The relation of the agricultural college to the farmer

Abstract

Introduction: During the session of Congress in eighteen fifty eight – a bill familiarly known as the “Morrill Act” was brought before that body by Han. Justin A Morrill of Vermont. It provided for the setting apart for each state a certain amount of land, the same to be used for the benefit of a college, which was to teach the practical side of agriculture and the mechanic arts, together with military science and tactics. The bill passed both houses with a handsome majority and was then sent to President Buchannan for his signature but alas! From his hands it received the death blow, and the friends of the bill failing to have a two thirds vote were compelled to drop it until some future time should warrant their bringing it up again. Four long years rolled by before that time came, and when in eighteen sixty two Senator Wade of Ohio introduced the bill somewhat modified it occasioned a long and heated debate. Many of the senators thought it would lessen the public lands too much, and Senator Lane of Kansas was under the impression that as his state was then promising, what it has later proven to be, one of the leading agricultural states in the union, that the most of this land would be taken from Kansas soil and thus crowd out other necessary improvements as railroads, etc.