting of the Commit tee of Visitors, it was decided t hat the bid
made by James Smith with certain alterations in the plans ~~d specifications for the
buildings to be erected at the Experiment Station which are on file:, be accepted, and
that the sum appropriated" viz: two thousand two Bundred dollars ( ~2 , 200) not to be
exceeded; and that Doctor Broun, the President of the College, was authorized to
sign the cont ract for said buildings .
Your Co~~ttee further r eport that said cont ract has been executed and that said
bui l dings are being erect ed .
I . G. Gi lchrist, Chairman
The repor t was received and concurred in .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved, That the proposition of Mr . Isaac Ross be relegated
to 2~ e s i dent Br oun and the Corrmi ttee of visitors with power ~ and authority to
accept and _consummate ' the same on such terms and Gobditions as othey :may deem best
f or the interest of the college and Experiment Station , so as to put the proposit
i o&"in full oper.ation as early as practicable; and also t o authorize hlin to visit
similar i nstitutions in this country and Canada with the view to informing himself
as to the best method of conducting his proposed enter prise to successful operations
and result s, and authorized by t he Committee and Pr esident Broun shall draw his
usuant on the College Treasurer for his r easonable expens es in making such visi ts
to be_ paid .out of the Uriited States Funds i n t he hands of" the Tr-easurer . "H~ (Note )
Was- adopted .
On moti on of Mr. Gilchrist, Resolved that t he contract for building barns, et c. be
suspended with consent of the contractor until 1st Asst . Ross can examine such buildings
at other Stations and present to the visi tors 'such changes and modi f\cations as
he " rr~y deem advisable •
.,H~ Another resolution on same subject which is the proper one .
100
Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that the Auditor shall examine the accounts of .,
the college and station every three months and report the result of each examination
to the President . The surrmary of their reports shall constitute the annual
report to the Board of Trustees . Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that the unappropriated contingent in the Agricultural
Experiment Station, viz, the sum of $400 is hereby appropriated to pay for
Library. fixtures and necessary plumbing in Chemical Laboratory .
II . The President of the College is hereby. authorized to expend by July 1st, 18$8 ,
as may be required by the different departments of the Experlinent Station - the
unexpended balance of the annual payment of ($15 ,000) fifteen thousand dollars re-ceived
from the U. S. Treasury . ~as adopted .
On motion of Mr . Ligon, Resolved that Professor Mell is hereby t ransferred from the·
Department of Entomology to that of Botany in the Agricultural Experiment Station en d
shall continue in charge of Mete orolo~r~ which was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Stansel, Resolved that where any violation of the regulations is
made known to the President , in which it appears a member of Cadets were engaged and
the parties committing such violations are not known . The President , may at his ·
discretion appoint .a Court of Inquiry, which court shall be composed of the Commandant,
two Professors and two cadet commissioned officers . This court shall have
power to summon before it any student connected with the college and such student
shall be required under penalty of dismissal, or such other penalty as the court IDGV
impose , to testify in regard to any matter under investigation except when such evidence
shall tend to incriminate himself .
The court shall keep a record of its proceegi ngs and report the result of its enqutry
t o the President . Was adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved that the President be and he is authorized to
execute the notes of this college and in its name to William L •. Chambers as execut~
of Nilliam H. Chambers for the unpaid balance due on the property purchased from him
whenever said William L. Chambers has authority as such administrator to execute bond
for titles or titles to divest the -title of -said land not of the estate and heirs of
said Willirun Hg Chambers deed, and invest the same in the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Alabama
The resolution was adopted .
On motion of M~ . Liton, Resolved, that the President is authorized to pay V. L. Allen
for services as Commandant twenty five dollars ($25) less fees due from him - to pay
for guard at Commendement and also to pay the student s for extra work for constructing
sterun engine the sum of ten dollars ($10) which~s adopted .
O~ moti~n of Mr . Stansel, Reso~ved that the Board of D~rec tors , if they shall deem
proper to do -so, shall authorize Hr . Isaac Ross in charge of the live stock _and dailY
department of the Experiment Station of this college to visit otqer similar Institutions
of this country and Canada with the view of obtaining information as to tee
best methods of conductiI!g his Department, and the President shall draw his wanrant
101
on the college Treasurer f or such stun as may he ne'cessary to· defray his expenses
whil st thus engaged t o be pai d out of the £unds arising under the Hatch Bill,
Provi ded the amount so expended shall not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars .
Adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolved , that the Building Commi tt ee of the College, be
and they are hereby authorized for and in the name of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College, to negotiate a loan for money sufficient to complete the main building
under contract of the college with r . James Smith; and to that end to pledge the
f aith and credit ' of the college by the execution of the obligati on of the college
for the payment of the loan . Any sum thus borrowed to be repaid out of any money to
be appropriated by the Legislature of Alabama whenever i t may be appropriated and
paid over .to the college ; and any obligation executed under t his resolution shall be
made due and payable only when such appropriation may be made by the Legislature and
money received .
The resolution waS adopted .
On motion of Mr . Har alson, Resolved: That R. F . Kolb, Soloman Pal mer , I . B. Mitchell
Jas . G. Gilchrist, R. F. Ligon and J . N. r alone, be and they are hereby appointed a
committee for and in behalf of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama to
memorialize the Legislature of Alabama for the passage of a law for the appropriation
of money to complete , furnish and equip the new building ~~d f or such further legislation
as i s deemed to be for the i nterest of the Co~lege . On motion -~ Mr . Haralsm
was added to the Commi ttee . Adopted .
On motion of Mr . Haralson, Resolv~d : That wher eas ~here are alleged di scr epanci es jn
the account of the Director of the Station (Experiment) for the years 1884-5 - 1885-
86 which the Auditor has examined and made report on, but not in such shape as to
cer tify this .Board as ~t o the t rue condition of said accounts as to whether ther e are
any mistakes in them or not ; and whereas this Board cannot at this session w~thout a
delay of many days , examine all of said acoounts; therefore it is ordered that the
Audi tor be and he is hereby directed without delay to re-examine said accounts and
ascertain the~r t rue co~diti6n and report the result of this examination in account
form to the Board of Visitors at their next meeting and to this Board at its next
meeting , which was adopted .
- On moti on of :t-1r . L:igon, Resolved :
is author ized to make such change
able, which was .adopted .
That when means are available the Building Committee
in the front of Langdon Hall as t hey may deem desF-and
The Board then proceeded t o elect an Assiatant liotanist/to be in charge of met eorol~y
the Board elected V. L. Allen with a salary of 1500) five hundre~ dollars per annum.
On motion the Board adjourned sine die .
F . M. Reese , Secretary to
Board of Trustees
Note:- The reports of the Faculty, together with i nventories of property of the
college are on file and deposited in the safe of the Treasurer .
102
A communication from Thos . Seay, the Governor of the State and Ex Officio Presided
of the Board' of .Trustees of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama, was
receivep., a copy of which ~s herewith on record:
"Chief Executive Office
Montgomery, Alabama
June 16, 1888
Enclosed find a revised list of the Committees under a recent resolution of the Board
of Trustees ~
You may spread it on the Minutes as the action of the President of the Board .
tlCol. F. Mt RE?es~
Secretary, Board of Trustees
A. & M-. College
Auburn, Alabama
Re spect fully,
Thos . Seay"
Under the, resolution refe rr~ d to, the President of the Board of Trustees designated
the Standing Committees to consist of t he f ollowiQg members ,of ttle Board:
Committ ee on Finance: Messrs . Haralson, Malone, Li gon' tGilchrist, 1itchell,
Palmer .
Committee on Mechanic Arts : Messrs . Palmer, Langdon, Ligon, Stansel, Malone .
Committee on Agriculture: 11e.ssrs . Kolb, Gilchrist, Ligon, Bishop .
Commit t ee on Revision af Laws : Messrs . Stansel , Hit,chell, Haralson, Ligon,
Bishop .
Committee on College Lands & Proper t y : Mes srs . l~ lon e , Gi l christ , Langdon,
Bishop, Haralson, ~olb .
Committee on Claims: Messrs . Ligon, Mi t chell, Bishop and .Langdon .
