The evening times., 1899-09-27

The Secretary of the Interior today made
public the annual report of the President
of Howard University. President Rankin
says in part:
AT its last session Congress generously
granted $1,5G0 to endow the chair OF
pedagogy, up to this time the so-called
normal work having been partly academic
pedagogical department is now fully or
ganized and wholly separated from acad-
emic work, which last work is hereafter to
be known as the English department. This
change has been contemplated by the trus-
tees from the time of the establishment Of
the practice school two years ago. 1t has
been so made as to create no friction, al
though the teachers of the past are in
many cases retained. 1t has always been
regarded a part of the work of Howard
University to provide facilities for e.emen-
tary training in English This is to be
done with greater emphasis than ever be-
fore.
The $1,G00 additional granted for re-
pairs the university requests for the COM
ing year. making the sum again $4,000.
Our buildings are in part Of artificial stone,
and need continual watching and replacing;
others are of wood and yield to decay,
while mason work and timing are con-
stantly demanded. The security and en-
durance of our buildings are vital to our
prosperity. This request is emphasized be-
cause of damage to buildings by recent
cyclone.
We have been feebly fostering a night
school in agriculture. supported mainly by
gifts Of the benevolent. This is theoretical
agriculture, which we think il important
that of Gbnrid CT nd
they go forth as teachers ald professional
men and women, and may do much to i'm
part valuable information to farmers and
others. We earnestly request that Congress
establish in this university an agricultural
chair, and give it the usual S 500 as the
support Of a dean of the same. We hope
some time that some benevolent person will
give US the means to purchase farm for
practical experiments and agricultural
training. With cur 600 to 700 students,
coming directly from the soil and going
back in sense to the soil again, it seems
unwise to neglect SO important a subject.
1t is my pleasant duty, in Closing, to
| acknowledge the very kind and valuable
services Of the honorable Secretary of the
Interior and his representatives as the
Government patrons of this university.
The suggestion that Freedman's Hos
pital be turned over by the District to the
management of the trustees of the unive--
sity, if consummated. would assure US
clinical facilities uneQualed. The trustees
would doubtless accept the trust. A few
years since. by legislation inaugurated at
the instance of former Senator Edmunds
| OF Vermont. directing the Librarian of
Congress, the librarian of the Senate, the
librarian OF The House of Representatives,
and the librarian of the Department of
Justice. respectively, 10 deliver extra or
duplicate copies of law books to the law
department of Howard University, a large
number of valuable law books were guar
anteed TO this university from the Library
of Congress. The trustees would respec-
fully remind the Secretary of the Interior
of this legislation, and would ask him to
use his personal influence to have this leg
islatiye action, SO long inactive, carried
out"
A statement is given of the condition
of the twenty permanent funds of the
university to June 30, 1899, as follows:
Cash invested, s157, ,605.3 .35; cash in hand,
S66279; total, S15s ,26S.14. Balance on
hand July l, 1898. s9.27o.9s; received, s94,-
$500; disbursed, $1eO ,325.59; balance on
hand. June 80, 1899, s3.s134s.
The preparatory department which fits
students for college. is divided into four
classes, each representing one years S
thirty nine students. In the junior class
seventeen students were received. There
are eight students pursuing special stud
les. The results secured in the years
work have been quite satisfactory in all
the branches.
The whole number received was 127. The
! number left during the year was IL and the
! number remaining at the end of the year
lis. The college department received at
i - Al
number that left during the year was L.
The number remaining is 36. There has
been within the last year a course of lect-
ures delivered in pedagogy, to which all
advanced students in the university who
wished 10 learn that branch and all the
teachers of the colored public schools of
this city were invited.
In the medical department, which in
cludes the dental and pharmaceutical
courses, there were at the commencement
OF the session 1s9; divided as follows: Can
didates for the degree of NJ. D., III; candi-
dates for the degree of D. ID. s., 30; can
didates for the degre Of Phar D.. IS; stu
dents pursuing special courses. g.
All of the classes completed their years
work, and the professors are much pleas
ed with the graded course of instruction.
There were graduated from the regular
course in the month of May, 19; number
graduated from the dental course, Z; num-
ber graduated from the pharmaceutical
course, 6; total number of graduates, 80.
In the law department the whole number
received was 80; number leaving the de-
partment of the own volition z; number re-
naming at the end of the year, S5 The
above are divided into juniors, Seniors and
post graduates, There were graduated with
the degree of LII. M, IL; there were gradu-
ated with the degree Of LII. B.. 81 The
branches taught are the same as those of
| other law schools in the city Of Washing
ton.
The students as a whole attained good
| averages, most of them being by previous
mental training, as well as natural bent,
well equipped for entering upon the study
of law.
Ii is worthy OF note that the recent addi-
tion of one year to our regular course
heretofore two years, now three) affected
the school decidedly less, in point of num-
bers of matriculates, than any of the other
law schools in the city adopting a similar
course; for while the latter, by reason of
the change indicated, sustained quite de-
cline in their roster of students for the
year just past, We carried only four short
of the number Of the previous year, when
operating under a two-year's course. The
attendance, application, and zeal on the
part of the students manifested the great
est possible enthusiasm in the work, and
disclosed on their part Notwithstanding
many were hampered by lack Of means to
make ends meet) an interest and a purpose
born of a real and an earnest desire to sue
ceed in their great and exacting undertak-
ing.
The year was indeed a grand success
The Improvement ever previous wears