The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-06-07
10 the Editor Of Hawkins County Departrnent

To the Editor Of Hawkins County Department:
Everything that can possibly be said
or done to stimulate the citizens of Haw-
kins county and Rogersville to prompt
and liberal action upon certain subjects
pertaining to their material interest
should be said and done.
First, there is a Female educational
enterprise now in progress at this place,
which, from the present and immediate
past indications, bids fair to be perfect
success. The Rogersville Female Col
lege has been in existence for number
of years, and has, though under adverse
circumstances, done much towards the
advancement of female education, not
only in Rogersville and Hawkins county,
but indeed throughout the State of Ten
nessee, and even in other States which
have seen that it was to their benefit to
patronize it. The frequent change of
hands which this Institution has hereto
fore gone through has been exceedingly
detrimental to its interest and prosperi-
ty, but we now rejoice to say that by a
purchase made something more than
year ago, by the Presbyterian
Church, of this very valuable property,
we are relieved of the uncertain charac-
ter of the school, or the fearful appre-
hension of its discontinuance at any
time Suffice it to say that its purchase
is bona tide one, which, if it is. as it
should be, properly and generously sup.
ported by the citizens of Hawkins and
ROgersville, permanent and everlast-
ing possession, which will redown to
their honor, their pecuniary interest and
their educational benefit so long as this
is free and enlightened country.
Gentlemen, reflect for a moment.
What is there before? You now have
this Institution with one years expert
ence under the supervision of President
A. w. Wilson and his corps of teachers,
which has proven most satisfactory and
encouraging to the patrons. 1t is true
the school this has not been SO full as it
will be hereafter, from the fact that it
was the first year; but, even with this
beginning, there was from thirty-five to
forty boarders beside the young ladies
from town. Now make a calculation
for your pecuniary interest: Those thir-
ty-five young ladies who were boarders
left in our town and county in the way
of board, tuition, &c, &C., not less than
three hundred dollars each. Multiply
this by thirty-fve, and we have ten thou
sand and five hundred dollars more mon
ey in circulation than we could have
had had we not had this school. Treble
the number-which this school is bound
to do next year, under the present au-
spices, and we have thirty-one thousand
five hundred dollars more in circulation
than we otherwise would have without
this enterprise. Nor do we, after care
full thought and reasonable calculation,
hesitate to say that in less than five years
that the amount left here in Rogersville
and the vicinity will be fifty thousand
dollars or more annually. This is no
small interest to us these stringent times,
notwithstanding it is a small estimate
put upon the advantages we will derive
from the energetic prosecution of this
enterprise
a desire to cultivate a spirit of selfish
ness or gain among our citizens, but in
order that they may be actuated to make
an effort towards the establishment of
an institution which will render unto
the patrons value received for the ad-
; vantages that we derive from it. Men
of the present age are determined to ed
ucate, and If they cannot do it at Rog-
ersville, where there should be every ad-
vantage that heart can desire, they will
do 1t elsewhere. We have healthful
and quiet location, surrounded by good,
intelligent society; we have the finest
and most commodious building; the
most beautiful and lovely grounds that
are to be found in the South; we have
an unexceptional corps of instructors,
and what is there to prevent us from
having one of the finest and most -four
ishing schools2 We answer-nothing
but the want Of proper interest and a
hearty cooperation upon the part of our
own people. FelIow-citizens, let not
this shameful reproach be cast upon US;
let US not spare labor, pains or money to