Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-15

there were S54 pupils in attendance
but in the second year there were only
SO4: in the third 3l7, and 10 the fourth
29l in attendance. This year there are
$50, as stated already, but next year
the attendance may drop of TO the
usual number, for which present
equipments are sufficient, at least until
the State is in a better condition TO
provide more. l therefore dissent from
the recommendation Of President Lee,
and recommend that the appropriation
be limited to an adequate support
fund.
Much interest is displayed in differ
ent parts of the State in the compett-
ton to secure the location of the
INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE AND COLLEGE
FOR THE EDUCATION OF WHITE
GIRLS
in the arts and sciences. In purs uance
of the statue, the Board Of Trustees
gave due notice by publication that
they would receive proposals ana ex.
anime sites offered for the location Of
the Institution, and after receiving
numerous offers, and visiting the varl-
Gus competing points and carefully
canyassing the advantages offered by
each, the location was awarded to
Columbus.
Columbus fills all the requirements
of the statue in regard to the location,
and besides being healthy, and free
from epidemics, and having reasonable
average facilities for going to and
from the place, and being about as
conveniently accessible to the people
of every part Of the State as any other
College supported and maintained by
the State, it is a refined and cultivated
community, Of exceptionally fine
morals, social and religious conditions,
and has excellent water works, and a
well organized and fully equipped fire
department available for the protec-
ton and use of the institution. And
in addition to these Columbus offered
twenty-five acres of land within it's
corporate limits, well adapted to the
purpose, with one commodious and
substantial brick building, and a large
and well designed wooden building
and other Improvements thereon, and
fifty thousand dollars in non-interest
bearing bonds of the city, endorsed and
the payment thereof guaranteed by her
citizens, one-sixth of said sum matur-
ing on the first of January in each year,
commencing with the first of January,
1885. After remodeling the old build
ing, and erecting new ones and provid-
ing necessary furniture and equip
ments for the same, the Institution
and College was opened on ga Octo-
Der last, with imposing ceremonies, and
under the most favorable auspices, for
the reception Of students. The build
ings are handsome, convenient and I'M
posing, and have all the modern im-
proyements, such as water, both hot
and cold, gas, electric light, elevator,
steam heating, steam laundry, etc.
There is no male teacher, except the
President. The curriculum embraces
the ordinary collegiate and normal
courses, with such industrial studies,
now being taught, as bookkeeping
freehand drawing, designing, teie-
graphy, type-writing, photography,
painting, cutting and making gar
ments, repousse, and art needlework
and cooking, etc. Tuition is free in
the collegiate, normal and industrial
departments. The general rule is, that
no pupil is received who does not take
one or more of the industrial studies.
l learn, from the report Of the excel
lent President, DR.. r. w. Jones, to
which you are referred for full infor-
nation touching the College, that
three hundred and seven pupils have
matriculated since the opening, and
many more from various counties in
the State, have been denied admission
on account of the want OF room in the
dormitory building-that sixty-three
of the counties in the State are repre-
scented in the present patronage-that
the cost of board per capita in The
College, since the opening, including
meals, furnished room, fuel, lights ano
washing. has averaged tell dollars anC
twenty cents per month; that all work
in the dlnlng-room Is done by students
and each room is kept In order by it,
occupant; that no pupil is excused
from this work, and it is regarded as
honorable and is performed with alac-
rity by all of them. and that pupils
who desire to earn something to de.
fray their expenses, are paid for othel
work in and about the premises, anC
that in this manner, servants are prac'
tically dispensed with and a mum
Der Of poor girls are in
great measure enabled to educate
themselves by their own exertiOns
The Legislature of 1884 responded tC
IA very general and popular demand iI
passing the bill establishing the Indus
trial Institute and College and tn,
State is fully, and in my judgment
wisely and properly committed to it
support. The Institute and College il
intended for the benefit of the white
girls of the State-not for poor whit,
girls alone, not for rich white girl
alone, but for the equal advantages O.
all, aud to qualify them for the prac
tical industries Of the age. 1t is mani