The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-29
ROOM FOR THE'CO-EDS.
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES MAY
 PURCHASE BUILDING.
Girl Students of the Tuscaloosa In stitution are Said to Be Cramp- ed in the Julia Tut
 wiler Annex.

The most important matter that will come before the Board of Trustees of the university of Alabama at its meeting in
 tuscaloosa April 15 wll be the question or preparing additional and more suitable accommodations for the growing number or young women who under the co-edu- cauonal plan are taking the University course
 The college homes of the young women nave been in the Julia Tutwiler Annex which has given them cramped accommo- dauons and which has now grown insult ficient for the demands made upon 1t. TO reform this condition and to carry out the expressed policy of the State the Trustees at their April meeting will un- doubtedly take some important action It IS predicted that the Trustees will under take to supply large and adequate build
 ing for the young women attending the University.
 Two buildings have been suggested as proper homes for the girl students, the splepdid building formerly occupied by the famous school of pr. AIonzo Hill and the old State Capitol building now occupied by the Alabama Central College a Bap- tist school for young women.
 The purchase of the old Capitol build ing is strongly urged by The Selma Times. In . recent issue The Times says: The Trustees of the University of Ala chasing the Tuscaloosa Female College and making it the Julia Tutwiler Annex to the University. Young ladies, for sey- eral years past, have been admitted as students In the University and the plan has worked we'll The Tuscaloosa Female College building was formerly the State Capitol and was given to the Baptists of the State many years ago on condition that 1t he run as female college. It has never been a success as a female college. the Judson outstripping it. and for that and other reasons. 1t has been a constant drag. The President of the col lege changed every few years in the hope that new blood, energy and capital could men who have tried to make college of 1t have come to naught.
 If the property can be purchased at a reasonable figure. 1t Is sincerely to be hoped that the old State Capitol will be bought by the Trustees of the University for the above purpose. The Baptists add ed three-story addition to the old build ing for rooms for the young ladies of the boarding department and if it is turned into an annex for the purpose of educat- ing the young women Of the State, there will be plenty of room to accommodate from seventy-f1ve to a hundred boarders. The old building is in a remarkable state of preservation and the repairs to keep 1t up will not cost much. It is almost an exact counterpart of the present State Capitol, with the exception that 1t is a two story instead of three-story build ing, The Trustees will do a good thing
 
 purchase this building ana turn 1t into
 the Julia Tutwier Annex"
 The Times editorial, however. contains
 one inaccuracy. The old State Capitol is
 not occupied by the Tuscaloosa Female College but by the Central Female Col
 lege The property is controlled by the
 Baptists of the State.
 It was said yesterday hy State officials
 that the Baptists have leased the prop erty for a period of ninety-nine years a nd VI 1a A
 nor was there any disposition to put it
 on the market. This fact alone. it is
 said, has prevented its consideration by
 the University Trustees as a home for
 the young women of the Tutwiler Annex,
 On the other hand they are offered the
 old Hill school building at 8 very mod
 crate price. This building, sometime call
 ed the Melton property, Is owned by Dr. w. F. Melton. He has, 1t is said. offered
 the building to the Trustees a less than half its original cost. notwithstanding the
 fact that it is said to be in excellent con
 dition.
 gentleman well informed in educa- tonal matters in Alabama said yester-
 day in discussing the Times editorial:
 The Times S editor evidently refers to the Alabama Central College in his open ] ing paragraph. The Central College is conducted under the auspices of the Bap-
 lists of Alabama and they have a lease on the old Capitol building for term of
 ninety mine years. The property Is not
 on the market and 1 doubt that it should | be purchased.
 II do not agree with the statement of The Times editor that the college has
 been a drag. From all 1 can learn it's
 present condition is decidedly prosperous, Under the able management of pr. B. F. Giles, President of the College, 1t has
 thrived and prospered.
 T am informed that pr. Melton has
 made a generous offer to the University Trustees for the sale of the Alonzo Hill school building 1t was. I understand, erected at an original cost of $9O.OOO but Is now offered to the Trustees at less than
 half that amount The property has been splendidly kept. It Is in excellent condi-
 tlon. It is roo.ny and adequate for all
 the demands of the Tutwiler Annex. It is. moreover, located within half mile of the University while the old Capitol building is on the other side of Tusca-
 loosa The building is within half block
 of the car line and is convenient in all it's details"