The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-03-10
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Of the Southwestern Louisiana In.
duStrial School Meets in Lafa-
yette and Transacts Impor-
tant Business.
President Stephens Makes q Re.
port and Offers a Number of
Recommend Which
are Adopted by the
Board.

Southwestern Louisiana Industrial
School met here last Tuesday even
ing at the Century Club. The fol-
lowing members were present: Gov.
Foster, Prof. ]. V. Calhoun, Senator
Robert Martin, Senator Albert Es-
topinal, Prof. Brown Ayres, Mayor
]. G. Lee, Capt. J. G. Buchanan.
The members absent were: Hon.
Thos. H. Lewis, DR.. James A. Lee.
Mr.. Amos l.. Ponder.
The principal object of the meet
ing was to hear Prof. Stephens re-
port. The professor reported that
he had made tour of inspection of
a number Of colleges in the North
and East and gave full. account of
the work in these institutions.
Among the schools that he visited
he mentioned the Alabama Poly
technic, the Tuskegee Industrial
School, the Greensboro Normal,
the North Carolina Industrial Col
lege, the Derexel Institute in Phila-
delphia, Girard College, the Phila-
delphia Textile School, the Pratt
Institute in Brooklyn and number
of other educational institutions in
New York. Chicago and St. Louis.
He also visited the Ruston industrial
School, the Shreveport High School
and other schools in this State.
Prof: Stephens made a number of
recommendatlons,b based upon this
report, as to the course of study and
proper buildings.
Prof. Stephens outlined general
plan of the work of the school at
this place. He recommended
thorough academic course of in
struction Of grade next below that
of first class college, together with
departments of manual training in
wood and iron for boys, domestic
science and economy for girls, in
Guiding such work as sewing, cook
merc1al course. No child under "a
years of age will be eligible to enter
the school.
After adopting President Ste
phens' recommen sketches
of the main building suitable for the
| purposes of the school were &C
| cePted.
The Board considered the APP
pointment of an architect. The
firm of Favrot s. Livaudais, of New
Orleans, was engaged and instructed
to prepare the plans and, speclfca-
tons as early as possible. The de-
tails of the plans of building are en-
trusted to the committee COM
| posed of Messrs. Martin, Buchanan,
lanes A. Lee and Prof. Ayres.
| The cost of the main building is es-
timated at $4,000. This amount
is to be made up from the cash
subscription Of this parish and an
appropriation which the Legislature
is expected to make. The other
necessary buildings will be provided
for when the parish and town tax
will have been bonded. This will
be done when certain legal require
ments will have been met.
Hon. Charles D. Caffery appeared
before the Board and made a state
ment relative to the issuance of
bonds and the intentions of the
local authorities in this matter.
Mr.. Caffery had looked into the le-
gal phase of the question and gave
the Board the benefit of his investi-
cations Mr.. Caffery expressed the
opinion that it will be advisable to
secure the authorization of the peo-
pie at the approaching general cleo
> ton and of the Legislature at its
5 next session before issuing the
bonds. AS the tax is already voted
there is no doubt that the people
will be willing to authorize the issu-
. ance of bonds thus enabling the au-
thorities to capitalize the money to
be derived from the tax. The work
Of securing Legislative sanction for
the plan should be equally easy Of
accomplishment.
After the completion of the plans
and specifications by the architect
we understand that bids for the
. main building will be advertised for.
1t is hoped that suitable arrange
ments will be made in time to begin
the work of building some time in
April.
If there is nothing to hinder the
work Prof. Stephens expects to be
ready to open the school in Octo-
ber-