History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 135

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The college was formally opened for the
reception of students October 4, 1876.
The constitution of Texas provides that
taxes may be raised for the maintenance and
support of the college.
The college is situated at College Station,
in the county of Brazos, five miles south of
Bryan and ninety-five miles northwest of
Houston. The Houston & Texas Central
railroad runs through the grounds, daily trains
stopping at the station about 800 yards from
the main building.
The government of the college is vested in
a board of directors, consisting of five members,
appointed by the governor of the State.
They are " selected from different sections of
the State, and hold office for six years, or during
good behavior, and until their successors
are qualified."
In November, 1866, the legislature formally
accepted from Congress the giftof 180,000
acres of public land for the endowment
of an agricultural and mechanical college.
This land was sold for $174,000, which sum
was invested in 7 per cent. State bonds. As
under the act of congress neither principal
nor interest of this money could be used for
other purposes than the payment of officers'
salaries, at the time of the opening of the
college there was an addition to the fund,
from accumulated interest, of $35,000. This
was invested in 6 percent. bonds of the State,
thus furnishing an annual income of $14,280.
The county of Brazos donated to the college
2,416 acres of land lying on each side of
the Houston & Texas Central railroad.
The act of Congress which established the
State agricultural and mechanical colleges
defines their objects. But under that act
there have been founded as many different
'schools as there are States. These institutions
Jhave presented X variety of educational

schemes which have embraced nearly all gradations
from the classical and mathematical
college to the manual labor industrial school.
In view of this fact it is proper to state, as
definitely as possible, the interpretation given
to the act of Congress by the authorities of
this college, and the manner in which they
are endeavoring to carry out its provisions.
The general object of this college is to excite
and foster in the minds of our people an
enthusiastic appreciation of the attractiveness
and value of those pursuits by which the material
development of the country is advanced.
It is the business of this college to turn
the attention of our young mnen from the
overcrowded " learned professions " to those
occupations which have brought abundant
wealth and power to other States, and which
are beginning now to attract and well repay
the services of trained young men in Texas.
These objects are sought to be attained
by a thorough course of instruction in mathematics
and natural science, with continual
application of principles to work in the shops,.
fields, gardens, vineyards, orchards, pastures,
dairies, and other laboratories; by relying
upon text-books as little as possible, and
leading the students to seek information directly
from observation and experiment; by
inculcating the dignity of intelligent laborbanishing
the idea that the farmer or mechanic
who is worthy of the name need be any less
learned than the professional man; and by
inducing in the mind of the student an enthusiastic
love of nature and the study of
natural laws, whereby agricultural and mechanical
processes become invested with absorbing
interest, and are pursued in a spirit
which leads to progress and success.
To enter the college an applicant must be
in his sixteenth year, or at least must have.
attained a degree of physical and mental ad.

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