The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-13

| SouiSC olid wv oilIdl agricultural ana
industrial courses. With a view to
training the colcred population for the
work which, they must needs do the
literary department has been subordi-
mated to the industrial and agricuitu-
raj. / believe under the wise manage
ment of the present board of directors
this institution will soon become OF
great service to the state. Inc needs
of the institution will fully appear in
the report named.
THE OXFORD ORPHAN ASYLUM.
This institution. managed under the
joint control CT the state and the
Grand Lodge OF North Carolina. A. F..
and A. NJ, is maintaining it's reputa-
ton for excellent work. 1t is doing a
great service to the orphans of the
state. l commend it and its wants to
your favorable consideration.
THE OXFORD ORPHAN ASYLUM
FOR THE COLORED.
The reports from this institution
show increasing usefulness. Its needs
are set out in the accompanying docu-
nnnts and deserve consideration /:
your hands.
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND INSTI-
TUITION.
This institution for he past two
years has done most excellent work
The attendance has increased from
two hundred and siXty-siX on December
/. 1900, to three hundred n thirty-one
On December l, 1902. The attendance
at present is the best ever registered in
the school, but there still remain out
Of the school many blind children who
ought to be brought into it. The
board Of directors have very wisely de-
termined that during vacation their su-
perintendent shall visit the homes
where blind children are to be found
and seek TO influence the parents or
guardians to permit them to be sent to
this institution. The superintendent
engaged last summer in this work
with the result above set out. The
blind always appeal to US. There is a
deeper pathoS about his affection than
almost any other. The state owes to
the blind the duty of bringing light to
them. It is hoped that the parents of
the state will respond to the efforts
made in this direction and put all the
blind m the school. Many states COM
pei their attendance. but | believe that
the course of the board Of directors in
going to the homes and laying the ad-
Vantages of this institution before the
parents and guardians will perhaps
obViate the necessity of a law COM
polling ttendance The report Of the
board of directors and the s~uperinten-
dent and other officers of the institu-
ton accompanying this message will
give you the detailed information as to
the WORK q the past Two years anu
/ the needs for the future.
DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION
AT MORGANTON.
This institution has done in the past
two years the best work since it's or
gariZatiOn. There are now in at
tendance two hundred and thirty-seven
caaf children. Superintendent Good
win, after a careful investigation, is
of the opinion that there are four num-
dred and fifty deaf children ir the
state VIC ought to be In the school,. To
get them into the school without a
compulsory law can only be accom-
plished by awakening interest among
all our people in the education of this
class of our citizens. Every commune
ty ought to see to it as far as possible
that the leaf children shall have the
benefits of the excellent training given
at his institution. Many of the chill
dren there are being taught to speak
n to read what he says from the lips
of the person with whom they talk.
To what extent this can be carried is
not yet certain, but the problem is be-
ing worked out carefully and scientii-
cally, and so far with excellent re-
suits. The boys and girls who COM
plete the course at his institution be-
come almost without exception self
sustaining. The state engages in no
greater work than the teaching Of these
unfortunateS, and I am sure it will be
gratifying for you to know that no
where are the children better taught
Our deaf and dumb institution ranks
with the best in the world. You will
find in the report of the directors, the
superintendent and other officers of
hat institution full information as to
the work accomplished and the needs
for the future.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
The report Of the secretary of state is
a very valuable document and 1 COM
mend the recommendations contained
therein to your most careful considera-
ton. 1t appears from hat report that
grants were issued during the two
years ending December 1, 1902, to the
number of seven hundred n thirty
two, for which the state received &c.
Gil. 60 at II 1-2 cents per acre. 1t is
doubtful if the state owns any land
subject to grant and many of these
grants are taken out for the purpose
Of %clouding the title of the true owner
and in order to force q payment OF
money by him to the person taking out
the grant. Under the law as 1t now
stands the secretary of state is COM
PEELED to issue the grant even though
he is certain that the state owns no
land covered by the grant This
ought to be changed and certainly there
can be no reason offered for the sale
Of and 4 owned by the state for less
thar fifty cents IN acre. / recommend
that all vacant lands belonging to the
state be transferred to the state board
Of education to be sold for the highest
price obtainable, but in no case for less
than fifty cents an acre, the sale to be
approved by the state board Of educa-
ton before the grant is issued.
Under the law as 1t now stands the
office of enrolling clerk has been abol-
ished and the secretary Of state lis
sharged with the supervision Of the en-
rOllment Of bills. The act provides for
the employment of only n assistant,
together with such copyists as may be
needed. 1t is impossible for the work
to be done by the secretary of state
without more than one assistant. /
suggest that the Law be so
az 10 allow him to employ all needed
assistants and copyists. He will not
employ more than are necessary. The
work don by the secretary of state in