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Michigan State Agricultural College BY PRESIDENT ABBOT
The legislature may appropriate the twenty-two sections of salt spring lands now unappropriated, or the money arising from the sale of the same, where such lands have been already sold", and any land which may hereafter be granted or appropriated for such purpose, for the support and maintenance of such school, and may make the same a branch of the university for instruction in agriculture and the natural sciences connected therewith, and place the same under the supervision of the regents of the university. "
In 1851, Gov. Barry called attention, in his message, to the constitutional provision, and considerable discussion was provoked on the subject. The superintendent of public instruction, F. W. Shearman, and the Hon. Jonathan Shearer, chairman of the house committee on agriculture, recommended the forming of a department for instruction in agriculture in the normal school. House Doc. No. 5, 1851, and letters on file.
The university at once proceeded to organize an agricultural school as a department, and Dr. Henry P. Tappan, chancellor of the university, wrote to Secretary Holmes (letter on file), that anticipating that the twenty-two sections of salt spring lands, named in the constitution, will be given to the university for an agricultural school, "We have accordingly organized an agricultural school as part of the scientific course recently adopted by the faculty and regents. " The agricultural course extended through four terms, three terms constituting a year.
Michigan State
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