[Supplement to Assembly Journal.] 
 
 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION.' 
 
 IN ASSEMBLY. 
 
 ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, ) 
 
 Tuesday, February 13, 1883. \ 
 
 REPORT OP COMMITTKK ON AGRICULTURAL, MINING, AND MKCHANICS' ARTS COLLEGK. 
 
 MR. SPEAKKR: Your Committee on Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanics' Arts College, have 
 visited the Agricultural College, the School of Mines, and Mechanics' Arts College, at Berkeley, 
 and have the honor to report as follows : 
 
 The following table shows the amount of appropriation asked for, and the amount recom- 
 mended by the committee : 
 
 Wages of regular force $6,000 
 
 Wages for additional help according to season (for two years) 2,040 
 
 Salary of Professor on Practical Agriculture 3,000 
 
 Course on Dairying .. 260 
 
 Doctor on Viticulture 240 
 
 For clerical work, paid for by the hour 650 
 
 Purchase of implements, repairs, shoeing of horses, purchasing of seeds, etc 2,000 
 
 Total for Mechanics' Arts College $16,570 
 
 For machinery and tools, practical applications of the theoretic instructions given in 
 
 the College $10,000 
 
 The Department of Mines. 
 
 Amount Amount 
 
 Asked 
 
 For model of stamp mill and dressing works | $6,000 
 
 For other apparatus and chemicals 2,000 
 
 Eecommended 
 
 Nil 
 $2,000 
 
 Your committee lias exercised great care in arriving at tin- foregoing recommendations. 
 
 The College of Agriculture must be regarded from two points of view: /-Yr.sV -AN an educa- 
 tional institution for those who ;uv to make the pursuit of agriculture their life l.m - 
 Second As a means of instructing the farmers of the State in correct methods of cultivation; 
 in the employment of appropriate fertilizers in a proper manner; the introduction ,,f new and 
 valuable vegetable productions; the means of exterminating destructive parasites of a 
 vines, and trees, as the result of experiments carried on in the laboratory and grounds of the 
 department. 
 
 As an educational institution, your committee regret to say that the advantages it oilers h ;i v. 
 not been appreciated by the farmers of the State: and if the maintenance of the institution 
 were to be determined upon their consideration alone, yourcommittee would not feel justified in 
 
recommending: any appropriation for its support. But a work is being done, under the direction 
 of Professor Hilgard and his able corps of assistants, which has repaid one hundred fold every 
 dollar which has been expended upon it, and will repay enormously the appropriation now 
 asked for, if expended in the manner proposed. 
 
 The investigation carried on by the Agricultural College into waters for irrigation have 
 already saved a useless expenditure in various parts of the State, greatlv exceeding the entire 
 cost of the department. There has also been diffused throughout 'the State information 
 respecting the prevention and' cure of the various diseases of plants, including cereals, fruits, 
 and vines, which suggest the possibility of, at some future date, saving to the State Board of 
 Agriculture and the Viticultural and Horticultural Commission by consolidating them into one 
 department at the University. 
 
 Your committee examined the operation of the Mining School, and consider that school also 
 to be well conducted; but in view of the financial condition of the people, they think the 
 providing of the model stamp mill and dressing works should be dispensed with for the present, 
 and that the total appropriation asked for should be reduced to two thousand dollars. 
 
 With regard to the Mechanics' Arts College, your Committee, though greatly pleased with 
 that establishment, entertained at first grave doubts as to the amount of benefit to the State 
 obtained from it, and one of the members addressed letters to the various graduates of the 
 school, whose addresses could be procured, and those letters are attached to their report. 
 
 On consideration of the statements there made, the committee feel it their duty to recommend 
 that an appropriation of eight thousand dollars, instead of ten thousand dollars, be made to 
 that institution. 
 
 JOHN H. M. TOWXSEND, Chairman. 
 
 MR. SPEAKKR: Fully concurring in the report of the Committee on Agriculture, Mining, and 
 Mechanics' Arts College, the undersigned respectfully urges on the consideration of the House 
 that the money difficulty which affects the various colleges of the University would be almost 
 got rid of by the imposition of tuition fees, to be paid in money by those who are able to do so, 
 and for those not able to give, their promise to pay when able. ' Experience has shown that not 
 five per cent, of such debts are lost. Over ninety-five percent, are repaid, generally with large 
 additions from those who become successful in life, in aid of the same class of struggling students 
 to which they themselves belonged. By making a part of the remuneration of the professors 
 dependent upon such tuition fees, and giving to the professors an active control over the 
 management of the University, by appointing them to be its Regents, interest and duty would 
 no longer be divorced, but income would depend in great part on the extent and utility 
 of the work performed. Respectfully, 
 
 MONTAGUE R. LEVERSON. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO, February 7, 1883. 
 Dr. Leverson, Assembly Chamber, Sacramento, CaL: 
 
 DEAR SIR: Your communication in reference to the appropriation for the Mechanic' Arts 
 College duly received, and I am pleased to reply: 
 
 To your first question, I do not hesitate to declare that my instruction under Professor Hesse 
 has proven of great value to me, and knowing the aid it has been to me I should certainly be 
 willing to pay for it, although the present advantages are much greater than I enjoyed, because 
 I was the very first student in the Mechanics' Arts College, and the curriculum was not estab- 
 lished, nor methods proven and established as now still the benefit was great. 
 
