The Texas Almanac for 1873, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas Page: 154
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1.51 TEXAS ALMANAC.
THE COMPULSORY FEATURE
in the free school system is objected to by some parents. What right has
the State t:, enter a man's house and take his phild (who may be required to
assist at home) and send him to school ? If this objection is seriously urged
let the compulsory feature be abandoned. The cases are rare and extreme
where a child should be removed from parental control. - To stimulate the
desire for education, after schools have become general and the means of
educa ion placed in the reach of all, a law might be enacted that no illiterate
young man, coming of age, should be permitted to exercise the right of suf-
frage or serve on a july. Under our Constitution we may prescribe such a
qualification for voters and jurors.
TEXAS UNIVERSITY.
In 1839 the Congress of the Republic directed the President of Texas to
have fifty leagues of land set apart for the University of Texas. This land
was located in different counties. We will give someof the principal tracts,
leaving off fractions: Cooke county, 23,000 acres; Collin, 2000; Fannin,
35,000; Grayson, 80,000; Hunt, 8000; McLennan, 41,000;, Shackelford 22,-
000; and some small tracts in other counties, making a total of 810,000
acres. Some, though a comparatively small portion of this land, has been
sold.
In 1856 our Legislature set aside $100,000 in United States bonds for the
University, and one-tenth of the reserved railroad lands for the same pur-
pose. The other nine-tenils, reserved sections of railroad lands, went to the
common school fund.
The University fund with its accumulated interest amounted, in 1860, to
nearly $500,000. Mr. Wheelock, in his report as Superintendent of Educa-
tion in 1868, says that during the war $379,168 of the University fund was
expended for other purposes, leaving in the Treasury but $134,172 in State
warrants.
There was at one time before the Legislature a proposition to establish two
State Universities, one west and the other east ot the Trinity river. We
hope this will never be revived. The facilities for traveling are so great
that one will answer all necessary purposes. Let there be: 1. One high grade
school; do not compel the professors to teach elementary branches at all.
Admit only scholars pursuing advanced studies and seeking high mental
culture. 2. Let it have complete furniture, library, apparatus, etc. 3. A
rich pecuniary endowment. 4. Be plentifully supplied with brains-brains
in men of high mental and moral culture.
One good, well endowed, well patronized University in Texas, will unify
our great State and give a homogenity to our population. We need be in
no hurry, however, about locating it. It may yet be found advisable to put
it en some of our University lands.
If Texas should be divided, the youth of all the States formed from our
present territory should have equal privileges in our University.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The United States Congress gives to each State a donation in lands for the
establishment of State Agricultural Colleges. Texas received 180,000 acres
in land scrip. This was sold for $156,000. In 1871 a tract of land near
Bryan was selected for the location of this institution and a contract entered
into for the erection of suitable buildings.
No Normal School has ever been organized in Texas.
LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.
We have been unable to obtain a complete list of our literary institu-
tions.
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The Texas Almanac for 1873, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas, book, 1873~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123778/m1/156/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.