The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-01-10


the appearance of yellow fever in TN
7 State, and the location was not mao
until the following winter. The col
& lepe having been located at Starkvlllt
- i'm Oktibbeha county, tho Board {
7 Trustees selected site for the build
, ings. and purchased three hundre'
\ and fifty acres OF land at a cost 9
50. 450. An architect was employed
plans and specifications drawn, an,
: sealed proposals for the erection OF
> building invited. The contract wa
awarded TO Mr.. G. M. RUBBISH, of Val
: den, Miss, and Recommended the worl
work in latter part of July, 1879. IN
: building which Is now almost complet
ed, is large and commodious, comprls
ing all tho improvements OF moderl
: architecture, and when finished will
cost something over $4,000.
Under the supervision Of the abl'
and experienced architect, Mr.. Alfred
fucker, of the firm of Moser Il fucker
of Vicksburg, the contractor, has faith
fully performed his work, and thu
building is believed to be, by far, tho
best ever eracted in the State for tina
amount.
Dopations from the citizens of Stark
willie and vicinity, and the interest OIL
the Agricultural Landscrip Fund have
been used by the Trustees for the pur
chase of land and the construction o.
the building. The limited means al
the command of the Trustees did not
warrant them in contracting for any
other improvements, and they conf
IDENTIFY await the action OF your hon
orable body.
Section IA of the Act establishing
the college provides: "That in order
TO establish financial equality i'll all
respects between the two colleges, O
sum equal to the amount heretofore
fore appropriated to Alcorn University
out of the principal arising from the
sale of said land scrip, is hereby APP
propriated to the college provided for
by section 2 of this Act, and the Trus-
tees thereof shall be authorized to use
the same in carrying out the proyis-
ions of this Act for the benefit of said
college," Upon investigation the Board
of Trustees failed to discover any
practical means by which any part OF
the principal of the fund could be made
available for their purposes without
further legislation, and tho whole
amount remains in tho Treasury.
The Agricultural College is an insti-
tuition much needed in the State, and
il Is believed that, if the necessary
means be provided for putting it into
practical operation, it will soon become
an honor to the State, and blessing
to the industrial classes OF Mississippi.
Its leading object will be to teach such
branches as relate to agriculture and
the mechanic arts, but other scientific
and classical studies will not be OK
cluded. The farmersof the State have
manifested unusual interest in the sue
cess of the institution, and there is
certainly no class of our citizens whose
claims are entitled TO more considora-
ton at your hands.
Tho Board of Trustees will DO in
session in Jackson, some time during
the present month, and will make
known TO your honorable body the
prospects and necessities of the insti-
tuition. They will ask for an apprO-
priation sufficient to enable them to
carry out the objects and purposes Of
the law, and to commence the school
by the 1st of September next. / con-
fidently believe Che subject will receive
that consideration which its import
ance demands, and that you will deal
literally with the Agricultural and
Mechanical College.
ALCoRN AGRICULTURAL AND ME-
CHANSCAL COLLEGE.
Section 3 of the Act to establish
and Mechanical Colleges
provides for the appointment of new
board of trustees for this institution in
the same manner as that for the
and Mechanical College
is required to be appointed; but hav-
ing few days prior to the passage of
the Act, appointed a full board COM
posed of the best citizens in the vicini-
ty OF the College, and mainly of farm
ers; and these appointments having
been confirmed. by the Senate, came to
the conclusion, after consulting sevornl
members or the Legislature, that 1t
was not the intention of the trainers
of the law, that this Board should DO |
and consequently did not
conform to that requirement of the
Act.
In the interest of economy, and for
the best interests of the institution, ]
recommend that so much of section |
of said Act as relates to AlcOrn Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College be
repealed. also recommend the repeal
Of SO much Of section l as changes
the name Of the institution.
Notwithstanding the opening of the
school in the fall of 1873 was delayed
by the prevailing epidemic until the
middle of November, there were 1877
II Iil1 re- in ntf in, |
IF January following.
The present session commenced
5th, 1879. There are now
more students present than for sew
,ral years, at a corresponding time of
he session, and it is believed that
within short time after the Christmas
holidays tho institution will be filled
% its utmost capacity. The teachers
ire learned, experienced and faithful
md the school is conducted upon the
most economical principles. Under
no mess system. the students board
themselves for one dollar per week,
md their whole expenses need not be
more than twenty cents each, per day.
In his report to me dated December
Sth., DR.. Revols says: "In Wow of
he repairing of building, making of
lncy and other improvements that I
must be attended to next year, some .
Increase in tho appropriation will be
ecossary. [ think fully one thousand :
ollars will be required for these pur-
oses." / recommend that the addi- +
ional appropriation be made. {
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
This school is reported to be in n ;
rosperous condition, and is accom- ,
fishing much good in the education ;
f the colored youths of the State. / I
yitnessed some Of the commencement =
last June, and was favorably !
with the advancement of
ne students, as well as the proficiency
the teachers, and the general con-
uCt of the institution.
L recommend tho usual appropria- i
on, with the additional amount of t
We hundred dollars for the purchase '
apparatus and books for the library. l
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY. o
Tho Trustees OF the Normal De- =
lrtment of Tougaloo University re- j
Drt the institution more prosperous .
IAN ever before. Owing to disagree +
ents between the representatives q
the American Missionary Associa- Q
OH and the Trustees of the Normal 4
NO u