The Indianapolis journal., 1902-05-18
FOR TUSKEGEE'S ENDOWMENT.
The Institution should BE Put on Firm
Financial Basis.


Booker T. Washington. in The Outlook
When the Tuskegee Normal and Indus
trial Institute was started at Tuskegee.
Ala, in 1881, ii was considered by many TO
be an experiment: but the institution has
not only existed now nearly twenty-one
years, but has constantly grown in size
and in the confidence and sympathy OF the
white people Of the country, North and
South, and of the colored people them
selves. Although il started with but thirty
students, the present number in attendance
in the regular departments is 1,lS6 coming
from twenty-eight States and Territories.
also from Africa, Cuba, Porto Rico and
other foreign countries. Besides, counting
those who are in regular attendance at the
institution, together with those in the train
ing school, town night school and the town
afternoon cooking school. there is total
Of 1.5l4 students reached by our teachers.
This number does not include the hundreds
of adults who are reached through the an
nual Tuskegee Negro Conference, together
with its numerous local negro conferences.
Agriculture is made the chief industry.
and all the industries are those which the
students can find immediate use for in the
South after leaving school
In all OF the departments there are ninety
instructors and officers, not counting
clerks, etc.
Instruction is given in twenty-eight diff
ferent industries in connection with a good
English education.
The institution is nonsectarian. but moral
and religious training is constantly en-
phasized
The number OF students that have gradu-
ated or remained in the institution long
enough TO fit them for effective service
either as teachers or industrial leaders and
workers is nearly four thousand.
The most embarrassing part OF the work
at present is that the demand for our grad-
uates from among both races in the South
is many times larger than we can supply
Three have been recently employed ty the
German government 10 introduce tho rais-
ing Of cotton in German colony I'm Africa.
Beginning with nothing in the way OF
property, at the present time the propSrty
of the institution consists Of 2.3O0 acres or
land; counting the smaller building as well
as the larger ones. there are ffty-three
buildings, built almost wholly by student
labor The real and personal property OF
the institution is valued at $375.000.
AS q beginning OF an endowment fund.
we have now $4,000 which is invested in
conservative and marketable securities by
our endowment fund committee in New
York.
Aside from the cost of needed additions
annually made 10 improve the plant the
annual current expenses in connection with
carrying on this many-sided work are now
nearly $4,000 OF this amount 81, 600 IS
reasonably sure TO come each year from
stated sources, leaving $4,000 70 be raised
in small sums by individual effort for cur
rent expenses alone.
Owing to the economy and business meth
DDS constantly practiced. the school is prac-
tically free from debt. but 10000 will have
to be secured between now and June j 10
cover current and special expenses for the
present year 70 enable US 10 end it free
from debt
1 have made this plain business statement
In order that the public may know what
our condition and needs are.
May we not safely say that the Tuskegee
institute has passed the experimental
was put upon something like permanent
basis2
BY far too large proportion OF our an
nual expense is uncertain and dependent
upon the efforts OF one individual. We need
an endowment that is much larger than
that which we now have 10 meet our pres
ent demands, 10 say nothing Of the future
growth OF the institution.
Nearly all persons give the Tuskegee In
stitute, In connection with the Hampton In
stitute, which has led the way. credit In a
large degree for finding and leading the way
in the solution OF the race problem IN the
South. and for presenting a tangible, visible
object lesson 10 the country OF the kind OF
training that Is most needed by the colOrcd
people in their present condition. Since all
this is true, does not the country owe II 20
the institution 10 put II upon a firm basis
in keeping with its character and useful
ness?. Has not the time come when the
Tuskegee Institute should be relieved In
some degree from the present hard. grind
ing hand-to-mouth existence. so that the
principal can give mere OF his thought 10
the larger question OF the elevation OF his
people throughout the South and toward
the expansion OF the Hampton and Tus-
kegee idea IN the solution OF the race prob
lem2 We confidently believe that the Tus-
kegee Institute Is doing a work not alone
~ -.
whole Nation we'll
Funds FOR the endowment fund or for
other purposes may be sent 10 Mr. William
II. Baldwin. jr.. rs Broadway. New York:
Mr.. ]. G. Phelps Stokes. A. Cedar street.
New York. or Mr.. George Foster Peabody,
q Pine street. New York. or direct 20 the
treasurer of the institute. Mr.. Warren
Logan. or TO myself. ] shall be very glad
TO hear from any one on the subject.
Good Example Near at Hand.