Course of Study: Messrs . Langdon, Kolb, Bishop and Gilchrist • .
. ,
Committee of Visitors: Messrs . Gilchrist , Ligon and }litc.b~ll o
Report of the Pr esident of the College to t he Trustees of the A. & M. Coll ege:
I r espectfully present herewith the annual r eport of t he college for the session of
1~7-8 .
The destruct i on of t he college building and cohtents by fire on the 24 of June last
necessitat ed immediate provision of rooms and equipment for the opening of t he s essin
on 15t h September . By your direction, Langdon Hall was t emporarily partitioned int o
four recitati on rooms and an as sembly hall and ar r angements made t o heat the saine by
st eam - an ,·inexpensive but comfort able room, 20 x 40 , was constructed for the use
103
of the Engineering Department and by the purchase of the Chambers property, s even
rooms were secured which are used as off ices for the President, Treasurer and Commandant
and for library, armory and recitation rooms and one out room for the janit
or.
The Professor of Agriculture has met his classes in the Presbyterian Church , which
was generously offered to the College, for the pur pose - and the professor of Chemi stry
has used during the year the forge and foundry rooms for a lectur e room and a l aborato
ry , ~ Comfortable quarters wer~ thus provided for every department of the coll ege .
A suitable r oom was r ented for the Commissioner of Agriculture up to January 1st and
during the year a small rent has been made for the use of the l'1asonic Hall by the b·TO
college literary societies .
When we consider the unfor t unate condition in which t he college was placed by the
destruc t ion of its main building , the success of the present session has been very
grat i fying to i ts friends .
There -have been 'enrolled as matr iculates 171 students, classi fied as foll ows : gr aduates
6, f irst class 16, second 31, 3rd class 53 " 4t h class 57 , sub 4th 14.
,
The following shows this classification in ' regard to ' subjects of study in: English 164,
Hist ory 74, French 33, German 28, Latin 48, l'1ental Science 11, Political Economy' 15,
iathematics 150, Chemist ry 81, Agriculture 99, Physics 72, Natural History and Geology
89, 1f,hystology 19, Engineering 24, Drawing 129, Mechanic Arts 101,. Military Tactics
1580
~ I am gratified to state that the college has-never had; since my conneotion with i t ,
be ter order. No more earnest work on the part of the students than during the present
session .
lvtECHANIC ARTS
The Depart ment of lvlachinery in the Mechanie Art Laboratory has been well equipped by
means of the State appropriation, and during the session by reason of 'tpe occvpancy
by the professor of Chemistry of ' t he forge and fQundry· rooms , work ' has been done by
the students only in t h ~ wood and machine r ooms .
By an unexpected change in the Code, the appropriation made at your last meeting. for
the support of this department \-Tas not available and speci al arrangements were made
for i ts continued operation . The machinist form~ rly employed to assist in this department
was for satisfactory r easons relieved of duty and two competent students were
appoipted to whom small compensation was g~ted . ' - .
... ,. .
Th~ department of Mechani c J\rts has grown t o bEl an important and promipen~ i'~ature
in the College . It has now an excellen~ equipment and snould be encouraged and
supported as an essential factor in the work of technical education which at th~
pr~pent time i s attra±ing expeci al .att'8n:~ion througltout this countr7.. "as, w,ell ,as ._
Europe . ' , " " " , 1. , . ,. !.
.
I r e spectfully recommend that George H. Bryant who has been earnest 'j and faithful be
made professor with increased salary and that two assist,ants be .as si gned to this
d~partment. Tqe work cann~t be properly done with less .
104
ODERN LANDUAGES AND HISTORY
The depa tment under' adjunct professor' Petrie has been conducted with energy , enthu-siasm
and success . I ther efore , rec ommend that his be encouraged as your .
means wi ll permit .
·-MILITARY DEPARTMENT
Owing to the condi t i on of the health of the Commandant , Lieutenant M. C. Richards,
the cadets were not drilled this s ession as heretofore . He r eported on October 1st
and was absent by reason of sickness from November 14th to January 14th and since
Hay 12th has been absent on leave by advice of the Surgeon .
By your order application was made t o the Secretary of War for the deatil of Jno . B.
McDonald to act as Commandant and Professor of 'Military Science . Should an officer
not be detailed, I respectfully ask for authority to ~ke other arrangements .
The bill for the relief of the College from many lia~ilities for loss of arms by
f ire was passed by Congress and approved; and on May 19th official notice was received
f rom the O ~dnance Department, Washi ngton, that the money liability of this
college was cancelled by Act of Congress : and in the month of April, 130 new Springfield
rifles and accout r ements were received for the safe presentation of which the
proper bond was .given .
For special
attention is
One point is
ment in each
the ener gi es
appropriati ons in regard to the other departments of th€ college, your
respectfully invited to the att ention of the officers herewith submitted.
apparent , there is an immedi ate and pressing necessity of a full equipdepartment
, but excellent work has been done With what is now possessed
of the pr ofessors increased with the difficulties t hat surr01,mded them.
CHAMBERS PROPERTY
In accordance with instructions from the building committee the Chambers property was
purchased for $2 ,500 - $500 c~sh and the balance in four equal installments with
inter est . I t is necessary that some one should be authorized to sign the bonds f or
the annual payment in order to receive the bond for titl es ; and upon appr oval the
house and lot north west of the college -was sold for $800 cash . Of ' t his '$300 was
appropriated to the Experiment Stati on and $500 to 1st payment on the Chambers property.
BUILDINGS
Messrs . Bruce and Morgan as architects furnished the plans and specifications of the
Chemical Laboratory and the Main Building of the College which were approved by your
committee . The contract for building the Chemical Laborator,y was awarded to Messrs .
Floyd and Stevens of $11,900 subsequent the painting was inc1ude,d for $350 . The
building was finished on 'May 19th, not by the time ~greed on but in a lII8.l\Iler in all
respects acceptable to the architects and committee . The entire cost ot the Laboratory
was $12,720 . 90 exlusive of architect fees and appropriation for plumbing and
fixtures .
It has been insured tor $9,000. '!be College now possess one of the most elegant and
convaniently arranged Laboratory for instruction and research in the Southern States.
105
The contract for ,building the main college edifice was awarded to Mr . James Smith'
for $43,500. This contract only included the wails, stonework and roof - not the
interior work. It was agreed t hat the .builder was to. receive the remainder of the
insurance money on hand after paying to the Chemical Laboratory architects fees
amounting to $.21,000, and that the subsequent payments c.ould only be made when an
appropriation was made by the Legislature to complete the building. If possible
the action of the State should be anticipat ed and money borrowed with which to put
the building under coyer. .
LANGDON HALL
The tower of Langdon Hall is badly constructed and ·is a source of danger in a storm _
well as from fire . At a small estimate of $800 cost- the tower can be removed and a
Grecian front given the building which will be an improvement both in regard to
appearance and safety. I recommend that this be done when means are available.
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
At your meeting in Montgomery February 24, . the Agricultural ExPeriment Station was
partially organized under the Act of Congress and appropriations made t o cover the
first annual payments to be expended by Jul7 1st. The report of the Treasurer
shows the present condition of this fund. A full report covering the entire expenses
must be forwarded to the Secretar,y of the Treas~by February 1st. . ,
The Committee of Trustees in charge of the Station met Apr.il 3rd and approved the
plans of the building now being constructed. I recommend that in 'place of the action
taken at your former meeting in reference to botany and physiology, that there be
established the Department of Biology with a sal., of-$2,000 and furthe~ recommend
the appeintment of Doctor Wil.l.iam K'rause ot Gottingen, Germany as Biologist. Doctor
Krause is. an. author of- eminence and authority on questions relating to Biology.
At the request of Professor Mell, I recommend that he be transferred from the department
of Entomology to that of Botany and continued iii charge of meteorology . Provision
should be made as soon as~ competent and available men can' b. obtained for the
department · of Entomology and Veterinary Science. '
ADJUNCT EXPERIMENT STATION
} .
I again would present the importance of extending experimentation in Agriculture,
beyond what .can possibly be done 'at any one place, by establishing outlYing 'or
adjunct experiment farms in different Agricultural sections of the State.
