The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-01
wAsHINGroN'S scHooI
Seer eiary Wilson One of the Speakers at
the Opening of "a New building.

the Opening of "a New Building.
TUSKEGEE. ALA, Nov. 3O.-The new
agricultural building at Tuskegee was
formally opened in Connection with Booker
Washington's Normal and Industrial In
stitute.
The pavilion was beautifully decorated
with bunting and flags, and agricultural
products of almost every kind.
An audience composed Of white and
colored citizens and students greeted
Hon. Jamos Wilson, Secretary Of Agricul-
ture. Governor Joseph i. Johnston DR..
j. L. NJ Curry and many other prominent
guests. including Major J. L. Culver,
State Secretary of Agriculture Ex-Gover-
nor Northern, Hon. H. X. Glenn, Of
Georgia. Superintendent OF EiIcation,
and j. O. Turner
After the singing Of patriotic songs,
which were heartily received, Booker T.
Washington read the letters Of regret
from President Mckinley. Chief Justice
Fuller. Bishop G. b. Galloway. Mr.. Nor
ris X Jessup, the New York banker,
President T. ID. Gilman. Bishop If. 9.
Potter Mr. w. f. Dodge. Of New York,
and many others
Governor Johnston made practical adj
dress dealing with the need Of having
educated formers white and black 10 ade-
quately develope the country. He then
introduced Mr.. Wilson, who made the
principal address Of the day.
Secretary wilson au0iesscd the stu
dents Of TuskOgcc University on agricu-
tural topics relating TO the South. The
Secretary presented the latest available
figures on the growth OF the cotton i'm
dustry of the South. From 1856 10 1896.
the number of cotton mills i'm the South
ern states increased from 253 10 iol. thu
number of spindles from LOO 1872 TO $751;
Jlj and The number Of bales Of cotton
consumed annually from 5yL929 10 sS0Ail.
lie showed also the condition Of general
trade by the decrease Of business failures
i'm the South. During the first nine
months Of the present year the failures
in the South from Maryland to Texas
were 1915 with liabilities Of Sl30S.352 as
against 1854 failures with liabilities Of
50 6>3. 500 for the same period last year.
The bank clcarings i'm the South showed
a marked improvement during the sans
time, Notwithstanding the yellow fever
At New Orleans and other places. Mr..
Wilson also pointed out the OppOrtuni-
ties the South offered for growing many
products not now cultivated, including
olives, figs citrus fruit. Japanese per-
simmons and the tea plant. Continuing.
he said:
THE United States is far ahead Of all
other nations i'm making provision for
educating in the sciences that relate 10
agriculture and yet little more than a
beginning has been made with us 10
takes times to impress farmers and
farmers sons with the necessity OF devot-
ing time in school ana college 10 farther
study of the things with which they
deal every day in their lives. That mys-
ter attaches TO these common things few
advisers of the farmers family believe.
therefore every influence about the ann
bilious young farmer leads him off to-
ward the institution where the family
may have had education for generations
back or where the gospel minister of the
family was educated or the family doctor
or other family oracle. A better day
has dawned. We compete with the world
and are preparir for the struggle. Va
must educate young people TO do some
thing that somebody wants done where
money is waiting to pay them"
I'VE pay SiOJOJ0,OOU annually for ag-
rcultural products that we might grow
some Of them in the South. some OF
them in the South. some of them in tho
North. and on the Pacific coast The
American farmer must be informed. re-
garding the worlds crops OF every kind,
so that he may direct his energies to-
ward the production ana manufacture
%
least. The Southern States may export
butter without injuring their soils. cot
ton fibre may be sold with little loss to
the soils that grow 1t; meats take com
parativey little from the soil. but cotton
seeds should not leave the vicinity where
the plant grows 10 should be fed to
make meats and dairy products. as II Is
very highly nitrOcenOus and should be
returned indirectly 10 the field again.
The cotton seed of this State would fur
nsh heterogeneous matter TO fatton half
million head of cattle and these cattle
can either be raised in the State or im4
ported from the breeding States Their
feeding would begin a process of soil re-
cupeIation that would result in greatly
increased crops of all kinds used in a.
system of rotation"
THE United States viii have a much
ienser population in the future. Every
year will add 10 the number of our peo-
pie. our soil will sustain infinitely more
than it does at present
Progress toward greater production
is i'm the rear of other kinds OF research.
Education in many lines has furnished
society with all its demands. but the farm
remains the unsolved mystery in all its
IL invites the best thought
Of scholars In all directions. all the scicn-
ces apply 10 IT, we VIII sustain more
people through greater crops by better
OF production and more univer-
sal knowledge of economic conditions.
There Is immediate demand for better
equipped men along these lines.
The only society distinctions of uni
versal recognition in our land will be
those that separate the strong man OF
able and willing to help his
fellows and the weak man without ability
or disposition"