Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-11-14
LETTER Fa0n sxTen ROUGE.
B.1oS RouoE, La. Oct. 30th. IL

40 occasional communication in reference
to the Capital, its institution, &c. &c"
| shall devote this, the first, to the STATE
University and A. Il NJ. College.
THE LOCATION
| of the Institution is beautiful and healthy
one-being about 800 yards below the
State House, and standing on a blnff which
rises gradually from the river, the build
ing presents a magnificent appearance
from the river below the city; and from il.
elevated galleries, overlooking many mile,
of the great river, all the southern portion
Of the city, and many fine sugar aud cot.
ton plantations, We have view as com.
prehensive as it is varied and Interesting
The grounds, both in front and rear. are
sufficiently rolling, with . little artificial
help, to render drainage almost perfect;
80, while there is no local cause for sick
meas, our proximity TO the gulf, with no
intervening distractions, brings us partial
ly under the influence Of tho salubrious
aud exhileratipg breeses Of the sea.
THE MAGNITUDE
Of the Institution would surprise many
who have never visited the Capital. The
msin cdidcs /. 27O by 70 leet, the central
portion Of which is S stories high, and it's
extremities, called towers, arc 4 storice.
just opposite the towers, and perpendicu-
lar TO the main building, are two wings,
each l5O by 60 feet, and 3 stories high.
The walls are all crowned with battles
mouts, and opposite tho first aud secoud
floors tho building is cncirclcd with gal
leries aud verandAs, extending in the az
grcgate morc than 1900 feet. In addition
to the cellars, which are used for laundry.
cooking and storing purposes, there are 80
rooms and lsclosets; these embrace q mess
hall 100 by Is feet, library of 1900
volumes, an arsenal OF 200 Enfield rifles, n
hospital, chapel, class rooms, offices,
museum, cadets sleeping rooms, &c. &c.
Many Of these, notably the library, read
ing and dining rooms, are emtelishcd with
paintings, engravings and statury, which
not only serve to heighten the general ef-
feet, but constitute great educational
agencies in fixing and developing the tastes
and morals of young men. Iu front Of the
building is u beautiful yard, overshadowed
by variety ofever-green shrubbery, aud
traverset BY winding passages; in the rear
lnr t.h IA,
senble for drill, roll-call. parade and class
formation, and Just back Of this is the ma
chine shop aud University garden, on
which latter enough vegetables arc raised
TO supply the Institutions; all of which il
enc losed by beautiful white picket fence.
RECENT REPAIRS
The Board Of Supervisors has recently
appropriated S5OO0,oO to the general repa-
ration of the building, and the contract
was awarded to Mcssrs. Harmon and voss,
the skilled mechanics who had charge Of
the marble aud joiners work in the re-
of tho State House. Under
their trained eyes and bands, the building
has been renovated from base 10 dome,
and is now externally and internally, a.
clean rs it 10 commodious, as elegant as
i is magnificent.
IHr MACHINE sHor
has been established and equipped under
the administration of Col Johnston, and
In it there are now 90 of our boys taking
lessons in the elements Of carpintry, forg-
ING and turning. This enterprise is de-
veloping j growing interest, and under
the supervision of Prof Randolph, who is
quite AN enthusiast and adept in mechsn.
ics II is accomplishing much good, and at.
tracing favorable notice and substan tinl
from abroad. Recently II.
Dudley Coleman & Bro, public spirited
citizens of New Orleans, donated to it au
annuity of $50 90 for two years, and that
noble woman Mrs. T.. A. Burke, who In
conjunction with her husband, has done NO
III uch for orr State and people donated to
the came $4,000 worth Of tools and mn.
chinery. In addition To this, tho Board
has just appropriated $4,000 to the en-.
largcment of the shop and more equip
ments.
THE ftcCLTN
of the President, Col. W. P.
Johuston, and Profs. McCulloch, Nicholson,
Sewcll, MacGrudcr, Randolph, Boyd, Col,
Robertson and Mai Jones reurese n ting in
the aggregate all the departments Of the
University except that Of Agriculture, are
at their posts and actively discharging their
respective duties. A salary Of $500 90
has been appropriated TO the Professor-hip
Of Agriculture, but it seems difficult to
find man who understands it practically