The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-07
MAKING PROGRESS
 ON HIGH SCHOOL Architect WhiIIdin Reports to
 Board of Education NEGROES FILE A PETITION Improvements In Negro Grammar Schools Asked For-5arker Com mlttee Given Power to Select
 Site for School Building.
NEGROES FILE A PETITION


 to select the site for the new school was given full power to make selection and close the deal for the property
 Present at the meeting were Mayor Drennen president of the board. James J Smith, Eli P. Smith, B, A. Thompson and 'Dr J. H. Phillips, superintendent of the public schools anu secretary of the board
 The special committee on the two new grammar schools will frame 8 report shortly on the requirements for the new buildings and these will be submitted to the architects of Birmingham for com petition as to plans and specifications within two or three weeks time. Architect Whildin, of the firm of Breeding & Whilldin who are the arch fleets for the new Birmingham High school reported to the board that the col tractors for the new building were making progress on the work Mir Whilldin vas authorized by the board to advertise immediately. for bids for the electric wiring, steam heating fix lures and plumbing .n tho new school building.
 A committee from the Colored Citi- zens' Club appeared before the board and asked for improvements in the negro public schools of Birmingham. The committee was composed of the following:
 Dr. U. G. Mason, president w. l.. San ders, secretary; the Rev. F. G. Ragland, pr. J. C. Johnson, w. w. Hadnott, w. l.. Lauderdale, J. H. Jones, Dr. A, M. Brown, R. A. Blount, Frank McCree, the Rev. E. ". Williams, Dr. L. U Coin, A. B. Jackson, James II. Phillips, J. o. Dinay P. F. Clarke, the Rev. c, L, Fish CT, E. A. Brown.
 The petition is, in part as follows:
 CoIored Schools. "We desire to call your attention to the existing conditions in the colored schools under your charge.
 "There is a pressing demand for a school building in the east end of the city to replace the Thomas school building which was destroyed by fire nine years | ago Although the colored population since that time has greatly increased, no provision save the renting of the basement of church building has been made for the accommodation of the colored pupils in that portion of the city, The school Is now conducted, and has been for several years, under extremely poor sanitary con- 1 ditions The health officer of the city has condemned them, and the press has advised the abandonment of the school entirely rather than endanger the health of hundreds of pupils. Every year since 1 this church basement has been used the l school has been closed for weeks at a l time, because of the water which rises | in the place. rendering it totally unfit for | occupancy.
 Earnest Appeal. "We, therefore, earnestly appeal to you l to cause to be erected, as early as possi- ble ia building on the lot heretofore pur- l chased for that purpose. Our people have anxiously expected favorable action in 1 this matter for some time, and now since the conditions have become so appalling we feel that 1t Is our duty to emphasize I to you the necessity for the erection of a school building for the pupils residing in that section of the city.
 While we are before you we feel that l it is not out of place to state that the present school buildings are inadequate to accommodate the children who desire to attend and who have a right to all the 1 training that our schools afford. Many 1 who enter at the beginning of the school | year find 1t necessary to drop out early 1 in the session because of the crowded 1 and unhealthful condition of the rooms. | If any of our children are entitled to a common school education, all of them arc entitled to it. and without being com peled to pursue their studies in buildings that are overcrowded and unhealthful There appears to be no recognition of the e.. a<1f lx.ts1l tod cax eral years ago to barely meet the de- mands of the situation at that time is to- tally inadequate at this time, either in size or equipment. We do not wish to be regarded as unreasonable, but we do feel that we ought to be frank enough to say to you, gentlemen, that the buildings in which our colored schools are conducted in this city fall far short of what they should be"
 We are advised that Birmingham the proud boastfu1 metropolis of the state, Is surpassed by Mobile Montgomery Selma and Anniston in the matter of buildings and facilities furnished for the common school education of their coored children Why should this be true if it Is true? Are the colored people of Birming ham less worthy or deserving than those residing elsewhere in Alabama? Are we responsible for this shortcoming, or are you? Let us have frank understanding of the matter. We have had it whispered into our ears more than once that the Beard of Education does as much in this direction as it res; that 1t goes as far as the prejudices of the white people of the community will permit. We believe that the substantial white people of Bir- mingham are broader and more liberal to- ward the colored people who are striv- ing to lift themselves to a plane of useful ness than the white people of any of the cities just mentioned, and as deeply inter ested In the common school education of the colored children residing among them.
 We are familiar too. with the oft repeated argument that the colored peo- pie pay a very small proportion of the taxes and vet we should not forget the fi1damental truth that the consumer pays the tax. that the tenant and not the owner of real eatase pays the taxes.
 Finally, we ask that vou give careful and thoughtful consideration to this mat ter. remembering that the education of all the children of the community is ab- solutely necessary to the public welfare. to say nothing of the question of justice and fairness in the premises
 The petition was received and flied.
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