In this way the experiments made representing different soils will be of more value
and will excite more general interest. '
"
The plan proposed for your Gonsideration is that four adjunct farms (experiment)' be
established in different agricultural sections of the State, by selecting in said
sections intelligent and reliable farmers, who for a reasonable compensation will
contract with the authorities of the college to cultivate for a fixed period, a
definite selected plot of . land ·01' not 1e88 than five nor more than ten acres . The
Superintendent of these adjun'ct farms should "be "required to use eueh fertilizers
and methods of cultivation a d make expeJ'iments and reports as may be prescribed
by the prope~ authorities. If judicious selections of agents are made the results
of experiments made at these adjunct fa~, enforced as they would be by a contract,
should be as reliable as those made at the College Station.
106
In this ~er also the experiments which being largely increased' in number and
value could be made at a minimum cost, as the college wculd own no property· ·of · eq
character at the adjunct farms, and, would pay alone f 'or skill and intelligence
in conducting the experiments . - I
DAIRY FARM
In this connection I invite your attention to a proposition of.Mr. Isaac Ross of
Lee County herewith submitted in regard to a livestock and dairy department which
merits your careful consideration.
The Dairy interest is growing in importance in the State and is in the Act of Congress
named as one of the ,subjects :t.o .lbe investigated by the Experiment Station.
FARMERS I INSTITUTES
I would also recommend that provision be made to have officers of the Station lecture
on subjects appertaining to their departments at the Farmers' Institutes, that may be
organized by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
"
SPECIAL. COMMITTEE
The biennial report of the College must be made, to the Legislature at the opening
of the session of the Legislature and at the same time application must be made to
the Stat,e for funds with which to complete and equip main college building. I recommend
that a special cOllllidttee be appointe d for this purpose.
In making application .to the Legislature for the necessary appropriation, it should be
mad e plain that the ' colleg., only asks the State to fulfill the obligati.on that she
assumed in accepting the same' with all the conditions attached -- the grant of land
made by Congress in 1862.
t
The Act of Congress after prohibiting the appropriation of any part of the proceeds
from the sale ot lands to .the erection of a building affirms (3r.d proviao, section 5)
that "any state which may take and claim the bene.fits of the provision of the Act
shall provide not less than one college."
The application should also show the close and casual relation between progress in
civilization end the difrusion of technical oducation and the consequent necessity
of making· liberal provision for ~he completi~ and equipment of the college .
-
FINANCES, STATE APPROPRIATIONS
By your direction the appropriation of $12,500 ma4e by the Legislature was expended _
the law required, for equipment of machinery in Mechanic Art, for the Chemical Laboratory
and for the general equipment of the other departments .
. .
J ' FUNDS f.ROM THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
These were . received from -the Commis~ione~. D@cember ,~, $2 ,~~ Th~ remainder due this
college must ~1n accordance w1~h the previsions(ot. the new code be paid to . the President
of the Board of Trustees at the close of the fiscal year and be used for maintaining
the Experiment Station.
107
There was appropriated in advance of receipts at your regular meeting in June 1887
to 'the departments of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts the sum(of $6,790 and the failure
of the college to receive the same has caused a deficit as reported. by the Treasurer
of $2,474.53. It would seem to be right and proper that the original amount of
$6,790 ~f. il.t.K appropriated to Agriculture. and Mechanic Arts in June 1887
less the amount of $2,00 received the current year from the State Department of Agriculture
making $4,790 should when received be paid into the Treasury of the College
to make good the deficiency caused by the efforts to carry out your orders, which
were based on the assumption that_that amount would be subject to the appropriation
as directed.
COLLIDE ENDOWMENT
The annual appropriations made last June of the income from the Endowment and incidental
fees caused the usual receipts. There was also appropriated an increase of
salaries amounting to $1,000. This and the extraordinary expenses occasioned by
the loss from the fire has"caused the expenditures to exceed the receipts 'by $1',760 .01.
For the information of the Board, I submit herewith a statement from the Treasurer
madked (A) showing the entire cost of establishing and maintaining the department of
Agriculture and the Experiment Station for the year ending June, 1887; also a statement
marked (B) showing the cost of establishing and maintaining the department of
Mechanic Arts for the two years ending.J,. une 1887.
~
The Faculty recommend for the degree or Bachelor of Science the following students:
Cyrus Washington Ashcraft
Robert Love Bennett
G~orge · Fleming Broun
FQntaine Broun
HQnry-.Lee Broun
John Hodye Drake, Jr.
Edward Wiley Foster
John Thomas Gregory
Eugene Willis Harris
GQoroge A. Huguley
W~liam Lyman
E4win Conway McCastney
Thomas Drake Samford
Otis Oliver Smith
Samuel Oliver Taylor . ,
The fo~owing students are recommended for the degree of Easter of Scienc~:
V~ssar Lyle Allen
., ~ward Read Lloyd
W~lson Herbert Newman
~Parles Woodard Simmons
L.evi W. Wilkinson
The fol~owing student is recommended for the degree of Civil Engineer:
CParles Hunter Ross
108
TAe Faculty recommend for the honorary, degree" of Master of Arts:
,George W. Stevens
- .
A & M College
Auburn, Alabama
June ll, 1888 .
• , .. WID. LeRoy Broun
President
~eport of the Trea~uper of the A & M. College for the fiscal year ending JUne 'l, 1838
.
To balance -June· 1,
Endowment fund
Incidental alc
Surgeon alc
Library alc
Expense - Diplomas
Chemical fees
By General Repairs alc
" Expense "
" Stationery "
" Music "
" Military "
" Trustees " II Salary "
" Servant Hi-r-e II
" Postage "
" Fueld II
" Speaker "
" House Rent " II Special Appro. "
" Insurance "
" Library "
" Printing It
" Surgeon " II Chemical Dept. II
II General Equip. "
" Mechanic Arts II
Total
j "' .......... ...
-r.
COLLmE ACCOUNT
Receipts
• 20,280.00
2,082.50
·692 • .50
279.00
70.00
132.00
Disbursements
"10 b
"
.$ 429.71
$ 1,414.17
503.46
49.25
76 .. 60
141.16
361.05
19,812.50
~. 201.00
137.20
' 93.48
50.00
850.00
. · 36.50 225.00
289.14
349.27
692 • .50
232.00
164.63
~8.8l
$25,727.72
AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Balance June 1, 1887
Cash from Comnissioner
Balance
Df'sbursemente
By Experiment Statlon alc
II Salary of Director
to April 1 $ 1,200.00
Current EJq>enses Mech. Art Dept.
Siar,r of Instructors
Equipment - - -
State Chemical Laboratory
Salary, Aset • Chemists
House Rent Prof . Lupton
700.00
800 .00
1,085 . 55
1,000.00
600 .00
913 .30
150 .00
STATE APPROPRIATION ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Cash from State Treasurer
Disbursements
.. \."
By Chemical Labor.tory Building
Equipment Dept . Mechanic Arts
$ 5,000.00
" " , . -, Physic!!!
