Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-17

contributed by other friends, of all of
 which will be of sefvice. 1 must not neglect to mention our col
 lege physician,r Dr. D. c. Givhan, who is
 so patient, prompt, kind and attentive to
 the sick In addition to his services as college physician, he Is delivering se- ries of lectures to the school on physiol-
 ogy. which are highly appreciated. Our school opens at 8:15 a. m. II IS a
 rare thing to be without visitors at thls time, as the school is attracting 9 great deal of attention. The opening exer- cises consist of reading the Bible, sing ing. and prayer. The teachers all being present seated on the rostrum. nave i the school we'll supplied with Gospel
 Hymns. and I can see marked improve ment in the singing of the girls. ss.-~ The work on our new building, which Is | one wing of the original plan, is at standstill at present, and has been TOT some time past awaiting the arrival or ! some pressed brick. With it's stone trim | mings, and pressed brick front, it will present as handsome appearance, l think, as any building in the state, and will be l a model which I trust will be followed | in the future, for l feel that before many years this school will demonstrate that it | deserves all the building that any insti- | tutien can possibly be entitled to- The | Southern railway has shown great lib- | erality transporting our building mate 1 rial free of charge, which has saved | cash outlay of over S2,000.
 I also wish to say, that the citizens here deserve great credit for the noble
 manner in which they have seconded my efforts. Starting as we did without single shelter in which to place pupil,
 they have opened their homes to the girls, regardless of the low-priced board.
 and as evidence of their kindness and
 attention, there is scarcely girl here to- day whose uniform has not been en- larged, owing to the fact that they have
 increased in size very greatly, gaining all the way from two to thirty pounds apiece, and I doubt very much if there
 is a girl here today who is not heavier than when she arrived. One of the teach CTS even has gained twenty-seven pounds. A Miss Green, who weighed ninety-eight pounds when she arrived,
 now weighs 132, etc. The variety of the school. the continual change from one department to another, the amount of exercise that it gives. the release from study to relaxation, as they change from literary to industrial departments, as we'll as the pure air, good water, and healthful location seem to give the girls new life; and if you could sec them as
 thsy pass from one building to another in
 groups, I am sure you would say 1t was
 a beautiful sight. The great change
 that has come over the girls is very ap-
 parent, and by the end of the session will
 be more so for the improvement is very
 marked, indeed, mentally as well as phys
 ically- have already many applications
 for places in the school for pupils the
 coming session, which file without mak-
 ing any promises. I realize the fact
 that we will in all probability have offers
 for more pupils next session than we will
 be able to accommodate, and that 1t will
 be necessary to distribute the scholar ships as evenly as possible throughout the counties and districts of the state; giving to each their pro rata, according
 to the census of girls within educatable age in each.
 Our present study hall will seat only 200 pupils. It will be necessary to change it. which can be done without very great outlay and give us one that will seat | 400, or more, in this same building Our new dormitory, I think, will pro- vide for 100 boarders. Quite number of houses are being erected and more be- | ing projected, to be built during the sum- , mer; and l believe that we will enroll | at least 4o6 pupils the next season. l Now my dear sir, am gratified be- 1 yond expression to be able to make so 1 favorable a report of the work and know it is a source of qualification to you, 1 both as a trustee, and as one who loves l our state and it's people. l do not think | a more worthy object was ever placed in 1 the hands of trustees than this school. 1 neglected to mention what may not
 be news to you, that the state gave us you will also notice that the name has been charged to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. which was quite necessary from the fact that the schools all ever the
 United States called industrial schools,
 are known as reforma tory schools, and
 the name was likely to become an un-
 pleasant reflection upon ours, hence,
 the necessity of the change. There was an act passed also, through the instru-
 mentality of MT. Virgil Bouldin, one of the trustees, who fortunately for us was a member of the house of representatives making it necessary to elect treas urer for the school, and hope shortly to see this done, as the. present way of securing pay for the teachers is very trying, costly and inconvenient. For in- stance I remained in Montgomery the | 18th and 18th of last month, was absent ! three days, and each day l tried to secure | a quorum of five trustees to audit the bills | for the school expenses, but failed, and | eventually had to come home and defer | action, consequently. the teachers who | are out of money are placed al much .in- convenience, as their pay is small at best, not amounting to much over $500 per annum, being employed about eight months in the year, and having no other occupation, it is very hard upon them.
 They are doing good work, and deserve | much praise for the great interest they have shown.
 In conclusion I will say that I have given the school sll the attention and skill at my command. It has been the pride of my life to endeavor to make it
 a success. and am gratifled beyond ex- pression that it Is believed by those com potent to judge to be succeeding admira- bly,.
 want to thank you for your kindness, and for whatever assistance and encour-
 agement--in the responsible position I | am occupying-you have rendered me, and hope and trust that the day is not far distant when we can have you ,here in person to see and to judge for your self. and advise in all that we are doing. do not believe that any school offers greater advantages than this. I am sure none can do more for the cost. and I believe the state will show it's great ap- preciat ton of the wisdom you as trustee have shown in the direction of this grand addition to the cause of the education in Alabama
 will be glad to hear from you at any
 time with any suggestions you may
 think it necessary to make.
 Respectfully, your obedient servant,
 H. c. REYNOLDS, President.
 nAIIOIIT IkI TILT EOT