The age-herald., 1902-05-09
NED BRACE ON
 TOUR OF STATE
Describes Agricultural and Me- chanicaI College for Negroes.
TRAINING IS PRACTICAL
Institution Has Been Conducted By w. H. CounciIl for Twenty Years. Boys Work Farm In Connec-
 ton With the School.
BY NED BRACE.


 Huntsville May s.-(Special)-I spent several hours at the Agricultural and Mechanical College for negroes today | This college is the property of the State though 1t was founded and has been con- ducted for some 20 years by w. H. Coun- | cill, full bloodea negro, who is, regard l less of his color, a strong type of prac- tical intelligence and determination, and a great man. He does not pretend him self to be a scholar, though he is doing more to educate the negro race along practical mechanical and agricultural lines that perhaps any other man in the country. He Is teaching them economy and practical knowledge in the crafts and the industries. They are taught language and chemistry and belles-lettres in the school, but these are incidental to the blacksmithlng and printing and saw milling and farming and dairying and laundering and cooking. Indeed, CoTlncill believes and teaches that the place for the negro in this country is in agriculture, blacksmithing shoemaking, house servants cooks and trained nurses,
 
 his school in these lines.
 I was amazed to see what he has. The numerous buildings of the school occupy positions on a hillside some four miles from Huntsville, and some 400 feet above rhe oity. There Is nothing artistic about the buildings, but they are substantial and comfortable.
 FIf.1 T han school today was a brass band of twelve pieces, composed of students. They were black and yellow, and ranging in age from 16 to 20 years. They made good music. Later President Councill paraded his entire school of some 300 on the cam DIS each division dressed in working uniform and bearing banner indicating the industrial class to which they be- longed. For instance, among the females were classes of trained nurses, cooks, 1amdresses, sewing girls and typesetters. Among the boys were the blacksmiths, carpenters, machinists, printers, dairy men, wood workers, iron workers, cabi- net makers, shoemakers and others. 1n- deed every branch of the mechanical arts and all practical things are taught in a practical way by practical instruc- tors There is complete working plant in each division. In the printing depart ment there are three first-class presses, one large enough to print a fulEsize B. | page newspaper There are several dozen | cases of type and a full complement Of everything needed ih a job office. In the machine shop are turning lathes, planers and all manner of the best ma chinery found in a thoroughly-eQu iron working establishment. In connec- ton with all of this Is a boiler room, en- zine room, foundry and saw mill, which produces quantities of lumber daily for people In this section who bring their logs to the school to be sawed into lumber. The school is also crushing rock for building county roads. The foundry makes all manner of castings and does much work for Huntsville.
 There Is a complete woodworking plant with planers and growers and the necessary machinery for making cabinet work, polishing wood, etc.
 The shoe-making department has all manner of machinery of the most mod ern style, which was donated to the school by citizens of Philadelphia. The blacksmithing department occupies separate building, and is complete within itself With the boys 1t is perhaps the most popular branch of the school. Of course the farm horses and mules are shod here, agricultural implements are made and repaired, and all the work for the farm and all outside work is done here.
 The laundry does all the work for the school, and some twenty-five girls are worked in this department two or more days each week.
 In the sewing department are a num- Der of machines. The girls are taught dress-making and all manner of needle work. Indeed, all the clothing owned by the 100 or more girls of the school is made in this department. the girls paying only for the actual material used. And, by the way, the girls all wear uniforms made of blue gingham and trimmed with white braid, all of which Is made by the sewing class.
 uSft iS u COilpleIe iOspllStl lidii ing school, with a graduate colored fe- male doctor in charge.
 The farm, in connection with the school, comprises 1s2 acres, and Is worked by the boys. They make good crops and supply the school with all It's vegetables, besides selling a considerable product. Indeed, the work done by the students aids largely in paying the expenses of the school
 The revenue from the school comes from the state and from the govern ment. The State of Alabama, which owns the school and all of its properties appropriates $4OOO a year towards its maintenance. The national government gives S11,00O a year from the public land fund In addition to this, a number of public spirited citizens have made dona- tions The school, of course. is free, but the pupils are charged s6 a month for board. They are, however, paid for all the actual work they do and many of them perform services sufficient to offset their board.
 All told, there are some twenty-five teachers, which of course, includes the foremen or instructors in the various me- chanical and other departments These instructors receive salaries and are pro- vided with board and 1t Is remarkable