The Columbus journal., 1909-05-12

half the population of the town are negroes, and
in the country round about they outnumDer the
whites three to one. For nearly 90 years the
colored people in Austin have struggled to es
tablish this school. 1t 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 $9.ooO
toward the establishment of this college. Six
acres of land were purchased, the stone basement
of one building was constructed. Then, as us'l-
ally happens in such cases. the money gave out
This basement stood unfinished in the beating
rain and hot sunshine for 16 years. while the
colored 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 nickels 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 many years ago
that it was scornful joke among the. whites
inclOSed.
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
it in soliciting aid for his college. The white peo
pie took a greater and greater interest in the
enterprise when they saw. what he was accom-
plishing. One ex-confederate soldier gave $3.50
He said that anything that promoted peace and
good will between the races was blessing that
ought to be encouraged and expanded. One
building after another went up as soon as the
first one had been finished. Teacher after teach
er was engaged until now there II. More
than 80 of the pupils have graduated in various
professions and are hard at work in the world
outside.
Nearly $4,000 in all has been raised and spent
in buildings and improvements during the
last ten years. There is the main build
ing; Burrowes hall, which was finished and
furnished at a cost of $4,000; temporary
boys hall was put up for $500; the laundry build
ing cost $1,000; a dormitory was arranged for
$1,05O; a fine sewer system was installed at a
cost of $4,000: a fine brick boys building has
just been completed. 1t is lighted by electricity
and heated with hot air. 1t cost $4,000. There
are printing outfit, scientific apparatus
library of 1880 volumes. five pianos and an or
gan. cooking range 175 iron beds, eight acres
of land for a vegetable garden and dairy. The
college is absolutely out of debt pecuniarily. aft
er all this has been accomplished in a material
way.
The college now teaches the English branches
1t furnishes its students with college. prepare
tory and a teachers normal course. Printing and
agriculture also are taught. On the domestic
side instruction is given in plain sewing MILL
merry, professional dressmaking. cooking and
housekeeping Religious instruction is one of
the features that runs through all the courses.
The college is five blocks from the state CAPT
toll. when the school was opened" says Presi-
dent LovinggOod, "sOme of the neighboring white
people were much grieved, saying that the value
of their property would be destroyed. Certain
ones passing said ugly words, cut down the shrub
berry, broke out the panes and threw ink bottles
at the building. When / went out on my various