North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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THE AGROMECK Justin Smith Morrill, the venerable senator from Vermont, heard the demand and came forward in Congress with a bill as an answer. This bill, subsequently enacted into law, gave to each state public lands for the endowment, support and main- tenance of at least one college whose leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life. This bill was passed by Congress in 1842. Pan of the money INFIRMARY arising from the sale of t he lands given to North Carolina was lost during reconstruc- tion days. The interest on what was left was for some years given to the State University, but in 1385 a bill was introduced into our legislature by A. Lcazar, Esq., of Iredell county, which in 1887 was passed and became a law, providing for the transfer of those funds to aid in the establishment of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. This name was given the new college to emphasize the kind of instruction that Congress intended to be given in these institutions. At this stage of affairs R. S. Pullen, Raleigh ' s most progressive and benevolent citizen, gave a valuable building site, with sufficient land for a farm. This land adjoins the 7

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(ar THE AGROMECK eacmaa there came a change. Where once had stood the wigwam of the mighty Indian chief, now stands a prosperous city; where the stealthy Indian had pursued his solitary trail now flashes a monster breathing forth fire and smoke; where the canoe had ploughed its noiseless way, now shrieks from the hoarse throats of passing steamers smite the ear, and where once the disciple of bask Walton sat idly angling during the long summer days in unbroken solitude and silence, is now heard the clanging bell, shrill whistle and busy hum of factories, -sawmills, railroads and other industries. HORTICULTURAL BUILDING With these changes has come a demand for men to till these shops, workmen to use these tools, craftsmen to ply these trades, skilled farmers to till the soil; and the cry is still for more laborers. But what kind of laborers are needed? The rough plough- man, the rude blacksmith ? No ! the demand is for skilled labor, skilled not only in handicraft, but that handicraft controlled by brains—the hand guided by the head. This demand was far in excess of the supply. More men, more skilled men, more skilled young men, was the constant cry. At last a man appeared whose wisdom was in a large measure to devise a way to supply educated brain and hand workers. 16

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THE AGROMECK Can TEXTILE BUILDING ' park that he had given to the city of Raleigh. This generous giR fixed the establish- ment of the college in Raleigh. 1$