1\ : ~atura1 History
1\ Ch.emistry
II If Engin eering
" "General Equipment
II tI Books for Expt . Station
4,000 .00
446 .96
742 .75
996 .34
591.71
659 .33
62 .91
REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
Receipts
To Sale of Land "
By Paid Chamber,s· Note
II " Director of Station
To Policies collected
Disbursements
INSURANCE FUND
Receipts
$ 500 .00
300,00
$ 1,974. 32
2,000 .00
'I $ 3,974 .32
2,474. 53
I 6,448085
$ 6448•85
$12,500 .00
112,500.00
$ 800 .00 J
$ 800 .00
$30,000 .00
109
110
By Chemical Laboratory Building
" Bruce and Morgan Architects
" Co1lege .Building
" Commissions . Treasurer
Balance
To Balance, June 1, 1887
" Cash trom Prot. Lupton
Disbursements
$ 7,720.90
150.00
9,501.25
300.00
ANALYSIS ACCOUNT
. 'Receipts r'
• Disbursements
By Cash Paid Prot. Lupton
To Balance
College Account
Agricultural Account
State Appropriation
Real Estate
Insurance Fund
Analysis alc
College Account
Agricul tural
State AppropriatiDn
3.tate Appropriation
Real Estate
Insurance .. }
Analysis
Balance on Hand
L
$ 300.00
405.00
t
BJiJJAPlTULATIONS
Receipts
. Disbursements
1 .1
$17,672 .15
12.327.80
$30,000.00
$ 705.00
$23,965.71
3,974.32
12,500.00
800.00
30,000,00
705.00
$71,945 .03
$25,7'Zl .72
6,448.85
12,500.00
800 .00
17,672.00
300.00
$63,448.72
8.496 .31
$71,945 .03
Sal aries and .House Rent due August 1, 1888:
Dqctor Broun
Professor Smith
" Mell ~
" Lane
"
" II
"
Thach
Lupton
Newman,
Bryant .-
$800 .00
500 .00
500 .00
500 .00
5QO.OO
500 .00
500.00
325 .00
193 .33
"
Ass.t·. in Chemistry
Gl enn, Treasurer
Reese,. Secretar,y and Audi tor
250 .00
87· 50
$4,780 .83
Respectfully submit ted,
E. T. Glenn, Treasurer
'UNITED STATES FUND
From United States Treasury
Disb.!l!semen..ts
By Agricultural Department
II Chemical "
" Nat ural History "
" Library "
" Trustees
" Prirlt1ng NP
" Contingent a/c
" UniontoJom Station . /e
Balance '
Balance Cash on Hand
Cash on hand paid by Col . Newman
" II 11 General College Act
11 " II Uilited States bond
t ..'l , 777 • 51
803 .75
318. 65
61 .20
... 1-73 .15
j 'l ~1 • .50
11.95
1, 50q.OO ..r
161.22
8496.31
6586 .29
15, 24.3 .82
Respectfully submitted,
r · . E ~ · T. GleIlIl, Treasurer
\ ~ . - ~ ...
Report of Auditor on Books of Treasurer
Auburn, Ala . , ' June 7, 1888
To t he Board of Trustees A & M
College of Alabama
III
b
$11, 250 .00
In compliance with my duty as auditor, I have from time to t ime carefully examined
t he books of the Treasurer, and I find proper voucher s endorsed by the Pr esident of the
College , and those approved by the Chairman of the Building Conwdttee , to correspond
with entries in their books of account, and t he char ges made to the appropriate
112
departments, in accordance with a resolution of t he Board of Trustees.
I found his addi\ions correct, and bank book showing correct bal ances .
As the transacti 0ns of the Treasurer involve a very large amount, I thought
it best and did make an i temized transcript from his books which are herewith presented
for the purpose of verifying his numerous vouchers amounting to about 900.
As the Treasurer ·presents to the Board a full synopsis of ill his transactions
for the fiscal year ending June 1, 1888 - a summary by us would only be a recapitulation.
Any special matter about which the Board may wish to ' be 'in any advis,ed is of easy
access by reference t o thLb, ooks of the Treasurer or transcri~ts prepared by ~self.
Respectfully submitted,
F. M. Reece, Auditor
_I
Sworn to and subcribed before me this 11th June, 1888. Jno. Haralson, Judge.
F. M. Reece, Auditor
Report of Auditor ~ Experi~ent Station
To the Board of Trustees
A.&M. College of Ala .
AU9~n, Ala . , June 7, 1888
-J •
On a cunsory examination of the books of the Director of the Experiment ~tation,
I thought it would be more _s~isfactory to the ~ard of Trustees tq p sent to them
a full and accurate stateme~ of all his financial transactions from the t ime he
assumed c:Olltl"Ol-of the receipts and disbursements of the Station,~ to wit; from the
1st of January-le85 to 1st April, 1888.
.I
After a thorough, critical and careful investigation, I find that the receipts
of the Station within that time have been:
Receipts
From the Treasurer
From Farm Products~ ~ etc .
Error in page 50 $1 .00, in page 52, 10
Expendi tures
Errors page 39, 29 .30,in 58; jO¢ '
Balance
$9040. 69
-30.10
9070.77
57 028
The balance has been paid to Treasurer.
$6, 000 000
3,126. 95
1.10
9,128.1>5
9,128.05
_I
113
In this connection I will state to the Board of Trustees that I have carefully
examined and compared all the vouchers, except comparatively a few and find they
correspond with entries on the ~ook of the Director.
He informs ~e that the vouchers nmt examined may have been destroye~ in the 1058
of the College Building by fire. It seem8,~~ver, they were passed on by the Stat e
Examiner and the President of the College.
J ~
The November pacrkage. of :vouchers for 1886 are also missing. The Director thinks
in the same manner. ' I find his book noted as to these vouchers and the sums bl a
commi tteJl of .the .Board. ' _ J 1'.
( .J
Since ttie 1st of April; 1888, the Director has made his payments of accounts of
the Station. through the Treasurer. 'I ,have' 'compared' th:e account. of the Director
submitted to me from the 1st April to l~t of June with the cooks of the Treasurer,
and I find only a small difference, one dollar and a few cents, which will doubtless
be ' cornected when I ma:k~ my quart~rly examination, the 1st oft July • .
It may not be ~mpr&per J for me under the circumstances to allude t~ a report made
by the Board of Trustees to the Legislature; of the State at the sessions of 1885-6.
In that report the Director furnishes the following statement -
Re-ce1pts from .'the 1st of .July 1885 to -lst of October 1886. (-
From Treasurer
From Products
$3',000-.60
1.766.80 .
$4,766.80
_ I In t he same report his disbursements of classified expenditures balanced the
$4,766.80,:
,This does not compare with the book entries of the Director which show that the
receipts in that time were from the TreaGurer $2000.00
• II , ~Irm and other sources 1502. 69
and that expenditures were ' $3,09o: b5 o' .
I find, however, on examination of the books of the Treasurer - that from the
1st of O'anuary;: 'le85 to 1st October, 1886 the Treasurer did pay-to the Director the
sum of 'J ,000: and further the Director informs me that' there was a typographical
error in the published report of the Board' of Trustees. ,That instead of July 1st
the report should have shown ~anuary l~t 1885 .
.. " • a"".'
. - I detected a small error..li rrlthe 'a'ddition of classified ~tatement in publishe~
report - ~ the amount should be $4,77?80 instead of 4,766.eO • .
, ~ ..:> • -
I will f urnish t o the Board of Trustees, as far as I am able an~information
of a detailed or special character they may desire in connection with t he books and
accounts of 'th~ Director. - J '. . .} .. ~ ,- " - ,d .:>,.
:)
Respe'ctfully submitted
.J
F • . M. Reece, Auditor
The above report was sworn to' before Jno. HaraIson, Judge on '11th June, 1888. ~ -
11.4
Meeting of Committee of Visitors
,_Auburn, Alabama
JulY' Z7, 1888,
The Committee of Visito~s met thi~ day and there were present: ¥~. Gilchrist,
Chairman, and ~essrs). Ligon and M~tche.ll . .
The Auditor read and submitted a report together with a statement, which on motion
of .Mr. MitchE!,ll was :r:eceiY!=ld and postponed for further consiqeration.
On mot'ion, It was ordered that the Treasurer be instructed to ..pay to Mr. Isaac
Ross the sum of eighteen 96/1.00 dollars , t he sum being in excess of expenses of
f.he sum , 9f, $15.9 aJ.~owed him by: action ,pf t he" Trustees {or, t.he purpose 011 visiting
dairy ,farms and creameries, for the purp.ose of .;information as to their - .
m~agement' and, appliances theref~r.. (Adopted,) ,- ".. " . " "
On motion, of Mr: ~igo'n, Resolved, That .the Co~ttee hereby ,:ccept the bid made bY' ...
Messrs Floyd and Stevens to build on the grounds of the Experiment Station a cow
house or .barn, milk dairy CU,ld brick , ice house. at a cost"not t-o exceed the sum o£
ei~ht hundred dollars, the plans and spec~f~cations of which to be furnished and
approved by Mr. Ross, the Director of the Station and the President of the College.
