The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-01
Passes Through City En- Route
to Montgomery
NEEDS OF UNIVERSITY
Four Years Wanted, So Boys May
he ms Well Trained as
Elsewhere

For the purpose of securing. II posi-
PIE proper and adequate appropriation
Tor the University of Alabama at the
rahos OF the present lawmakers. Presi-
ueht John W. Abercrombie of that insti-
luton passed through Birmingham yes
terday en- route to Montgomery.
me appropriation measure which car
ries the fund for the state institutions
mas not been drafted yet. but it is ex-
pected the bill will be drawn in the COM
ing lew days, and DR.. Abercrombie is
anxious to see the University of Ala
CANA cared for in the proper way.
lie said yesterday while here that he
mad been in communication with the vari-
Gus members of the alumni and they
would probably lend their aid to the.
curing Of adequate money for the oner-
alton of the state university.
1t Is stated that the AVERAGE a,oo,,nt
Tor every college lad in America appro-
prlated is $Sl6 per student, and that Ala
oama on a basis of last years enroll
ment was under the average amount
about 40 per cent. The appropriation
which will be requested by President
Abercrombie is 'S25,oOo per year for the
tour Years, which would be II ner cent
below the amount required, taking the
present enrolment as basis of the stu
Gent body during the coming four wears.
Dr. Abercrombie said the state musf
necessarily make an adequate apnronrta-
tlor If progress was to be made in This
work in Alabama. lie has figures which
show that almost every state in the
Union Goes more for its universities than
Alabama. Where this state donates n
trlfllng sum, other states run their ex
| renditures in this work into the millions
DR.. Abercmorbie said he wanted enoueh
money to train Alabama boys as we'll as
they could be trained anywhere. and he
heVed the broad-gauged members OF the
legislature, who have the interest and
welfare of the state at heart, would as
slst MIN in the solution Of this question
When great corporation here in Bir-
mingham wants to secure the services of
well equipped head" said DR.. Aber
crombie 1T should not be necessary 10
seek men from other states Rut n ;s
well known that such in invariabIv the
RUE and Alabama trained men are be-
ing RELOCATED to the background How
ever, we cannot expect the great corpor-
atoms to employ our men unless we have
trained them right and we cannot do
this until we get the equipment neces-
sary.
I am TO ask the appropriation commit
tee to give $l25.0O0 to the University of
Alabama for the next four years. we
wish to spend $4,000 per year on main
tenance and the remainder in material
prosress-that is, providing buildings and
other necessary equipment We are IN
dire need of gymnasium. living room
for the young lady students at the col
lege and a laboratory These buildings
are pressing needs. With this approprla-
ton they could be secured and our prog
ress insured for another four years.
with this request l am placing our
appropriation II per cent under what the
average student requires In all the great
universities of America. Where the av-
erage amount remains at SS16 our stu
dent body received $50, which was 20
per cent lower than other colleges. and
even with the appropriation as l pointed
out, for the next four years we go under
the recognized average"
While in Birmingham Yesterday DR.
Abercromble conferred with some OF the
former students of the university who are
prominent in state affairs, and 1t is prob.
able that he will receive great deal OF
assistance ir Nhe work ~ securing the
needed moneS for the university.
In speaking of the progress of the uni
versity, DR.. Abercrombie said everything
was in good shape and running smoothly
He said Tuscaloosa was also booming up
and the people felt a great deal better
over the present outlook of affairs.
He will be in Montgomery several days.
perhaps. working ON the matter of appro-
priations for the maintenance of the uni
versity.