The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-05
PEABODY EDUCATION FUND
Annual Meeting or fTrustees-Report or
Dr. Cu-ry-Condition OF Negro Edu-
cation In the south.

New York. October s.-The annual
meeting OF Peabody Education Fund
was held here today. Chief Justice OF
the Supreme Court Melville w Fuller
was elected first vice chairman and
he presided. Bishop whipple was elect
ed second vice president.
DR.. Curry. general agent OF the fund.
read his report FOR the year. II treated
of the educational development OF the
country and took up relevant topics,
such as the southern conference in
Alabama 10 discuss the race problem.
The report OF DR.. Curry WAS made
up from reports OF superinten9ents and
commissioners in different states H. the
south regarding institute work. In
Arkansas the conditions are improved.
In louisiana there would be no normal
and industrial school for negroes. but
for the Peabody fund. In Mississippi
there was not as much being done as
could be desired. but the fund had bee1
OF great benefit. In North Carolina
education was considered a secondary
matter 10 party success. South Caro-
lima conditions are more favorable. but
in Georgia the outlook is gloomy. The
jails are filled with negroes born since
the war and many OF the race show
symptoms OF insanity or are afflicted
with diseases unknown before the war.
And yet the commissioner says more
money has been furnished by the Pea
body fund for negro education than
has been invested for the higher edu-
cation OF the whites. The report from
Texas is favorable. The negro there
is not only being benefited education
ally. but agriculturally. Alabama re-
ports that the state is under lasting OBJ
legations TO the Peabody fund for aid
There has not been a year since free
dom came TO the negro that has wit
messed such widespread discussion OF
all phases Of his condition as the present
one. The commissioner believes il will
be most helpful for the negro.
Virginia reports favorably on the
good work of the Hampton Normal
and Agricultural school OF Virginia
One of the chief objects OF the school
Is TO create in the students an enthu-
siasm for country life. The commission
regards ii as the only system OF edu-
cation which offers a hopeful solution
of the much veXed negro problem
Virginia statistics show an enrolIraenI
of 241,6 whites and III, ,129 negroes.
DR.. Curry reports that the distribu-
ton of the income Of the Peabody fund
since October l, 1S99 was as follows:
Alabama $3.50, Arkansas 81 so. Flori-
da $1,000, Georgia $500, louisiana 81
200. Mississippi $500. North Carolina
5000, South Carolina $500, Tennessee
$1,000, Texas $3.50. Virginia $500. West
Virginia S1,650 Peabody Normal Col
lege s13,100 Scholarships s25, 1861; to-
tai sS4,055.61.
AT the afternoon session, the treasur-
er. j. Pierpont Morgan, offered his re-
port, which was referred TO the audit
ing committee. The income of the fund
since October ], 1899 in accordance
with the conditions under which the
"a H.
among educational institutions in the
southern and southwestern states. The
policy of the trustees has been Of late
| TO devote their aid almost exclusively
| TO colleges, normal schools and insti-
tutions of more advanced learning, IN
stead Of. as was the case in former
years, to the common school. A fsw
| exceptions are as yet made. mostly N
| the case of cOlored schools instead Of
| outside support