Adopted. , t ~
On motion of Mr. Ligon, Resolved, Th,.t M+. liose is her~by authorized to purchase
t he necessary appliances and outfit for a creamery, and to have dug a well the
same to be wal led w1~h b~ick with pump therein at a cost not to exceed the sum ~
of $300. Adopted. _ ~. _ _.,.
The Board adjourned untii 8:00 o'clock tomorrow morning • .
F. M. Reese, Secretary
,
JAuburn, Alaba,JJIa
July 28, 1888
The Committee met and there were present Messrs •• Gi}..chr~st, C~irman, and Messrs.
Ligon and Mitchell.
. .. ., ~
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolvf!Jd, That there be prepared for di.~ri?u!-ion _ an
i l lustrated PamPhlet of the School of Agriculture at a co~t to ~~cee~ the ~~
of one hundred and fifty do+lars. ,Adopted. -
On motion of Mr. Ligon, Resolved, That the chairs of Entomologist and Physiologist
be combined in that of Biology, and that the P!esid"nt o! the 9~11ege be, ,and he is
hereby authorized to take . th~ ne~ess~ry steps to. present a name ,for that Rrof~ssorship
for the consideration Qf the Board at a meeting to be held in Montgomery during
the year. Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolved, That persons holding a po,~ition of assistant
in any department connected with the Experiment Stat ion be required when the Board
of Director may order and direct, to do other work than that for which they were
specially appointed or elected in connection with the Station. Adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Resolved, That this Committee recommend that Assist ant
E. R. 119yd be allowed the sum of ~:)De hundr~ dollars in ~&.ddition to the sala ry
ll5
of four hundred dollars heretofore allowed him, until the next .special or -regular
meeting of the Board of Trustees. Adopted .
,
On motion the Board .adjourned sine die.
F. M. Reese, Secretary
Montgomery, Alabama
November 15, 1888
At a called meeting .of th~ .'Board . of- Trus~ee8 of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Alabama. On call of tlte roll there were present: The Governor of the
State, Thomas Seay, President; Superintendent of Education, Mr. Palmer; and Messrs.
~alllon, Bishop, Ligon, Langdon, Mitchell, Stansel, and Gilchrist. v
Absent Mr. Kolb. A quorum being present.
Reports were called for:
Doctor Willi~ I;eRoy Broun, President of) the College, submitted 'a report which 'will
be record«i and constitute a par-ti, .t)f the.'proceedings cit the Board at this meeting.
The Report. of the Board. of !l!rust.ees .in r-.equir..ement of the Act of . the: General Assembly,
tQ the Governor of ~he' State ~ b.1 order of the Board handed to the p~ivate i
Secretary of the Governor, with the signatures of the members of the Boand present .
-On motion of Mr .• Palmer, Resolved, That tile, laemorial to the G.eneral· Assembly be . -
signed by the membe.rs of the Bbara. Ad~pted • ... . 'I
r -
On motion of Mr. Palmer, That the appointment. of Mr. Clayton, as 2nd Assistant by
the Board of Visitation, be confil"m"dlby.:the Board of Trustees and that suCh appoU.-
ment shall continue tor eme year. - - ~
, .
By Mr. Haralson, Resolved, That the Board of Trustees, hereby authorize and empower
the Board of Visitors, to adopt such plans as they may deem best to have field' 1
experiments made in the different agricultural sections of the State as recommended
by the President of the College in nis report to the Board at this meeting. Adopted.
{
By Mr. Stansel, That Al~redE. Mayer be chosen Professor of Biology and Biologist
at the Experiment StatlQn for the term of one year commencing 1st JulY next at a
salary of $2,000 per annum. Adopted. - ;
On motion of Mr. Haralson, 'That Mr. Sransel be requested. to prepare a bB.l for the
General Assembly to &m8Qd section 150 ot the Code regulating time of payment of
salaries of the Professors and officers of the college. Adopted •
. J .
On mot-ion of Mr. Gilen~~st, That the Treasurer of the College be and he is hereby
authorized to pay to George P. Harrison the sum of $50 as a fee for preparing a
copy of a lo.st deed. Adopted. ':' _
•
On motion, That the matter of payments for the purchase of what is known as the
Chambers property, by the College from the 'Administrator ·of .the Estate ott ~~~_
Ctmabers ·be referred to Mr. I. B .• Mitchell as advisor of the Pl."esident or the College,
who shall have authority to act in the premises on such advice . Adopted .
116
On motion the Board adjourned sine die . 11
Sirs:
F. M. Reese, Secretary to
the Board of .Trustees.
Report of the President of the College
To the Trustees of the A. & M. College
I herewith pre~.nt a brief statement ot the present conditiOD ot the~ollege, not
deeming an extended report necessary at this special meeting .
All the departments of the College 'are in succeasful .0peratioI\, with -& larger number
of matriculalants present, than were enrolled the entire session during the past
year. They exhibit diligence in their studies and in tha practical work in~he
different Laboratories.
J
The contract with James Smith for constructing the walls and roof of the Main College
building aJDounts to $43,500 . This the ' contrac.tor has been paid $20,048, 'the amount
in the (;olleg~ . Treasury availaDle tor building pll~poses-. H. has completed the work
of .the last story, or nearly 80' and expects to continue the work on the building
until the 'contract is , completed.. The collage is now in debt for work actually on .
th~ building, the sum o..l $1·5,800. • "
According to the estiulatea ot the Architects, Messrs.. Bruce and Mo:rgan, herewith
presented, there will be required to complete the building $26,(;)80 . That "is, there
will be required $49,532 to p~ the present con.t ractor and complete the building. . "
Whim the building is ~ompleted it will be neeesaa17 ·t.o furnish. ana equip the same
in order to give the scientific instruction demanded nf the College. ' ~ ~bmit· the
following estimate showing the amount that will be required to furnish and equi p
t h e building in a ' moderate way, with the necesaa17 equiJlllent. and applianees . _
Physics ~
¥-ng1nee.ring(Civil, Mining, Mechanieal & Electr.ical) .
Natural History, Musella, etc.
Mechaniq8 .
Machinery f &r testing strength e£ materials
Pr i nting outfit and t ype writers
Ill ustrative speci mens, models, etc.
Ill ustrati ng applied science
Furniture
Maps, charts, et ~ .
Fer Library
}l{aldng a t.tal
.
$5,500
. 3,000
3,000
. 2,000
1,000
. 1,000
1, 500
2,000 .
3,000
300
5,000
.25;800
It will be seen therefore t o complete, furnish and equip the buil ding t here wil l be
r equir ed accor ding to careful estimates the sum of $75,332.
, '
The preservation and safety of Langdon-Hall requires that ·the wooden t.ower should be
r emoved and other changes made . The architect est"lmatea that the necessary changes can
be mad~ for $800. . .
117
I respectfull y r ecommend that .application b~ mad~ to the Legislature for an appro~riation
not less than $75,000 to be paid one half during t he PJ'e8ent y'e~ ending Sept. 30th 18-
and the other half during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 18900 L .
'f; ' .( • .,. I"'" t: ~ 1
Your attention is respectfully i nvited to the necessity of a definite acceptance by the
State Legislature of the Act of Congress approved March 20, 1887,- knowm_as the Hatch
Act, in order that the college may continue to receive t he funds th~rein apPfop,riated
for experimentation and i nvesti gati on of s ubjects r elated to agriculture o
,'1. i f l..N - .... J"" ~ :' ,,J! ...
A. contract Lor the b.uilding. of the dairy- departme{lt~ #JIlountj.~ to $800; was ~de as
ordered by t he Committee of Vi sitor JJ .:to the Experiment stat.loll • . l l'he building",including
dairy, ice house and cattle house were by contract to be completed by Nov. l Otho
; l (,.f _ ~ e .. ~ ... ....
Ass't I . Ross i n charge o~ the Dai~ Departm~t~ expeets. t~ r.eport f or duty and have t en
cattle on t he college far.m the 15tp Novembero
Assistant E. R. Lloyd having resigned James Clayton was appointed by the Board of
'Directors t o fill the vac~ncy '.SJlbje-ct ' t o eorif irmation • .
