The Springfield herald., 1899-01-13
IVORK OF TUSKEGEE.
A VERY IMPORTANT INSTITU-
TION.
BooIser t. washinxton's School Teaches
CoIor~d People How to Think, Work
and Live.

President Mckinley, in his recent
visit TO the south, stopped for day
mt Tuskegee. Alabama, in order to
visit the university established and
carried on by Booker L. Washington.
The President addressed the pupils
from the platform of a beautiful CHIP
el recently complications Of the lar
gest and handsOmest churches In the
south, the plans and specifications for
which We're by an architect in the
school. Every brick was made and
laid by the students. Every inch of
woodwork came from their sawmill
and carpenter shop. the heating and
electric light plant were made In the
machine shop. The only materials en-
tering into the construction that had
TO be purchased outside were the glass
and hardware. and parts Of the latter
were forged Mt the blacksmith shop.
No more inspiring audience ever faced
speaker There are seats for 2,10O
persons. Perhaps 1000 more crowded
in. occupying temporary galleries that
We're erected for the occasion, the plat
form and the aisles. The most of them
We're negroes. including 1000 students
-sn one side of the auditorium.
In that presence in his most earnest
and serious way. the President of the
of what he called "A unique expert
ment." conceived and carried out by
Booker +. Washington. and his gratifi-
cation al the great success which his
genius and perseverance had won.
Then he gave the students some good
advice which might well be inscribed
upon the lintels of every educational
institution, telling them that Integrity
and industry are the best possessions
which any man can have. and every
man can have them" That sentence
describes what Mr.. Washington is try
ing to impress upon his race.
Governor johnson. i'll Introducing the
President, gushcd over the institution
and with an air of patronage and pro-
prictorship expressed his qualification
and pride in its success. which pro
vokpd Il pertinent retort from Presi-
dent Mckinley, who hoped the govern
uf would persuade the Legislature TO
increase the appropriation for its ben
eft. To understand the Significance of
this repartec. it must be known that
the state of Alabama contributes only
$4,000 of the 100000 which it costs to
maintain the institution. Ten thousand
dollars comes from the Slater and Pea
body educational funds: the remain
ing SS1,5O is furnished by friends of
and upon his personal solicitation. The
institution was started seventeen years
ago. with one teacher and thirty pu-
pills, i'll Il rented Shanty church. 4hc-
cording TO the last report of the prin-
cipal the attendance last year was
1,OiT studcnts-1l2 boys and 335 girls.
These students came from twenty-fOur
states and territories. Nearly the same
plumber are in attendance ut this time.
representing the same number of states
and territories and besides Cuba. Porto
Rico. .Iamaica. England and Africa.
Nearly all of the students board and
sleep on the school grounds.
Counting teachers and students there
is upon the school grounds n popula-
tion of loo persons. The industrial
training is given in twcntysiX differ
ent divisions in connection with the
academic and religious training. Three
hundred and siNty-n!nc students have
received diplomas and certificates in
the academic Industrial and Bible
schools. The graduates are seeking to
do a work similar to that of Tuskegee
in twenty-five of the states of the
Union.
The Tuskegec method is to allow
students to acquire Il knowledge of
their several trades while working on
the buildings and the farm. With their
work they pay their board and get
their education mt the same time. This
is especially hopeful to those who find
themselves unable to pay any part of
their tuition. In constructing any
building. rs in the instance of the
chapel. money given for that purpose
provides the material and enables the
students to learn plastering brick ma
Sonry, brickmaking. painting. etc, and
attend school at the same time. The
ordinary charge for board. room, tut.
tion and all the privileges is IS
month.