The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-01-13

University sent herewith is one made TO the
Governor by the president OF that institution
in an informal way. The report IN iuiI OF
the University viii be made to the General
Assembly at a later day. 1t Is q matter Tor
profound gratitude that the University has
now the largest attendance upon its classes
that it has ever lad In its long and useful
history.
The appropriations made to this institution
heretofore have been wisely and economical
ly used. and l recommend to the Legislature
to make such additions to the appropriations
TO its treasury as may be demanded by its
increased attendance. and as may be justified
by the condition OF the public finances.
1t Is believed that no other educational in
s%titution in the State is doing a better work
now being SO successfully prosecuted by the
Normal and Industrial College at Green's
borO. Indeed. its work seems limited only
by the accommodations which hare been
thus far furnished to it by the General As
sembly. All the buildings now upon the
campus have been occupied by students, and
the overflow from these has extended to the
private houses of the town. The unex-
ampled growth OF this institution makes the
petitio On which Its managers prefer to the
General Assembly for additional buildings,
to be the call Of q pressing need.
The report of the board having control OF
the College OF Agricultural and Mechanical
Aie 10 ASACWAth A4A OAAApASS ~
operations Of that institution for the last two
years. The equipment and appointments OF
this school are extensive and modern, and
we'll adapted to the work that it undertakes
to do. 1t is a matter Of surprise ard regret
that it has not been able to secure a much
larger attendance Of students than it now
has in its classes.
| The Colored Agricultural and Mechanical
College at Greensboro has not beenoas large
Iy. patronized by our co!ored population as
the amount OF money expended Upon it
would seem to demand. 1t is hoped that the
General Assembly may find some way to
induce a larger attendance upon its classes
than has yet been realized.
The reports respectively OF the Western,
the Central and Eastern Hospitals for the
Insane, are transmitted herewith, and your
attention is called to the recommendations
therein contained. These recommendations
are made by experts in the matters and
+. things to which they relate, and will be more
valuable IN informing and directing the
Legislature than will anything that might
be advised by non-experts.
The reports Of the boards having control
Of the schools for the education OF the deaf
and dumb and blind are transmitted here
with, and the recommendations in these
reports deserve careful consideration and
study at the hands Of the peoples represen-
tati. eS. I recommend to the General As
scmbly to take such steIs at this session as
they may deem necessary to gather into
these several schools all those unfortunates.
who ought to be in one or another Of these
institutions.
The operations of the State peniten-
sisted mainly in farming. The manage
ment, as l am informed, has not been aDie
to secure labor contracts for the convicts ex-
cept to a very limited extent, and the III
s%titution has betn compelled to rely mainly
upon the production Of cotton as the money
crop with which to realize for the payment Of
lite expenses. The crops have been large in
amount, but sadly deficient in pecuniary
value. The low price Of cotton has seriously
reduced the earnings of this institution. 1t
was commended by the management during
the year 1896 that the institution was self
supporting. This was denied by the succeed
Ing management, who commended that it was
not sclf-supporting in that year, and never
had been. An experienced accountant was
employed by the priso on board, who reporte |
that the institution for the years 1893. 1894,
1895 and 1896 ran behind more than S1OO. 900.
The experiment Of raising rice to a limited
extent, on the tide water lands Of the Cape
Fear, was attempted during the year 1898.
and according to my best Information, has
been successful The superintendent thinks
that this experiment shows An encouraging
profit.
The plantation on the Roanoke river.
known as the Halifax farm, has been held by
the penitentiary under a lease, which ex-
pires with the year 1899. The work OF it has
never been profitable to the State. 1t is
that it be surrendered to its
owners. The plantation known as the Gale
donia. on the Roanoke river is held under O
lease which expires at the cad of the year
1907. The State holds an option on this
land at q stipulated price. I would recon-
mend that some provision be made for the
purchase of this properly.
Inc most enlightened craftsmanship. the
dictates OF common humanity and the teach
lngs OF Christianity unite to urge the law
ILakerS of this Sfnfa 70 asfahlisn ono or nora