The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-27
BEGIN WORK FOR
MUSEUM FIRST
University Alumni Are Plan
ming Big Things
DR.. SMITH AT THE CAPITOL
Committee viii First Work for Build
ing In Which to store Valuable
Botanical and Mineral
Collections.
DR.. SMITH AT THE CAPITOL

Montgomery July 2s-(Special. DIR.
Eugene A. Smith of Tuscaloosa, state
geologist, was in the city yesterday TO
confer with DIR. Thomas NJ. owen, diree-
tor of the department of archives and his
tory, with regard TO the movement for a
greater university They are members
of the greater university committee made
up of trustees and alumni of the old in
stitution at Tuscaloosa and activities are
to be the word from now on
DR. Smith has been for many years col
Letting a geological display which is re-
garded as one of the best and certainly
the most comprehensive of any now
owned by any southern state. He knows
the mineral and botanical formations of
the state like a good farmer knows the
soils of his plantation.
The plan for better things at the uni
Verslty looks first of all to the erection
of a museum for the care of the materials
already collected. They are now stored in
one of the buildings at the university
without any fire protection and liable
to destruction by fire at any time. Friends
of the movement have trouble in sleeping
well at night when they think how easy
1t would be for the whole service of years
to go up in smoke. This has determined
the workers for the new movement to try
for the museum the first thing 1t will
house not only the minerals and timbers
owned in great profuson but the bo-
tanical treasures as we'll
Birmingham District.
1t is believed that the Birmingham dis
trict will give what is needed to supply
this museum. as above all other parts
OF the state it is benefited by resources
along this line. At this time DR.. w. F.
Prouty assistant to DR.. Smith In the geo
logical survey Is with the United States
surveyors in the Birmingham district, and
result of the Investigations there will
be large map of the territory showing
the contour of the lands, the locations of
the different minerals and the information
needed to intelligently work what nature
has deposited In the section The purpose
of Dr. Smith In assigning DR.. Prouty to
that duty is to fully inform him on the
resources of the mineral section. so that
in all works on the subject the writer's of
books will have everything that human
ingenuity scientifically directed can fur
nish.
University Lands.
The lands of the university are just now
attracting attention, and Or. Smith Is
looking into their interests as much as he
can. 1t is estimated that of the 10000
acres owned more than 10000 acres have
valuable seams of fine coal. The trustees
have the right to sell any or all of these
lands when they see fit. and it may be
that in a few months much of 1t will be
sold, especially as more than 500 an acre
can be secured for a part of 1t. There
Is also a great deal of timber that will
likely be sold as soon as possible be-
cause of the stealage which the trustees
cannot prevent. The losses this way have
reached thousands of dollars Squatters
have also taken a great deal of the lands
of the university by getting on 1t and
staying by hook or crook long enough to
secure a claim and then being protected
in such nefarious practices by the laws
of the state, which allow adverse posses
sion to run against school lands.
Mr.. Ferguson Busy.
Hill Ferguson, president of the Univer-
sity Alumni association, is beginning the
distribution of literature on the Greater
office in Birmingham reach every man
of the student body of the years past and
interest him In the work. A museum
building worth at least 100000 is desired,
followed later by a library to cost as
much. Then will be enterprised other
structures and departments in the COM
ing of the years that will make the uni
verslty in deed and in truth the educa-
tional father and mother of the people,
the and laador Of bo
educational forces of the state To do this
the alumni will have to lend helping
hand. This they have promised to do. Ev-
cry man who talks about the revival of
interest says that SO far as he knows
the members of the student forces of
the past for many years are getting into
the contest and are going to make the
movement the success 1t should be.
University Needs.
Discussing the needs of the institution
DR.. Smith notes that 1t is efficiency In
equipment and instruction that attracts
students that is to be had and as a rule
they are willing TO pay for 1t. To meet
this demand 1t is necessary for the uni
verslty to fit itself in line with the re-
quirements of the times Statistics show
that where an institution is well sup
ported 1t is well attended. About so many
students will be present for each $1,000. II
is that way the world over. Therefore.
the time is here when Alabama, grow
ing so rapidly in every line OF progress
should move up to the mark in the In
struction procession and give It's sons and
its daughters chance to be educated at
home In the very best way and under the
very best conditions. The duty is so plain
that not a friend of the university de-
MES 1t; in fact every one Of them de-
clares that 1t is meat and proper that they
sho1lld nget husYn In RESPONSE to the