The state herald., 1909-05-14

half the population OF the town are negroes. and
in the country round about they outnumber the
whites three to one. For nearly 30 years the
colored people In Austin have struggled to es-
tablish this school II is not named after the
famous Sam Houston. that historic figure of the
great southwest but after Samuel Huston,
farmer Of Marengo. Ia. who long ago gave $4,000
toward the establishment of this college Six
acres OF land were purchased. the stone basement
OF one building constructed. Then. as usu-
ally happens In such cases. the money gave out.
This basement stood unfinished In the beating
rain and hot sunshine for l6 years. while the
coored people struggled to get more money to-
gether. The little group that had the school
project close TO their hearts begged day In and
day out. and gathered In not dollars, or even
dimes. but nickes and pennies from washerwom-
en-, day laborers and farmers. There is hardly
a negro in Austin and the vicinity who has not
helped to build this college. In this way $4,000
was collected with infinite toll. and In 1898 the
building that had been begun so many years ago
that II was scornful joke among the whites
was nclosed
And so the struggle went on. year after year
Lovinggood taught by day and whenever he had
a moment TO spare during his waking hours used
II In soliciting aid for his college. The white peo
pie took n greater and greater interest In the
enterprise when they saw what he was accom-.
plishing. One exconfederate soldier gave $3.50
He said that anything that promoted peace and
good VIII between the races was n blessing that
ought to be encouraged and expanded. One
building after another went up as soon ms the
first one had been finished Teacher after teach.
er was engaged until there are II. More
than go OF the pupils have graduated In various
professions and are hard at work In the world
outside.
Nearly $4,000 In all has been rnlsed and spent
In new buildings and improvements during the
last ten years. There In the main build
Ing; Burrowes hall. which was finished and
furnished at cost OF $4,000: n temporary
boys hall was put up for $500 the laundry build.
Ing cost $1,000; dormtory was arranged for
sl.ObO: fne sewer system was Installed ut n
cost OF $1,000; nne brick boys building has
lust been completed. II IN lighted by electricity
ana heated with hot nir. II cost $4,000. There
nro printing outfit scientific apparatus n
library OF 5000 volumes. Ave pianos and an or.
gan. n cooking range. i75 iron beds. eight acres
OF land for vegetable garden and dairy Tho
college is absolutely out OF debt. pecunnriiy aft.
er all this has been accomplished In n material
way.
The college now teaches the English Branches.
II furnishes Its students with n college prepara.
tory and n teachers normal course Printing and
agriculture also are taught. on the domestic
hido instruction In given In plain sowing mill.
merry professional drosnmaking. cooking and
housekeeping. Religious instruction In one Of
the features that runs through all the courses
The college Ia i've blocks from the state CAPT.
tol. when the school was opened" says Presi.
dent Loyinggood. some OF the neighboring white
people were much ericyed saying that the value
OF their property would bo destroyed. Certain
ones passing said ury words cut down the shrub.
berry. broke out the pnnes and threw ink bottles
at tho building. When ! went out ON my various