Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-12-31
LETTER FROM BIG BUD
VISITS THE |. |. & e. AND WRITES
AFAVORABLE REPORT
Also Visits the Delta and Reports a
Prosperous COndition-PrOmises
q Letter During the Session
cf the Legislature.
Macon, Miss. Dec. "a, 1909.

Editor of the Beacon:
Not long since / was appointed
one of the Board of appraisers to
appraise the property of the l. |.
and c.. at Columbus. The board
was the same board that did this
work two years ago, composed OF
Frank Burkett, Senator Bush and
myself. The board of Trustees
asked us to do this work this year
because they wanted us to see
how we'll the money we had ap-
proriated was expended under the
management of President Whit
field. We found all of the build
ings in first class repair, sanitary
and up to date, except one old
buildi lg that ought to be con-
demned. The ground has been
well drained, and greatly improv-
ed, and any Mississippian ought
to be proud of this institution.
To show that everything was In a
sanitary condition and the health
of the girls we'll looked after by
president Whitfield, and the san
itary officers, out of seven hun
dred girls only one was reported
on the sick list, and as Burkett
said, this was remarkable, when
we took in consideration, the fact
that examinations were on, and
this would tend to make. some
girls a little sick. All of the
girls look exceedingly we'll, heal
thy and pretty-tO me, and l do
not believe the College was ever
in better condition. Mr.. Whit
field said that there had been a
little complaint about the fare,
and he told the girls, ''NOw you
can fool the people of Columbus,
but you cannot fool me, and L
know the most of you are poor,
and you have as good fare here,
as yOu do at home. OF course,
cooking the bulk that we do, we
cannot make it taste exactly like
home cooking, but the most of you
are getting as good, if not better
than you do at home. But this
is your table, you are paying eX-
penses and if you will write home,
and your parents prefer paying
81. 90 or $500 a month more, we
will give YOU better fare, and will
be glad to do it," but he said up
to date, he had not gotten a single
letter from any of the parents ask
ing that the cost be increased.
And when we take in cOnsidera-
tion that $91OO paid the board,
lights, fuel, and washing for the
whole term, do not see how they
could get better for the price.
He has established slaughter
pen of his own, and the grand ju-
ry, of Lowndes county in their re-
port said that they wished all the
slaughter pens in the county, were
in as sanitary condition as this,
and cOmplimented Mr.. Whitfield.
So parents can be we'll cOntented
about the physical condition and
health of the girls at this school.
Mr.. Whitfield superintended per
sonally the expenditure of the ap-
preparation, repairing the domito-
ry, and other building, and in
building the library, and physical
culture building, and do not be-
lieve any one could have gotten
better results. We were eSpeci-
ally pleased to find that this
school, contrary to public opinion,
had no preparatory department.,
they have a collegiate department.,
and no girl can enter this without
she can pass an examination suf-
fcient to put her in the freshman
class.
Then they have most excel
lent organized normal department,
ment, presided over by Miss
A. L. FAINT, with regular four
years course. Burkett was ex-
ceedingly we'll pleased with this
department., and when he found
three hundred girls were taking
advantage of this training, eX
pecting to make teachers of them
selves, he said, sSThat is what |
have cOntended for all the time
that this institution, A. and NJ.
and the University, could furnish
teachers for the state without a
State Normal" We had Miss
FAINT to come before us and we
gave her rigid examination, as
to the course, and the method of
this department, and her answers
showed that she was well posted
in every detail pertaining to her