The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-15

be among the most valuable of all our l institutions. No money spent by the State could have such lar ge returns That
 eS aps or wSo5 tSsT R to h lished Is well known to you. If general be ard is determined upon for the purpose | Of providing the curriculum, it should be composed of the professor of agriculture of the Polytechnic, the Superintendent of | Education and the Commissioner of Agri- culture. all to serve without pay.
 Again, 2 farmers boy and girl cannot l always take a nine or ten year course for which some of these schools, at least provide. They should all have a healthy four year course, the compleuon of which would carry the youth, beginning at a reasonable age of maturity. from the which would fit him or her for the most usual demands of life. A nine year course for an agricultural school does not mt the exigency of agricultural needs. more fortunately situated children from larger and more complete one.
 The Girls Industrial.
 This is our youngest school and is en- titled to the greater care of the State. In so far as attendance goes, 1t Is 8 success It is. too. wisely officered Un- fortunately 1t got In debt nearly two years ago and ls not out yet You will probably recall that two years ago the Board of Trustees came before your committees and begged for SlOO,OOO to put up the buildings. You gave them y6O, QUO The pans had been previously protected and the result Is that you will be called upon to provide for that debt. It will amount 10 the difference betwen the S65,- OoO appropriated and the $lOO.00O then ask has some handsome buildings to show for the expenditures. This money could he easily paid by selling some of the schools lands The trustees have parted with fRVu small uyha tta deeds have been made will probably have in the State treasury from lands already sold about $z00O0. The lands sod are separated into small parcels and brought from xlO to go an acre, none less than $l0 The Board has been disposed to sell other small parcels l recommend that you make the school an appropriation Of $z5,00J to pay this debt and authorize me to draw of the school land funds an ad- ditional amount to sett.e all claims against 1t, and. in addition. l recommend an increased annual appropriation. 1t will not again get in debt. It is doing 1t wise to properly care for it. The school lands can be sold any day for an amount greater than $175,0O0
 The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Schools.
 These schools are doing a great wo. h. They have first call on us You will ditor's report, that they are owing more and more expensive. The addition to their cost grows largely out of an in creased attendance.
 The University.
 The University is independent of any legislation you can enact for 1t. Under the new Constitution, 1t draws out of the State $J6,OO0 a year and has a large additional income from the lease oI lis coal lands. Only recently the board leased l,1Q0 acres of its lands at a mlni- mum royalty of 4.0OO a year and 1t is calculated that these acres will furnish. in the course of twenty years SlOOUUO 10 the fund. Other leases have recently been made and 1t Is In receipt of a sui hcient Income to make 1t a great school. If 1t should fail to become an honor to the State. the failure will grow out of the unwisdom of It's Board of Trustees, ap- bearing In the selection of an ineficlent head and faculty. At present the at- tendance Is small, but growing, and the patrons, astfar as can be learned are greatly pleased Let us hope that 1t has begun a career of usefulness and glory which will rank with the first institu- tons in the whole country.
 The Polytechnic.
 This school has the largest enrolment of It's existencei there being there now over 400 students. Its great growth Is a tribute to the learned and enthusiastic faculty. Part of the large income which is necessary to care for 1t arises from the wise provision of law which gives 1t ope-sixth of gross receipts arising from the sale of fertilizer tags. A reduction of the tag tax will lay hand on the