The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-25

like, as we have had so little help and so much to attend to that some duties have been more less neglected.
 During the summer we put in supply of lasts, patterns and tools for the making of shoes. Found an old second hand sew ing machine which we could afford to buy, and now the boys in the shoe shop are making some excellent shoes, which out wear the shoes we buy and do not cost as much, and teaches the boys In that department a good trade.
 We need more industries. The boys we have are of varied taste, and we can not expect to do the good which the school was designed to do without more facilities for teaching the boys useful trades with which to support them selves when the prop of the school Is taken from under them.
 We need tools for a carpenter shop, more materials for printing office and shoe shop. Some similar institutions make brooms. tinware and stockings to sell and in that way bring in some cash for use in buying necessaries
 We need good tailor shop and a good tailor to manage 1t. The boys could tHen be learning a trade that would nldne them self-supporting when ready to leave the institution and while learning the trade furnish our boys with uniform clothing
 Now we are obliged to buy our clothes ready made. We have boys who are anx- ious to learn the trade, who are already doing good work in the mending room.
 GARDEN AND FARM.
 Thanks to Senator Underwood. we have been pentifuDy supplied with garden seeds and have had q fine garden, which has supplied us with a variety of vege- tables all during the summer and with stock of turnips beets. peas and potatoes to last us long into the winter, and all this. in spite of the fact that the season was very unfavorables so that we had many disappointments during the season In regard to our produce.
 We hope to make the farm more pro- ductive another year.
 COTTON FIELDS.
 Our neighbor, MT Dumas asked us to pick his cotton again this year, so we took our boys to his field and earned $26.85, which sum we expended in buying large "Granofather's Clock for our reception hall The institution owned nothing in the shape of a time keeper so this is a very acceptable gift to the school by the boys. It is to be in- scribed Presented to the Boys Indus trial school by the boys of 1902" The clock is eight feet tall and an eight day movement. It is quite an addition to the furnishings of the school and the boys are quite proud of the fact that they earned the money with which 1t was bought.
 NUMBER OF INMATES.
 Since the first opening of the school we have enrolled ninety-two boys. The first of January, 1902. our enrolment was fifty-two Since then we have received nineteen boys We have paroled eight and five have run away and not returned. We have enrolled at present ffty-nine. During the summer our enrolment at one time reached sixty-eight and we have accommodations for only fifty.
 To those who do not understand our system, let me explain that every boy is supposed to be in school half day every school day during the year and at work at some trade or on the farm the other half day. Hah of the boys attend school during the forenoon and the others are at work The order Is reversed during the afternoon. Very creditable work has been done in school during the past year We also have a session of school every evening after supper.
 Of course 1t has been impossible to fol- low any regular order of school or work during the formation period of the in- stitution, as we have had so many una voidable interruptions. We have had to