The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
A NORTHERN ~TUsKEGEE.
New Jersey to Have an Industrial
school for Negroes.
Philadelphia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
New Jersey is to be the first State above
Mason and Dixon's line TO apply, under
state patronage, the plan of the Tuskegee
Institute for the benefit Of its colOred
population. The States proposition is now
agttatiug a large percentage Of the 10000
negroes that are by the last count OF
Uncle Sam accredited 10 New Jersey. The
negroes Of central New Jersey are on edge
about the locality. preferrins the present
Old IrOnsides farm at BOrdentOwn. which
IS now occupied by the COlored Industrial
School and utilized under distressing IN
convenience. The negro leaders OF the
State have shown rather unique sentlmen-
tally for this place, because IL was the
home OF Commodore Stewart cold Iron
sides'D. who died there, and later the home
OF his daughter. Mrs. Parnell. the mother
OF Charles Stewart Parnell, the great irish
leader. The State Board OF Education is
undecided as 20 its locality.
There have been experiments for the bet
terment OF the negro IN New Jersey, and
the States scheme was particularly
brought 10 prominence by the announce
ment that former Representative Henry {.
White, who was a negro congressman
from North Carolina, has purchased,
through the fundamentally Of Congress
man LOudenslager, Of New Jersey, d tract
Of land or nearly a thousand acres In Cape
May county for experimental farms for
the practical advancement of the southern
negro. This proposition OF congressman
Whites has a slight suggestion OF altruism.
There are 10 be coy homes that are 10 be
paid for an easy installment and indus
TIC - liz EAAEA0N AANbN w III oOAAo -
these farmers, as well as schools. ~ Is
supposed 70 be principally for the benefit
Of the negroes OF North Carolina. who are
10 develop into good citizens on New Jer-
sey soil. because New Jersey is n historic
negro promised land" The late negro
millionaire. John Mickey. of Philadelphia,
had contemplate an industrial experiment
at Mickey City, IN upper Atlantic county,
but his proposition Of colonization was not
favorable TO the negroes of Philadelphia.
There are in the United States, according
TO a recent census bulletin, in population
S.ssO.99 negroes, an Increase OF over a
million and a quarter in ten years. New
Jersey has So. S4. the increase in ten years
being 22.2O and in twenty years 3O.991. New
Jerseys negro population stands in strong
contrast with that of the great State OF
New York, because New York has 1922
negroes, principally located in one section
Of Greater New York, about one-third more
than the whole State Of New Jersey. New
Jersey has a trife less than One-half of the
large State of Pennsylvania, which has
within its confines the negro capital of the
Glib.
a State that has considerably over one
third OF its population of the descendants
OF Ham. and so forced 10 meet an i'm
portant problem in sociology and starts by
a generous appropriation of $4,000 for
buildings, with prospects of enlarging them
as necessity will demand, New Jersey has
now an industrial school for cOlCred boys
and girls which has been managed under a
civilian board OF white and black and sus-
tained by a state appropriation. 1t is now
controlled by the State Board of Educa-
ton. II is the outgrowth of the work of
the late Rev. w. A. Rice, of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. who estab-
lished a small school in Morristown, and
who BY hard and sometimes embarrassing
advocacy secured the interest of the philan-
thTOpic whites and benevolent colored peo-
pie who sustained il. The African Meth
odist Episcopal Conference took uD the
subject, and through the political activity
of the leaders of that church secured a
small annual appropriation from the State
Legislature.
so as TO get a central position, as there is
an intelligent negro colony there where the
students could be lodged in the absence Of
any fixed building. Later. when the States
upport grew 10 5000. the famous historical
Ironsides property. where the eXiled King
Joseph BOnaparte of Spain and Sicily and
Commodore Stewart had many literary con-
ferences, was established. There the negro
has been given a general as we'll as a tech
nical education. Manual training is the
supposed principal feature, but the build
ings are not only dilapidated but badly ar
ranged for both class and dormitOry pur-
poses, but the one hundred and more negro
boys and girls endure their inconvenience
In their desire 10 get a high-grade educa-
ton.
The boys do the farming. or most Of It,
and the girls do the homework. 50 that
these students need only 10 pay 81 a week
for their keep. which means that a fun
course OF four years costs an economical
student less than $500. They are sur
rounded with pleasant environments and
life is made attractive by a students band
II A-FA ~ A~aN tic N10EN NOA > liz -
regularly uniformed.
There Is a regular corps or teachers, but
the work OF some OF them is unsatisfactory
because they work under disadvantages
that almost double their work. Walter
Mitchell. an enthusiastic promote OF the
scheme. is.in charge OF the carpenter shop
OF the school and Is making some handy
colored carpenters, but he Is badly handi-
capped for room and sadly for tools. the
boys being obliged 10 wait in line for the
use of tools.
The state Board Of Education say that
they viii adopt as far as possible the
Tuskegee methods. even 10 the establish
ment OF the wage system for all the work
OF the students. with the hope that the
benevolent and religious element OF the
negro population will gradually Cudow or
assist IN securing the needed advantages OF
education. The basis OF admission is now
regulated by law. There IS, representa-
ton from each assembly district according
10 the capacity of the school. II can be
made by appointment. which Is supposed TO
be based ON educational ability.
The buildings viii be modern. the farm
implements uD 20 date, the curriculum
practical and the teachers as good as can
Be obtained. The State will each year ex-
tend its original plant. and within a few
years New Jersey viii have its Tuskegee
which institution has inspired international
admiration.