The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-24
THE INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.
Interesting Talk from q Blind Member OF
the Commissiop.


the Commissiop.
COLUMBIA. S. c., Oct. 1.-TWO
years ago the Legislature authorized
the appointment OF q commission to pass
on the advlsability of separating the
blind department ofthe Cedar Springs
Institute from the other departments
and of making separate institute for
the blind. The commission was duly
appointed and recommended the separs.
ton. The last Legislature provided for
the appointment of commission to
select a site for an institute for The blind,
to report on the probable cost OF the
building, to secure plans and speci6ca'
tons from architects and to put every.
thing In shape for the Legislature to
take action.
The following commission was ap.
pointed: Representatives W. Fl. Ysldell
Of Edgeheld and T. J. Kirkland of Ker
shaw from the House; and Senators r
r. Hemphill OF Abbeville and T. s.
Brice OF Fairfield from the Senate,
These gentlemen selected Rsv. P. P,
Blsleck of Edgefeld as the fifth meubel
of the commission.
The commission held its first meeting
In the Jerome Hotel last night. All il
did was to organize preparatory to 8
moro extended meeting this morning
To. day it will receive plans and specif
cations and estimates of cost from ar
chitects and builders, and will visit sew
eral places which might make cuita5le
sites.
A Register reporter had an interesting
talk with Mr.. Blslock on the OBJECTS ot
the commission. Mr.. Blalock Is blinG
and is naturally interested in all that is
to b. doue for the benefit OF others sim.
ilarlY sMcted.
Mr. Bialock said that 30 far as be
was concerned he wanted to see the ID
stitute built in Columbia. He said thai
the bill passed by the Legislature au'
thorized the commission to accept offers
from cities and towns in the shape o.
sites, money, etc. He would be glao
to see Columbia make bid, but if il
did not do so he was in favor of putting
the institute here anyway. Then he
gave splendid reasons why 1t should
come here. He said that the bliad learn
much by absorption. and the place
where they are now taught affords nc
opportunity for this. he said that the
Cedar Spring Institute is far away from
any city or town and is not even on
dirt raod. The afflicted pupils have nc
chances thele to learn except what ia
taught them in the regular curriculum.
Great progress is being made By the
blind. They are learning to become
musicians and in Philadelphia there are
seventeen blind organists in prominent
churches. Ia Columbia the blind musi'
clans would have chances to show their
learning and their knowledge Of such
things. They would have chance tc
practice. They would have opportunities
70 visit concerts. By bearing is the only
way the blind learn music. At Cedar
Springs there are no such chances as In
Columbia.
MIR. Blalock continued by saying that
tho blind are taught to make brooms,
chairs, etc. At Cedar Springs there is
no market for these thing. Ifthe In
stitute were IN Columbia there would
be good market. Other Stats instiu'
tons could buy what was made if mer'
chants did not want the articles.
Mr.. Blslock said he was in favor oi
asking the State to give tract OF land
belonging to the South Carolina Col
lego on which to erect the institute.
The block nearly opposite the South Car
olina College, bounced By Sumter, Main
and Greene streets, he thought, would
be splendid site. This property is not
being used by the College. Mr.. Blaloch
said that the advantages OF this location
would be many. The institute would be
near the college, which tho blind stu
dents could attend to listen to lectures
They would also havs access to the Ii
| brary Of the college.
Mr.. Blalock estimates that the build
ing would cost about $4,000. he says
that tho accommodations for the bllnc
at Cedar Springs are so limited that the
State will have to build an addition il
| it does not decide to make tho institute
separate, az is proposed.
The commission will today visit th'
site spoken Of by Mr.. Blalock and con
fer with President Woodrow as tt
whether the college caa spare that much
ground.