minimum price of $1.25 per acre,
$100,694,443--the real value, however, was much greater.

Granted by Congress for colleges and universities, 12,080,000 acres,
including 3,553,824 given by the Federal Government to the State of
Tennessee, worth, at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre, $15,100,000,
which is much below their true value.

Total in public lands granted by Federal Government for education,
92,635,555 acres; minimum value, $115,794,443.

In 1836, after full payment of the entire principal and interest of the
public debt, there remained in the Federal Treasury a surplus of
$38,000,000, of which about one half, $19,000,000, was devoted to
educational purposes.

Total Federal appropriations since 1790 for education, $134,794,443.

This is exclusive of the many millions of dollars expended by the
Federal Government for military and naval schools, etc., at West Point,
Washington, Annapolis, and Newport. Besides these Federal donations,
there has been granted by States, Territories, counties, towns, and
cities of the Union for education, since 1790 (partly estimated)
$148,000,000. Grand total by States and Federal Government appropriated
in the United States since 1790, for education, $282,794,443. This is
independent of numerous private donations for the same purpose, that by
Mr. Girard exceeding $1,500,000, and that by Mr. Smithson exceeding
$500,000. It is then a fact that the Governments of the United States,
State and Federal, since 1790, have appropriated for education more
money than all the other Governments of the world combined during the
same period. This is a stupendous fact, and one of the main causes of
our wonderful progress and prosperity. We believe that 'knowledge is
power,' and have appropriated nearly $300,000,000, during the last
seventy-four years, in aid of the grand experiment. We believe that 'man
is capable of self-government,' but only when educated and enlightened.
We believe that the power and wealth and progress of nations increase in
proportion to the education and enlightenment of the masses. We believe
in intellectual as well as machine and muscular power, and that when the
millions are educated, and work with their heads as well as their hands,
the progress of the nation will be most rapid. Our patent office is a
wonderful illustration of this principle, showing on the part of our
industrial classes more valuable inventions and discoveries, annually,
than are produced by the