 In reply to your second question, I think the State has and is receiving a return for the 
 monev spent on my education, and in this way: When I was graduated in 1877 I had nothing 
 but my education ;' by applying it properly I now have a rapidly increasing business, and am 
 paying taxes upon twenty thousand dollars of property accumulated since that time, directly by 
 applied mechanics. I furnish employment for ten men, most of whom have families depend- 
 ing upon them, and have invented and am manufacturing specialties in mining machinery 
 which are in demand on this coast thus assisting and encouraging home manufacture, which 
 is a benefit to any community. 
 
 The nature of a mechanical business is such that if I allowed the element of bias to creep in 
 it would completely ruin one's reputation for good judgment, which is a foundation stone in 
 this profession; consequently, in so plain a matter as the one you present to me, I do not think 
 I have varied from the fact. 
 
 You are at liberty to use the above in any honorable way. Hoping it will enable you to solve 
 your problem, and 'assuring you that I should be pleased to furnish any additional information, 
 
 I am, vours respectfullv, 
 
 EDWARD A. RIX. 
 
 SAX FRANCISCO, February 8, 1883. 
 Dr. M. R. Leverson : 
 
 Your letter I have just received, and I shall most willingly and gladly 
 endeavor to answer your questions. 
 
 As to the first question, which, as I understand it, relates" to myself personally, I reply, "'most 
 
to add that I entered the College of Mechanics, intending 
 
 study of the law of patents. I take it, that it needs no argu* 
 
 of the incalculable advantage, and even necessity, of the 
 
 
 
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 that noone thing h^^^^^^ 
 
 this as you see fit. 3 V^rv ^f u j , ca ^ e- ^ ou nave niy permission to use 
 
 'ery respectfully and truly yours, 
 
 CHARLES W. SLACK. 
 2>r. Leverson: EURKKA, NEVADA, February 10, 1883. 
 
 trade when but little more UuSuSS^ySSS.!?^ J, was , a PP rentlced to the mechanic's 
 to feel that it was next to impossible for an v von no- r D ^ om ! n .g a journeyman, I began 
 make any headway with his studies in the evening" V* *i !V a ay ' s work to 
 
 KSrsss^ <>f " iec " anira - i ^5^^s^^*7afcaf SYSI 
 
 I Answer ' ^Ye?" ans . wer JOOT questions wiSiout 
 
 
 
taken up and digested. I knew nothing of the subject before that time. To-day I am in Eu- 
 reka as the Superintendent Engineer of the Risdon Iron Works sent by them to put in opera- 
 tion and turn over to the proper authorities one of the largest hydraulic hoisting and pumping 
 arrangements in the world. To be sure, much practical knowledge has been obtained outside of 
 the University, but I certainly feel indebted to my alma mater for the inculcating of these first 
 principles of mechanics thoroughly into my mind. I am perfectly satisfied with my course 
 pursued under Prof. Hesse, and know that'l have been greatly bene'fited by it. I am' certain 
 that from some other graduates you will be told that the course has been of little use to thorn ; 
 and why? They spend four years at the University at a mechanical course, and then apply to 
 a foundry for a position as either draughtsman or engineer, when they know nothing but theo- 
 retical mechanics all that can be taught them without the proper appliances such as are now 
 asked for by Hesse and his assistant. 
 
 Give them an appropriation that such tools and machines may be purchased, so the student 
 may understand his task and work intelligently. It will be years (perhaps never) before we 
 can include a well-appointed machine shop among our University possessions; but let us make a 
 beginning. It is absolutely necessary to have suitable apparatus in connection with a mechanical 
 course: and if thorough practical and theoretical mechanics are expected from the State of 
 California in the future, give the University the means of producing them at once; and not let 
 a student spend four years with theoretical mechanics, and then "become discouraged at not 
 being able to find employment, and give up the profession for something more lucrative. 
 
 Yours respectfully. 
 
 R. S. MOORE. 
 
 In a few days I expect to be in Sacramento, and will call on you, and try to explain a little 
 more intelligently my ideas than I have above. 
 
 R. S. M. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO, February 8th, 1883. 
 Son. M. R. Leverson : 
 
 DKAR SIR: Yours of the 5th instant was received to-day. I have just returned from Los 
 Angeles, or should have answered before. First, as to whether the instruction received at the 
 Mechanics' Arts College has fitted me for my profession I reply, that it gave me a start in the 
 right direction, though it has not taught me experience that no education can do. The year 
 I entered the college was the first of its organization, and the course had not been fully 
 decided on, so I am hardly able to answer for the college as now organized. My instruction 
 there in the theory of mechanics has been of great benefit to me (for theory is the basis o: 
 engineering in its highest sense) in a general way. It might have been more practical ; but, as 
 I have said, the college was in its infancy, and had nothing in the way of illustration but tht 
 blackboard and the draughting table. 
 
 I am fully satisfied as -to the money expended on my education, and should go to the Uni- 
 versity and enter the College of Mechanics' Arts if I had it to do over again. SL 
 
 As 'to whether the people of the State have or are likely to derive any benefit, etc., v do 
 not wish to be credited with egotism (that might be inferred), but simply state that I am a 
 draughtsman and inechanical engineer in the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad : am 
 respected by my equals, and have the confidence of my superiors in mechanical construction 
 and design. I am twenty seven years of age, young in my profession, and what the future may 
 bring forth, who can tell? But as for the past, my record can surely cause the people of the 
 State no regret. 
 
 Hoping that the college may receive funds necessary to widen its capacity for the instruction 
 of those who intend following the profession it outlines, 
 
 I am, respectfully yours, 
 
 HOWARD STILLMAN. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY