Page:Texas A&M 6th annual catalogue, session 1881-82.djvu/14

 seen, and at a special meeting of the directors in February, 1883, it was ordered that labor thereafter in the agricultural department should be instructive only, excepting of course such labor as students might perform for compensation.

At the meeting of the directors in June, 1883, much important business was presented. The president of the college had resigned in March; the professor of agriculture had signified his intention of resigning at the end of the session; the professor of languages had died in February. The legislature had appropriated $40,000 for the maintenance of the college, and this was to be apportioned to the various objects for which it was greatly needed. During the meeting of the directors the professor of mechanics also tendered his resignation. These important matters, demanding unusual consideration, were not disposed of without a special meeting. This was held on the 19 of July. It having appeared that, in view of the labor and responsibility involved in superintending the improvements about to be made, there must be a division of the president's duties, it was finally determined that the office of president should be abolished, that a business agent of the board of directors should be appointed to superintend the improvements and manage the finances of the college, while the faculty should elect one of their own number to discharge the academic duties pertaining to the presidency. The chair of Physics was created and a professor elected to occupy it. The filling of the chairs of agriculture and mechanics was deferred to a meeting to be called subsequently. On the 15 of Sept., 1883, this meeting was held and, by the election of the professors now occupying these chairs, the organization of the college as it is at this time was completed.