Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23

I authorized the Building Committee TO pre-
| pare sketches of elevations and plans for
such buildings as will be necessary to ac-
commodate the various departments OF
the university. and submit the same to
| the Executive Board OF the American
| Baptist Home Mission Society for APP
| proval. The committee has done its work,
and elevations and plans of five buildings
| mitted TO the Executive Board OF the
! American Baptist Home Mission Society,
| and have been approved, and are now
ready to be placed I'm the hands Of the
! contractors TO secure tenders for the cree
| ton OF the buildings.
A site containing about thirty acres, and
finely located, as Indicated above, has
been purchased at a cost Of about 1900
an acre. No better location for large
| university could be secured adjoining the
city II is outside of the city limits, and
yet, with good electrician connections
both teachers and students will enjoy all
of the advantages the city affords.
WAYLAND SEMINARY MOVED HERE
Another step I'm the interests of the
university has been taken by the Execu-
tive Board. The question OF the removal
of Wayland Seminary to a larger and
more suitable site for its future develop
ment than IL now occupies has been for a
long time under consideration. The board,
therefore, at IT'S meeting I'm November,
1897. finally voted to remove the seminary
to Richmond. 1t is intended to sell the
present property of the seminary and de
vote the proceeds TO an endowment. 1t
IS expected that when the seminary is
removed to Richmond it will be known
as Wayland College, and be affiliated with
the university.
WHEN WORK WILL. BEGIN.
When the State Convention, at its meet
ing at Norfolk, decided to cooperate with
the Mission Society i'm developing the
university. IL was understood that the
work of erecting buildings would not be
commenced until the colored Baptsts of
the State had placed on deposit the $1,000
they are to provide for the erection of the
Mems College Dormitory. This matter has
been considered by the authorities of the
society. and 1t has been decided, In
view Of the deposit made and pledges Sc
cured, TO commence work on the buildings
as soon as the deposit amounts to $500.
1t is desirable that three of the nve
buildings-the lecture hall, the dining hall.
and one dormitory-should be ready for
use az tlse beginning of the school year
1889. To accomplish this the contracts
must be let and work begun by the 10Th
of March. In addition to the five build
ings, for which plans have already been
lecture hall for college work. a gymna-
SUM, and "A heating plant. These eight
buildings with furnishing, will cost, when |
completed. over 100000.
THE SOCIETY'S WORK.
The work of the society for colored peo-
PIC btHdu IA lou- btA = are ilpM SulUOl Ntu I
wholly or i'm part by the society IS |
schools. 10 higher institutions, and Is |
secondary schools. There were employed |
in these schools during the school year |
1856 252 teachers, OF whom 1Sl were |
white and 12l colored. The annual enroll
ment of pupils since 1880 has been about |
1908.
The total value of the school property, |
Incorporated schools, is about |
81 coo. There is an endowment fund for
el4ff m, hrI hxrt ha e
The expenditure for education for the |
school year 1S95-'96 was S138.090.3s; the
total expenditure since 1862 has been
about $4,000. There is needed for the
support Of these schools an endowment
fund of not less than 100000.
The colored Baptist Church membership
In the United States in 1865 was estimated
at 10000; In 1886 the membership reported
IS 100000, and the number Of churches,
300. Although the membership is large,
hey are yet poor. and must for many
years to come be literally helped in their
educational work