The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-08

in the opinion that the
l. most hopeful solution of the
negro problem as presented
to view in the United States, lies in
the direction Of an industrial educa-
advantage with his hands. AS hand
worker he is acceptable everywhere.
AS u brain worker he seems fore
doomed to encounter serious handi-
caps of prejudice which show no signs
Of disappearance, but, If anything. are
increasing.
Very interesting in this connection
is the nineteenth annual report just
made by Professor Booker T. Wash
ington to the trustees of the Tuskegee
Normal and Industrial Institute, the
foremost southern school for the train
ing of colored young men and women.
1t is wholesomely optimistic. IL am
of the opinion" says Professor Wash
ington, that there is more thought
full interest in the negro at the present
time than has ever existed. The mere
spasmodic and sentimental interest in
him has been, in a large degree, re-
placed by the more substantial,
thoughtful kind, based upon a COM
prehenslon Of the facts"
A considerable part Of the report is
given over to a refutation Of the
statement that industrial education is
wasted upon the negro. "The chief
value IF industrial education it says,
ot,, 10 <lo 1,ot ite 0f
industry. thrift, economy and an idea
of the dignity of labor. But in addi-
ton to this, in the present econo-
mic condition of the colored people,
it is most important that q very large
proportion of those trained in such
their time at Industrial occupations.
Let us value the work Of Tuskegee by
this test: On January 10th of this
school year, we dedicated the Slater
Armstrong Memorial Trades building.
This building is in the form Of
double Greek cross and, in it's main
demensions, is 2S3X315 feet, and is two
stories high. The plans of this build
ing were drawn by our instructor in
mechanical drawing. a colored tnan.
Eight hundred thousand bricks We're
required to construct It, and every one
Of them was manufactured by our stu
dents. while learning the trade of
brick making. All the bricks were
laid into the building by students who
We're being taught the trade of brick
masonry. The plastering, carpentry
work, painting and roofing We're
done by students while learning these
trades. The whole number of stu
dents who received training on this
building alone was about one hundred
and ninety-six. 1t is to be lighted by
electricity and all the electric fixtures
are being put in by students who are
learning electrical engineering. The
power to operate the machinery in this
and twenty-five horse power engine
and a seventy-five horsepower boiler.
All this machinery is not only operated
by students who are learning the trade
of steam engineering, but was in
stalled by students under the guidance
of their instructor"
Other examples are cited. For in
stance: Students at Tuskegee, while
studying agriculture, actually culti-
vate every day 700 acres of land, care
for 10 milch cows daily, disposing of
the various dairy products, and tend
61s head OF hogs. In Macon county.
Ala, S5 graduates Of the Tuskegee in
stitute are working steadily at trades
learned in that school, and records
kept by Professor Washington show
that at least three -fourths of all grad
yates are using wholly or partly the
industrial knowledge gained while un-
der his instruction. The subject of in
dustrial training for tine negro on any
large and systematic scale is new;
great results cannot be wrought at
once; but Professor Washington Is
confident that the future will vindicate
the soundness of his theories.
"One thing which every negro in
stitution should seek to do" the re-
port points out, "is the giving of such
training as will result In creating an
influence that will keep the masses of
the colored people In the rural dis
tricts. This should be done, both In
the interest Of the white man and In
the interest of the negro himself.
Every landowner needs every laborer
he can secure. The negro is not so
much in demand in cities as in the
country. The colored man is at his
best in the rural districts. where he
is kept away from the demoralizing in
fuepces of city life, and besides, In
most cases, the competition in the
cities Is too severe for him. The only
way to keep the colored man in the
rural districts and away from the
cities. is to give him first agri-
cultural training, to the extent that he
will not consider farming drudgery
and degradation, but will see In farm
life dignity and beauty"
Last years average attendance at
Tuskesee was 1888; 221 young women
and 1852 young men. Twenty-seven
states and several foreign countries
were represented. In addition to re-
ligious and academic training, instruc-
ton was impaired In 2S industries. as
follows; Agriculture, dairying. horti-
culture, stock-raising, blacksmithing.
brickmasonry, carpentry, carriage