Cooperative Cult ure Experiments -
I would again bring before the Board the Jle ee~it y .f.. llaving ,c~fa!-i ve cultuf e
experi ments made in different agricultural 'sect ionsl of tl;l~ State. ,to de~ermine the:
infl uence of soil and cl imate. One or two place~ canAa~ properly ref~e~ent the eptire
State - concl usions drawn f rom the combined result~, of cooperative f~eld exp~ri ~ent~
made i n different t ypical sections, would be far m.ore sat i sfactory, excit ~ a largeK
i nt erest and ultimately have of more value .to the . Stat~ . _.
r . , . .
I f this enlarged plan of experimentation is a pproved, I recommend t hat .• uthori t Y. fO.r ,
its execut ion be given to the committee of T~t~es cotlsti tuting the visitot:8 to, jih,e
Experiment St ation and that the officers of tlLeJ~t~tion be directors to prepare ~ p'1an
of cooperative field experimentation for s ubmi ss1 ~n, to the vis±tors at thei ~ ne~
meet ing. l • , .
" .. i .1 J " •
To complete the organization of the Expt . station there is t o be elected according
t e)- their r..esolution _a .Biologist'l.i .1, reC'.ommen<1 i!or t he posi tioJ) Dr . Alf'rpd. E,.... ~ :at
pre s~ntJ Fellow o~ the Johns BopldnSi Instittlt e l'( I]niv~I'B~ tyl. ! , - M<\' '1Q~
.l f Po' " <, ,
An examinati·on ot' the, reco.rds (If Le:e .C..ounty d~¥elo~d ~..he fac~;, t.AA,t "the},e -was n?
r ecord of a deed, showing a title by which the A & M College hold the property donated
in 187'2 by' the ·Methodist 'G-onference, no~ COJlld, t he: 'dee$i ~f whi ,c}1 mention ,is made in
the Act of th'e tLegislature establis.hing, the cJtl.lke~.be found ~ " . v
1',' ~.l r 'lrjr
No~ ' recently a -dupL[cate' deed. ha.5 been _de .and sigll.,ed ~y. David 'Ca0}lt0n i!Pd tGeo'. P.
Harrison, ,who were the original signers of the deed made in ~~7~ ~d the (same has Q,een
recorded in the Probate's office at Ope1ikao
_,.f ,I ': r ~.~ ~ \ ~,' .~ ... e _1 v ~j ';1
-Gen ., Geo . 'F. 'Ha~rison prepared! the dee..a" anq h~6J . ~sented a' 1;Ii11 of $50 ~for , ~e~ ; :r
Authority is asked for the Treasurer to pay the same .
r f ' ~
... ~ J " _ ..... ; t , :; ,
" The' $econd payment due on' the' p'urcha,se of, tju~· Ghalllbe.rs p~pperty, in accordance with legal
advice .aas not .. been p.dd. r rI e.uJ:)Jl1it tile tlett~r from vim. t~.J' Chamber,s .~rked B. ari~ ~sk
for instructions .
A & M College
Nov. 14th, 1888
Respectfully,
Wm. Le.'l\oy Broun
118.
R~port of the 'Board ' of Trustees of"the Agriculturai and MechanieaLJGollege of Alabama
for the, year 1886-7 and 1a87- 8. ; ( '{) t
Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 15th, 1888.
To.-Hi'sExcelleney Thos. B.eay
1:Exec·iitlCVe Deparl.m~nt ·
0' ~ ,,1 t ...
Sir: We have the honor to herewith transmit the r eport of the Agricultural and
~eeh~eal ,'College of Ala . for ,t~ year lSg6-71 and i887...s,· andrrespectfully request
tliat the same -be transndtted to the' Gen&ral Assembly. "
1:
'I J • ~ + • C~
C. C. Langdon
Jas. G. Gilchrist
Jon Haralson
Soloman Palmer
:)
W. R. Stansel
R' •. F. L1.gon
J . ~'B. Mi.tcheil
Jno . i ' . Bishop
Trustees· of the A &.; M College of Alabama
Trustees of the College:
His Excellency Thos Se-ay ~ Preside'l1t 'ex-0fficio
SS'lomon Palnier, Supt . of ' 'Education ",
oJ orithan Harilson, Exp~res· 188<). Selma:
R. F . Ligon n ) Tuskegee
Jne) . W. Bishop JI. It ; Talladega :.w
J . G. Gilchri at " 1891 MorrtigoJ1\ery",J - I
M. L. Stansel II II Carrollton
J . N. M&J.one*deed ' II II Athens
C. C: Langdon II , 1893·') Mobile
. R~ F .. Kolb ... • ., Eufaula
J . B. Mitchell J ... L' II Seale '
E. T. Glenn, Treasurer Auburn
F. M. Reese, Secretary & Auditor "
'I ,i:
,.,+
The Trusbees in presenting their biennial report of the. ! & M College for the years
1886-7 and 1887-8, respecbfully and wi. th muchl gratifl.cation, invite the attentj.on ot
the Legislature to the progress made in the different departments of the College, and
to t he excellent work.. -it·4.s now doi.ng 'in general and ' te~hnical education. '
t
This institution is justly recognized as' an essential factor in the educational
development of the State and by its close attention to these branches, tneor~t~cal
and practical that relate to agriculture and the Mechanic Arts and to other industrial
. urs . s, i t occupies an' educational fi elG of its own; and that i 's e'5sentia1. to _tbe
pro~perj;ty of the Statt; . - < •
The present condition of the college is especially gratifying when we consider the
diffi"culties under which it ha's ' recently labored, by means of its severe ,mi~fort\.\Ile~ .
'}
On the 24th June 1887 the main college building wi th its equipment \'las destroyed by
fire . Temporary offices -and lecture rooas were arranged by the _pur thase of a residence
adjoining the college campus, 'a1so t by using the audiencerooll. 'o:f Iang.dQn Hall. _".
"l
_I
. 119.
The ~ coll ege open'ed the session of 1887-8 at the appointed t i me in Sept . 1887 r and
though having suffered the less of its buildi'ng and equi}:ment, i t r eceived that year
a large number of students and hel d a session of marked' success . +
During th'e session of 188'7-8' there wer ~ 171 students classified as follows, according
to their studies:
English • 164 Agriculture 99
History 71+ Physics 72
French 33 Nat .t History & Geo!. 89
German 28 Physiology 19
Latin 48 • ~ Engineering 24
Mental. Science '. 11 DraWing 121
Pol . EConomy , • 15 MecHanic Arts 101 I
Mathematics 1 ~50 ' 'Mill tary Tacti cs 158 ,
Chemistry 81 ~ , . -+
Fifteen recei ve,d the d~gree of B. pc. and five were' awarded a pest graduate degree .
At the present time 175 have entered c~llege of whoa 21 are candidates for the degree
of~. Sc . and four for a post graduate degree .
Agricultural Experiment Station -
The Agricultural Experiment Station was partially organized Feb. 24th, 1888 under the
copditions expressed in the Act ot Congress, March 2nd, 1887, entitled "An Act,t. Establish
Agri'cultural Experiment Stations in connection with the C'olleges established in the
several states under provisions of an act approved 'July 2n"<f, 1662. " The Qevernor in the
absence of the Legislature, hav:i:ng previously given in behalf th8 State, hi's certifi ed
assent to the conditions of the grant. . ,
The attention of the Legislature is respectfully invited to the necessity of lots f ormal
acceptance 'of said grant and conditions expressed in order that the College, under whose
direction the Experiment 'Station must exist,-shall co~tinu8 to receive the !unqs ~ppropriated
by said Act for experimentation and scientific investigation of subjects re-lating
to agriculture. . ... "" -
The disposition made by the Board, of the funds received under .this Act is sl;lown ,in . the
report of the Treasurer herewith forwarded.: . .
The object of this grant by Congress is to benefit agriculture by experimentatio~ aQd
scientific investigation, and by diffusing among the farmers of the State useful knowledge
of practical value. It is the design of the Board to .institut e ~eas~res tQ h~ve
careful scientific experimentation' maderin field work in the, different agricultural
sections of the State, in order that each secti~n of~ tne State may receive all possibl e
benefit from the experimentation designed by tn8 ~ct of· Congress.
