KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, Dec. 21, 1878.

To the Hon. Jas. D. Porter, Governor of Tennessee:

DEAR SIR:-I herewith transmit to you, as required by law, the Sixth Biennial Report of the Trustees of East Tennessee University to the General Assembly of the State, with appended papers; also, the Report of the Treasurer of the University, and the renewed Bond of the Trustees to the State.

I am, yours truly and respectfully,

THOMAS W. HUMES,

Pres't. E. T. University.

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.

To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Tennessee:
The Board of Trustees of East Tennessee University respectfully
report:

It has appeared to them plainly essential, in order that the State
College established in the University might become, as it should be,
a chief instrumentality in the work of higher education in the land,
that competent instruction should be provided in all branches of
learning that may reasonably be included within its field of labor;
and that the instruction should be, as far as possible, inexpensive,
and, therefore, easy of access to the youth of the country.

The present condition of the Institution attests the gratifying extent to which the efforts of the Trustees in these directions have been successful.

FIRST, the College has a capable Faculty devoted to their work, who are prepared to impart a superior scientific and liberal education to young men, in one or other of several well-arranged courses of study. Also, a Chemical Laboratory fully equipped for all necessary uses; Apparatus and materials for scientific illustration in the Departments of Agriculture, the Mechanic Arts and Engineering; a Farm that has been fertilized and improved into excellence of condition and productiveness; a Library, growing every year in size and value; and ample and commodious buildings for the instruction, boarding and lodging of students.

SE CONDLY, Tuition is free to all applicants, except to those entering the Preparatory Department who are not appointed by Senators and Representatives in the State Legislature. The necessary expenses of a student at the College are now so reduced as to bring a thorough education within the reach of every young man who sincerely desires, and has the energy and perseverance to obtain it. Transportation of all students is furnished by the principal railroads in the State at reduced rates, and by some of these roads State students, whose pecuniary circumstances require it, are passed free both ways.

The Board of Trustees congratulate your honorable body, and all others who have a friendly sympathy with them in the subject, upon these favorable results. The history of the past shows that from humble and depressed conditions of early life have sprung more than a few of the men who, under judicious culture and through struggles with difficulties, have at length stood in the front rank of the learned, the wise and the good of mankind, and have adorned the annals of their country and century with the productions of their genius. The undeveloped natural resources of Tennessee are not only in its soil, its rivers, its stores of iron and coal, of marble and copper and zinc, but even more in the mental and moral capacities of its youth. And if it is important that the material riches of the State, now locked up in its hills and valleys, should be opened and utilized, much more so is it that the rational and moral faculties of its young men should be kindly fostered and helped, and wisely informed and trained. Every step taken for that purpose, in the exercise of a prudent and liberal policy, and in the higher as well as the lower walks of learning, is a subject of rejoicing with all who would advance the true honor and glory of the State. We consider it important to the educational interests of the State, that its public institutions of learning of all grades, from the common schools up to the college and the university, should be brought into a more systematic unity and co-operation. With this object in view, and as a means of promoting it, Professors of the State University have visited various parts of Tennessee during the last two summer vacations, and co-operated with the State Superintendent in holding Educational Institutes and Conventions of County Superintendents and Teachers. In this way, it is believed, a more general and intelligent interest has been awakened, and a large and valuable

amount of knowledge elicited concerning the subject-the proper relation and co-ordination of our State system of public instruction, and the best methods of organizing and conducting its great work. Already a marked improvement is observable in the grade of schol- · arship of students coming from the common schools to this University; but much remains to be done.

At the last semi-annual meeting of this Board, it was decided as expedient in this connection, and in order to identify the University in name with the whole of the State which is its principal field of labor, that it should be entitled hereafter "The University of Tennessee." We trust that this change will meet with your approval, and that in further promotion of the general object of unity and cooperation among the public schools, from the highest to the lowest, you will render such aid as is desirable and proper. We recommend that State scholarships in the University be conferred upon pupils in the common schools, who are proved by competitive examinations to be most worthy. And we also suggest for your consideration, that some of the scholarships held by the State be eutrusted to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, for bestowal on such pupils as may be recommended to him by the County Superintendents.

A number of our graduates are now employed as teachers. And no doubt many of the students appointed as proposed-upon the ground of merit-after completing a College course, or after receiving the special education which we can provide for the vocation of teaching, would do choice service to the State. We should be glad to make such provision ample; and an encouragement to do so would be given by a recognition from the State of this University as an authorized, assistant instrumentality in the work of Normal instruction, that would involve no detriment to the State Normal School.

The universal depression of business, and the scarcity of money in general circulation, have affected injuriously the number of students at the College in the past two years, but not to the extent that was apprehended. The deplorable epidemic in the Southwest last summer has made the attendance less this session than it would have been. But it is now larger in the regular classes of the College proper than at any previous similar period, and it is also quite full in the highest class