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Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan 31st. /87.
Prof. C. E. Bessey. Lincoln, Nebraska.
My Dear Sir.
I was appointed last November by the Ia. Ag. College board of trustees a member of a committee of two to find a suitable man for the chair of agriculture in the College at Ames.
Young Prof Knapp and the president will manage this department during the present year. The work of the new professor would begin perhaps about the 1st of March 1888. When we were about to look for a new president, you gave me the name of Dr. Chamberlain and after Presdt. Hunt resigned we secured him and believe that you were not mistaken in your estimate of the man. Now we want a man as strong as Dr. Chamberlain for the chair of agriculture if we can first him. Prof. [Fregersoll?] of Colorado [sic.] has been suggested for the place, but I must say that I was not favorable impressed by him when he was here on a visit.
Prof. Fairchilds of the Kansas agr. college suits me better. I know that you are well acquainted with many college men and I hope that you will kindly aid us in making a choice [o]f a suitable man for the place.
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After much urging, the board appropriated $200.00 last November for the purpose of procuring seeds of grains, grasses, vegetables, etc from Russia, China, and other countries, to be used for the purpose of producing new varieties by cross fertilization. Prof. Halsted will superintend the experiments in plant breedings, but we are very anxious [t]o procure a professor of agriculture, who would not become tired of testing the new varieties of plants produced by Prof. Halsted. We don't want a man who is weak in any line of farms work, but we want one who is strong in the kind of work suggested above and in learning [boys?] how to grow big crops again on our old, worn farms. If you should find the time to do so please give me the names of several men who would be suitable for the place, as it might not be possible to get some men who would fill the bill. If you will be so kind as to suggest the names of suitable men to fill the chair of agriculture at Ames I will be very thankfull and hold myself in readiness to serve you at any time in the future. Please give my best wishes to Mrs. Bessey.
Very Truly Yours. R. P. Sp[ea]r.
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Cedar Falls. Ia. Feb 13th / 87.
Prof. C. E. Bessey, My Dear Sir.
I have received your very welcome letter. Please accept my thanks for your suggestions. I agree with you on everything you said. We need two men – one for brain & class work and the other for out door work and to carry out the experimental work planned by the farmer. As you say, it would be best to select young men as popular old men would require higher salaries than we could offer. Again a young man would be more likely to do the work well and please the people of Iowa than an old man who ha[d?] fixed ideas in regard to industrial college work. I think that it would be better to pay a young professor of Agriculture $1600.00 per year and give him a competent assistant for out door work, who might be procured for $1200.00 per annum. We should in my opinion strike out on a different line of work from that which is practised at most of the other agricultural colleges and experimental stations. We should not keep on repeating the old experiments in feeding, breeding, etc. which have been tried hundreds of times.
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The Short Horn, Hereford and other breeds of cattle have been improved to such an extent that many of them are barren. The different breeds of hogs have also been improved so much that they are not healthy and their flesh is not palatable food. Our horses have been improved to the extent that it is a difficult matter to find one that is sound.
The comparative values of the different kinds of feeds are well known now. The Prof. of Agriculture should inform his students how to grow heavy crops of corn, wheat, oats, etc, such as were grown in Iowa thirty years ago. We do not have many kinds of the cereals or grasses, which are adapted to our climate. About half of our crops are ruined by mildew or rust. We will attempt the breeding of better grains, grasses and vegetables next spring under the direction of Prof. Halsted and we would like very much to find a wide awake Prof. of Agriculture to assist him. In the cross fertilization of apples, plums, etc we have already made a good store and will continue to push such work next spring. We intend to start a dairy school at the college as soon as possible. We don't want a man who is weak in any branch of farm management; neither do we want a man whose hobby is horses, cattle or hogs. We were ordered to report at the next May
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meeting, but will not need the services of a new Prof. of agriculture until the Spring of 1888. Presdt. CHamberlain and Herman Knapp will have charge of the agricultural department during the coming year. Mr. Clarkson and in fact a majority of the board insist that the new Prof. of Agriculture shall be a highly educated man and the strongest man in the faculty, if it is possible to find such a man. The board of trustees will be very thankful for suggestions. The members of the board kow that you have a very extended acquaintance with college men, especially men who have given much attention to the sciences.
As I do not wis to weary you I will stop here.
Very Truly Yours, R. P. Sp[ea?]r