The organiZation of the Station also authorizes its officers to lecture at such fa~er's
institute.s aS ,may be held in the State! ~
.J
The_Station ha~ b~en well equipped tdth agricultural machinery~ and is now p epared to
conduct varied experiments with care and. • scientific"precision. The Direc;1for was gi ven
Jtwo -as,sistants, one of whom f:1r .r Issac .Ross has charge ~f the L:iv~ Stock and Da:!-ry departrpent
. The department will, 'it is')believed, excite int.elligent ~nt,ere1>t i n tpe
State, 'and if it meets with the success anticipated, will prove "of v-4i.J.ue to all farmers
in introducing silos and showing how a silage made of forage plants may be profitably
. 120.
converted into .butter and ~teef; thus tending to. diversify agri culture , and will._ also
be of e$peeial value in qetermining the true. value of cot ton seed or feed for cattle ~, ( , .... • - .. I I , '.. f ...
and the best form in wPdch it should be used as food . i
'-
In the ·Dept .• of, C]lemistry, more .t,han 400 analys~ ~ ,ot:. ,soifs, . fertilizers, et-c., have
been by the state Chemist, and his assistants in the past two years, ~n the interest
of the far~ng community. Inferior and valueless fertilizers are thus determined and
being made known to the public by the Commissioner of Agricult~e, serve to protect
the f ar mers from impo.sition in the s4e of inferior compounds. An addi~ional assistant
was appointed to the DeRt . ot Oh~stry,. and it was made the duty of the Station to
analyse, free of charge all articles ~elating to agriculture sent to the Station by
citizens of the State when of puJ?li.c }l~ility. A Dept o of Botany with meteorology.'
attached was assigned ~o the Station, and ,there was also established t he Jmportant ·
Department of Biology. It is d~signed to fill this l atter pos~tion with ~ ' officer
qualified to make scientific i~~.e8tigations, representing plant ~nd animal phys~oJ:ogy
and pathology; and to equip a biological laboratory with the aPPliances needed fGr
such work . The Board entertained very positive convictions, that the Experi ment Station
will i~' the not ~emote future, be o~ grea~ value~o the .farmers of ,our, sta~e ,and they
are e qually convinced that the united action in each 'sta~e Qf' an organized bOdy of
scientifically trrined officerf; engaged ;in agricultural, , ~xRerime~tation ~nd in investigat
ing subjects related thereto must ~esult i~large benefits t9 the ,agricultural ',
interests of the entire country. ~ ,. • ~
Chemical Laboratory
Ii The Chemical Laboratory q,ompleted last May' is a ~r:i.ek· building of ha~dsome appearance
and contains II rooJlS including offices, lecture .room ~d working l.,boratorie's' apd is
furnished and equi ppe<;l. One laboratory is devote? exclusively ~o the analisis :of soils
and fertilizers, etc . , in the iI;lterest of ,~griculture .· The organization 'of' the '.
Agricultural Experiment Station is as follows: ,," - ~ ,
Board of Visitors
Hon . J . G. Gilchrist ,- Hon . R. ,F. Ligon - Hon . -J. B.
Board of Direction - Officers of the Station
w. ·L . Brown
J . S. Newman
N. T. Lupton
P. H.- Me 11 ~
President
Director and Agriculturist
Vice Director and Chemist
Botanist
B.i:ologist •
J . T'. Anderson,Ph . D. Asst. Chemist _
I ssac Ross
James, Clayton
T. D. Samford
Mechanic Arts
Agriculturist in cha~ge ' o~
. Asst. 'Agriculturist ,
. Asst • . Botani~t, Mechan
The Department of 14echanic Arts has increased i~ e~uipment and grown in form. With
part of the appropriation made by the Legislat;tlJ;'e; ,the Machine Dept . w~s equipped with
ten machines' necessary for instruction, a~ , the rooms are now filled with ,students
l nter'ested in their daily worke The manual:: traioing h~re given tends to train our youth
to rh61 bi"ts of 'i'ndUstr,r ~and while developing the ~ onsj.ructi ye faculties ~ ve aelf- I
relianee 'and increased,@6Wer . While -the system of t Baching is bY instructioh~ studenta
f
·121.
\ n ~he higher classes enter upon a J co~s~ of constru9tion . , La~t ~e a~on there w~s ~de
by the students two small steam engines, and at present the construction class is engaged
in making a 10 horse power engine to be used ·at the colle~e in running the engine . When
we consider the relation of this education 'to the future development 0t manufacturers in
the State, the importance of f08t~ring the same by suitable legislation, cannot be too
strongly presented. '..... .. • . - . .
It is with sorrow, the Board expresses their great regr~t at the -sad loss )~st'ained oy
the death of two of the members - Col. WlIl. Ii. Barnes of Opelika and Judge J . N. MIilone
of Athens . Both had be,en members of the Board of Trustees since the inauguration 'of '
the College in 1872 and had given unreserved!Y of their time an~ talent to the wellbeing
of the insti tution, ~hose "'interests were entrusted to their charge, while their
valuable services, prudent counsels and earnest devotion to the college are gratefully
remembered by all friends of the institution, the memories of their many private virtues
are cherished by their colleagues . To fill the vacancy in the third district, J . D.
Mitchell ~.f Russell was appointed by the Governor . ~
Change in the Facul, t.y , ,
In June 1887, a Master of Arts of the Uni versi ty of Virginia, was 'elected Adjunct
Professor of Modern ' Langul:ges and History, and in August 1888, Lieut . J . B. McIkmald
10th ea~iry U~· S. A., was by the Secretary of War on the application of the Trustees ,
assigned ~io duty at the college as Professor of Military Science and Tactics .
Mining Engineering
The courses of study off ~r d t o students properly qualified as set forth in the 'annual
catalogue have been ' expanded by establishing a course in mining engineering, which ~s
properly made to constitute a post graduate course.
"
In the basement of the rtew chemical laboratory a special' room has been provided to work
in metalurgy, desi~ed for students who may enter upon this course of study.
Pharmacy
By means of the excellent facilities provided the Chemical laboratorY, the College is
enabled now to offer to students a special course in Chemistr,y . and Nat. Hist . preparatory
to technic~ ~harmacy. Several students have entered upon this course 'of study.
It is designed to make such arrangements as will enable the young men wbo so desire ,
to thoroughly prepare themselves at this college to become practical and scientific
Pharmacists and CheD:dc&l manufacturers . This line of practical and industrial education
being legitimately the province of this college. All the departments bf the College as
set forth in the annual catalogue with the courses then prescribed and conducted by
their officers in ~ -~~f~ptable and satisfactory manner .
The Faculty is organized as follows:
W ~ LeRey: ~r~un - President and Professor of Physics and Astrono~
P. H. Mell - A.M. Professor of Nat . Hist. and G,ology
o. D. S~th ~ A. M. Professor of Mathematics : . .
Jas. "'H : J.ane~ ,,:, Prof. Civil Engineering and Dra~ng · '- Jas.
S. Newman - Prof. Agriculture and Director of Experiment Station
Charles C. Thach - B. E. Profc'3sor of English and Latin
N. L. Lupton - A.M., M. D. , L.L~D. Professor of General and Agriculture Chemistry and
State Chemist
Lieut . J. D. McDonald - 10th Cav. U.S.A. , West Point, Comdt and Prof . of Mili tary Science
'122.
Geo. H. Br yant, M. Eo, Mass . · Inst~
'-Meeh. 'Arts T"
Technology, -'Director ·of Labora1-oty and Instructo/{n
f., ..J '. .,J \. _ L #' .,J.;.
Geo . 'Petrie - M. A. , Un'iversitry'o f" Vir inia, Adjunct
, . Histor'y . -' I
L 1'1 . 1'1ilkerS'on - B. Sc., -Assistant: in Chemical Laboratory
P. L. Hutchinson, - B. Sc . , Assistant in CheDical Laboratory
J . H. Drake - M D. , Surgeon '. ~ r4
O. C. Thach - Ubrariail anQ: recordi'ng ,secretary
O. De Sm.i tH. - Corresponding Secretary .
Report of the Treasure~ 'for the yea
, ~
Coliege Account
To balance June l5th'86
Amt from Endowment account
" " Incidental and Surgeon account
" " Diplomas
" " Chemical Fees'
Disbursements
By paid expense act
11 sta.tionery "
" "'military 11
" trtlstees "
" l!1Usic " II sa~ary II
" servant "
" postage . tI
" fuel "
" speakers "
" house rent " "insurance . jl
" ' surgeon "
fI spec:i.alapp:t 0 "
" t printing "
" repairs ' &~ groimds
II chemical ," .
