The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-10
Higher Education in Louisiana and
the Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege at Baton Rouge.
Editor Democrat

lege at Baton Rouge.
Editor Democrat
l am much pleased at the awakened in
terest in public education in this State
The discussion of the question is at this
time wide spread, so far as can judge
FROM the papers see and the extracts from
others have read. This is as il should
be and is in the line of the progress which
is destined to restore our fallen fortunes
and remove from the name of onr fair
State the blot of ignorance it now bears.
l do not propose to repeat what l have al
ready said on the subject of public educa-
ton generally, but there are several mat
ters pertinent to that question which i'll
this and other articles do propose to dis
cuss. In my judgment next in Importance
to the necessity of providing ample funds
for the public schools, is the duty of sup
plying them with suitable teachers for the
primary grades and the facilities for a
higher and more extended course of study
than it is possible to undertake to teach in
the free public schools,
Happily a most proper move has already
been made to furnish the supply Of teach
ers by the establishment of the State Nor
NAL School at Natchitoches. This now
firmly established and dourishing institu-
ton, created by Act 81 Of 1884, is in able
hands and is under the control of worthy
gentlemen whose very names are guaran-
tees of the future success and usefulness of
the school. The faculty are required by
the act creating it to hold free teachers in
stitutes annually. The funds for ito sup
port, $4,000 per annum, paid out of the
General Fund, and not of the School
Fund, are inadequate and should be large
largely increased in order that its sphere Of
usefulness may be widened and broadened.
A similar institution in New Orleans fur
nishes all the nc eded facilities in that city.
The Tulane University occupying the
buildings formerly belonging to the State
On Common Street and embracing besides
its regular courses, the Law and Medical
Schools of the old State University, is des-
tined to be if not the first, one of the first,
institutions in tho United States. 1t has
been richly endowed by Mr.. Paul Tulane,
is controlled by board of directors, CON-
posed of some of the very best men in the
State and is under the immediate supcrvi-
siou of Col. WIN. Preston Johnston. than
whom. there is no more able educator and
refined and accomplished gentleman, in all
the length aud breadth Of the land. 1t has
All endowment fund of about $500, 900 from
the past benefactions of Mr.. Tulane, and
he promises if the amendment to the Con-
stitution is adopted which will DO submit
ted at the next general election, exempt
ing the property donated from taxation,
to increase the donation to $4,000, 000.-
This will make it, perhaps, the wealthiest
University in tho United States. Tuition
if free to as many students from the Par
isles and wards Of New Orleans, o. they
have Senators and Representatives. The
$40, 900 per annum provided by the Consti-
tuition for it's support has been RENTED
by it.
There is another University in New Or
leans for the exclusive benefit of colored
youths, supported by an annual State ap-
preparation of $40, 900, and besides this one,
there is another one for the same purpose,
supported by private persons.
The State supports aother institution
under the rather lalorious title of "The
Louisiana State University and Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical College" at Baton
Rouge. and we are in this section more in.
terested in this one, than any Of the others,
because the Louisiana State University
part of it belongs to this section some
where, and it has not now and never did
have any rightful location at Baton Rouge,
and its location there has always been rec
ognized to be temporary ouly.
1t is formed Of the combination Of the
State Seminary of Learning, which was
built and first located in this parish and
remained here until it was burnt in 1869,
and the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege which was established to receive the
donations made by the United States to the
States for the purposes indicated by the
name, and which was first located in the
Parish of St. Bsrnaxd.
1t gets from the State IS an endowment
SIC, 900 per annum and draws besides, the
two other interest funds of s5440 and
SOLE, SO dae by the State to the State Sem
mary and Agricultural College, of which
made mention in my last letter, yer,
handsome endowment of $24,555,69, fo
which it makes no return at all to tn,
State since its location 1t Baton Rouge.
was flourishing College here and woult
be again if brought back here, but it is .
weakly, sickly, puny bansling where it i
and ranks but little if any higher than
free high day school for tho benefit Of Bato1
Rouge.
collected the figures to prove this Will
the bill to remove the institution was IN
der discussion at the last session, and ca
prove the assertion by the official figure
from its own reports.
} There are many reasons why the Unive,
sity branch of this institution should
moved to the country somewhere, and YER
%l,.& IL L l., ~.