The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-31
AUBURN IS PROUD OF NEW BUILDINGS Dormitory and Library Are Nearing Completion BIDS FOR COMER HALL Will Be Opened By Board of Trustees at Meeting Next Wednesday.
 Summer School for
 Farmers.

N0SCNA~%a'f the handsome new dormitory and dining hall at Auburn practically completed and the S40,00O library almost ready for the reception of the books and the duty as- signed to it, the equipment of the Ala bama Polytechnic institute has received great and important increase. Added to this is the fact that the large agricul- tural building contract is to be let at a meeting of the trustees to be held Wednesday next in Auburn.
 The combination dining hall and dormi- tory, named for the late Dr. O. D. Smith. for many years a professor at the school, will represent an investment of s4O0O0. and mark the continuation of the ambi- tions of Dr. Smith to have the students cared for in this way, and directly under the influence of the teachers and officers It will be ample to accommodate the boys, being 120 feet lond and 40 feet wide. finished in modern pattern and thor oughly up-to-date for the uses expected of it.
 The library was made possible by the generosity of Andrew Carnegie, who gave $3O,0 900 for the building the state giving a like amount for maintenance. It is of pressed brick and stone trimmings and pronounced one of the prettiest structures in the south. The investment will meet the expenses and the school has nu- cleus of 2sOOO volumes to begin with, hav- ing been collecting them for years. Pres ident Thach, who was here Thursday, says that the whole library plant is one to be proud of, adequate fer the time at least to the needs of the institution.
 The agricultural building. for which bids are to be opened next week, has been named Conner hall, after Governor Conner. It is to combine every modern ap- plance and convenience for for the work of the great technical institute of the state. It will cost between $5O,OOO and s75,OOO, according to plans finally de- cided upon. and should be completed by the early spring. In fact, it Is hoped to begin the spring session in the struc- ture The trustees are busy thinking out the plans of equipment for the building as it is proposed to make 1t in every way as efficient as any in the south.
 Later work is to begin on the new me- chanical and engineering hall at Auburn, which will be named for the late Presi- dent Leroy Brown. & pioneer in Alabama and the south in technical training. It, can be had.
 Summer School.
 President c. C. Thachiis very much en- unused oyer the success of the summer school for farmers which is now in ses- sion at Auburn for the sixth year. At this farmers are brought from every sec ton for practical work in the science of agriculture. Through the day experi- mental research is taken up and de- veloped and at night lecturers of the best information on all agricultural pursuits are heard. There are experts from pri- vate life on cattle and poultry and other sections of animal life, as well as experi- enced men from Washington.
 These men take the cattle and the chickens and the sheep and the goats and class them. and teach the farmers how to do the same thing; also making it pos sible for men to learn most of the points that distinguish good from bad stock Soil experts tell of the values of soil selec- ton and all help in getting the best ad- vice on seed, fertilizers, planting and cul- tivation. We have no extra appropria- tion for this department.' said Dr. Thach, but have kept it up now for six years from the funds we can scrape together, and we feel that it has paid it's way in the information it has given to the men who need it."
 Prospects Very Bright.
 Dr. Thach is greatly pleased over the outlook for the coming school year. He found i'll the Birmingham district, where he has been for several days, many of the graduates of the school who are lead ing in the technical life of the state. One man who has not been, away from the institution but short time is draw ing one of the best salaries in the indus trial district. It is told of him that by his knowledge he last year saved $100, ,UUU for his employers.
 Applications for space next session are coming in rapidly, and the replies received indicate that the student body Is going