" physic~ , ,
" balance'" 4
Agricultural Bureau Act
Recei pts
To bal . June 15, 1886
Amt . due recd August 10
'.1 .1
" froll Com. of Agriculture
.1i:l , .
. ' I
od . 'Lafl..guages and '
~ .l
474.30 'I
,, 45 .40
'105 .82 ' ,
1) 26~ o 95
9:25
19, 100.00
213~00
125 .24
220.38
50.00
200 .00
. 360.00 . Ii
67Q'.00 t .
. <186 .00 ' , . 0" f~
399 .73 b n
14~ . Z2 '
255 .00,) 11
200 . 00
429.71
'24,332 .07
.r
1
I
-1
Disbursements
By paid Mechanic Art Dept .
1/ salaries" ·U ) . 1/
" Experim.ent Station
" salary of director
1/ State Che.mical Laboratory
II Salary Asst . Chem. ( Laboratory
" Rous" rent Prof ". : Chemical Laboratory
II Nat . Hi st . Def,t". '
II Weather Service" Dept .
II Apptu to Pror'~ Stubbs
1/ Balance '
Report of Treasurer cont'd.
State Appropriation account
Receipts ·
r 0 balance June 15th
DisburseJ:rtents
, .
By axlt . building and equiping Foundry
By amt . Physics account
r
ol
Library Act
Receipts .
To LibraFy'Fees
Disburseel
Analysis ac..count
To bal. aune 15th '86
Cash from Prof . Lupton
Disbursements
By cash paid Prof . Lupton
Balance
Report of ' Treasurer continued .
To the year 1887-8. Ending June 1st • .
College Account
To balance June 1st
Cash - Endowment fund
1/ Incidental and Surgeon
" Library Fees
" Diplomas
. " Chemical Fees
Balance Overdr~w.n
Disbursements
By Paid EapeBS8 act .
" Repa:irs Jand Gr ounds act.
" Stationery
" Music
" Military
" Trustees
" Salaries
" Servant
" Postage
" Fuel
oJ •
1305 .90
ll55 . 50
1500.00
700 .00
625 .70
1100. 00
150. 00
50 .00
99 .8)· .
400 000
1974032
9061 .29
570.
~
300
420
20,280
'2,rt75
. 279
, .)
720.
429.71
70 j ."' ... '! .A.~,~
132
17.062.01 25,292.01
503.46
1,414.17
49 .25
76 .60
lU.16
361.05
19,812. 50
201 .00
137.20
93 .48
123.
. 124
Disbursements (can't)
By Speakers Act .
" House Rent
" Special Apptn .
" Insuance
" Library
" Printing
" Surgeon
" Chemical Department.
" General Equipment "
" Mechanic Art
Agricultural Buraau Account
Receipts
To balance June 1, 1887
Cash from Com.
Balance Overdrawn
Disbursements
By cash paid Experimen'\ Station to April 1
" Salary of Director
$ 2,000.00
2,474. 53
.. Current Expenses Mechanic Arts Department
" Equipment " " ..
" Salaries Instructors " " "
" State Chemical Lab,,~atory
.. Salaries Assts. Chemical Laboratory
" House Rent Professor Chemistry
Report ot the Treasurer, Con't.
_ State Appropriation
To Cash tram state Treasurer
By Paid Chemical Laboratory Building
Equipment Department ot Mechanic Arts
n II Physics
" " Nat . History
" " Ohemistry
" " , Engineering
General Equipment
Books tor Experiment Station
$ 5,090 ~00
4,000 .00
446 .96
472 .75
996 .34
591 .71
659.33
62.91
$12,500.00
, Real Estate Iccount ,.
Receipts Sale or La.J:1cI. '. r
. Disbursed
By Cash Paid tor ChamP~~s lot
n "! Dire.c tor Experiment Sta. "
'.
!O:o.oo
300 .00
$ 50 .00
850 .00
36.50
225.00
2?9.14
349,.27
692,. 50
232 .00
164 . 6~
48.81
$ 25,727 .72
$ 1,974 . 3~
4.474.53
$ 448. 85
$ 1,200.00
700 .00
BOO .OO
1,000.00
1,.085 . 55
600.00
913 .30
150.00
$12, 5OO.~OO
t.
Balance June 1st . ~
Cash from Protessor ' Lupton
Cash paid Prores80r Lupton
Balance , ..
• l
By cash L8boratory Building
" " J Bruce & 'Horgan, Architects
" " College BUi:ld1n~
Treasurers Coin. ' "
Balance
-'
Fran Po-}1cies Collected
By Cash on College. Build1rig
Chemical Laborator,y
Treasury Com.
..
Analysis Account
.' Disbursed .
$ 300'.00")
.~ 405 .00
D~sbur8ed
.I $ 7,720..90
j 150.00
, -9,501 .25
300 .00
- 12,,27.85
'1
... .
Disb\:lrse4
J , ' $21,339.00
8,000.00
600 .00
United States Fund for 1887-88
To Cash from United' States Treasurer ,t
Disbursed; . .
By Cash Agricultural Depart.an~ Equipment $ 2,582. 20.
Building , 3,000.00 1
Chemical Department Equipment. ' 4,400AQO
Uniontown Station 2,00Q.OO
Library ; , 1,499.02
Botanioal Dept . Expat. 508~. 0~·
Printing 105.~61
Trustees 200.00
Salaries .r; ill . 612.50
Contingent 100,00
125
~ .
$ 30,000.00
_ ~ . _ ... t . _
The trustees submit herewith .the special r~po~s of .those departments that relate .
more directly to the subjects of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.
Report .of Prof~ssor I. S. Newman:
I
Dr. W. L. Broun, President
Agricultural Experiment St.tion
November ,12, 1888..1
- ,
~response to your request I submit the following report of the work of ~ departfor
the last two years, .
126
J J .- s
Two years ago last June the first class in Chemistry and Agriculture were graduateQ .
Six of the nine then graduated are nov engaged in practical or scientif~c: wort iD 0 .
connection ~~h Agricultural Instruet~on in the School of Agrieul\urei. -uch more
satisfactory now, than then on account of the increase. facilities for field work
afforded by the growth of the Agricultural Div1:sion of the Experiment Station. Tl'en
there was but little work of an educational nature to occupy the tiine of tne sty.dent
in the fiel~ rorchard, garden, vineya~~ or stock yard . Now classes are engaged p~~ r
f itably 12 nours per week and could find instructive, praciical work for many more
hours, did the time of the classes 8ll~ Pro~8&rs allow, without conflict with other
duties . I ~ at{present engaged 12 hours per week in class and Jiel~ in~t~ctlan )
which, on .the baas of 8 hours per day leave&-28 hours per week for preparation of
l ectures and ,for discharge of the duties d~~ by the Experiment Station, which
l atter becomes more exacting each y~ ... ''"' 1'pe amount of clerical ;yo ,k wh~ch cannot ~
be done by assistants has quadrupled ip the last two yeJ,rs, while, t;.b.e g:rowt:b~ 9f the "
Experiment Station and multiplication. Dt subjects of inquiry demandeg ~~~ tho~ht
and greater watchfulness . So far asl can judge the members of the three. cJ,.,.sses of ·
whom practic.a;l,!e1'k J.s required do moat .c~rfully whatever is required of them, many
seeming eager to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of making practi-cal
application of what they have, leaJDled in they+ecturiS;j room. Indeed the experimAuburn University Board of Trustees18881880sAuburn University LibrariesEducation -- Higher Education; History -- 1875-1929: The New South EratextpdfBOT_1888.pdfAuburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archiveseng1888This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.http://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/bot/id/7352 |