The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-01-12
m~entanties for the promotion Of public

! mentaities for the promotion OF public
welfare.
Educational Institutions.
The legislature of 1910 established
agricultural high schools, a long felt
want; wisely provided for the consoli-
dation of rural schools, graded; created
a normal college for the training of
teachers; added to the efficiency of the
physical and educational equipments of
the University and three state colleges;
, and donate $34S, 1850 more to public
schools han had ever before been given
in Mississippi. While this involved a
large increase of taxation, it constituted
by far the greatest educational advance
we had ever made. Judicious use of
the mental and manual training, thus
provided, and it was SO used, would
constitute this expenditure a wise in
vestment of state funds, one that will
yield, possibly, a hundred fold return,
in the future development of our states
resources. About 60 per cent OF the
states revenues are applied to the edu-
cation and training of its children.
In addition to the normal courses
which have been, and should be, main
! tanned, at the University and the In
dustrial Institute and College, the peo-
pie of the state have long and earn
estlv sought a strictly normal college,
and was the last state of the Union
to be provided with this educational
necessity. Our free school system abso-
lutely depends for success upon the
efficiency of its teachers. Their eff
cheney can only be attained by special
training. The courses at the University
and at the Industrial Institute and Col
lege, along with the normal college, will
not provide sufficient opportunities for
those needing special training for teach
ing, but all three should be fully util
lied.
Board of College Trustees.
Careful and intelligent reading of the
first iennial report of the board OF
trustees of the states higher educa
tional institutions will convince almost
any fa%ir-minded man of the wisdom Of
the last legislature in creating that
board, and of the high character and
admirable qualifications of its member
ship, as well as of the excellent service
this board has rendered to those insti
buttons, and to Mississippi.
Efficient oversight of these four higher
institutions of learning necessitates con
siderable time and skilled study. The
majority of the member of the boart
are of that successful business elias!
whose personal services command from
S., 1000 Il year on up to four times tina
+ sum.
Blind and Deaf and Dumb Institutes.
!, These splendid educational institu
tions are of convenient access and shout,
be visited by every legislator. No on
acquainted with their work will fail t.
commend their admirable service. Thos4
in charge are worthy of perfect conf
: dence. Their requests are moderate AM
just and should be fully granted. Al
institution for the colored BLIND shoul'
be erected and maintained.
r State Board of Health.
The very interesting, instructive III
, valuable report of this board, with it
accompanying publications, merits you
, profound considerations. 1t shows tn
, very important character of public worl
: in which the board has been engaged
: the general health conditions of tn
state, and contains many highly i'm
portant suggestions. Protection of tn
people from the suffering and loss en-
, tailed by needless sickness aad dealt
: ought to be one of the most importan
state functions.
0 The Insane Hospitals.
The main hospital here, used for bot
white and colored patients, and the on
at Meridian, are under skilled an
highly experienced managements. Fac
3 superintendent is thoroughly familia
+ with the requirements of the positio
e and the personal needs of the inmate.
The Peritentiary.
The report of the board of trustees
brief and can be easily grasped. TIL
t membership of the board represents tn
three different sections of the state. 1
3 dealing with . large and successful farm
i ing enterprise, the board has been go,
l erned by an honest and earnest desir
to promote the states best interests
: The superintendent possesses i'll an EN-
nent degree the qualifications needed fo
= manager of large INC diversified farmin
: interest, having successfully and prof.
: ably conducted, a statutory requisite fo
appointment, his personal farming an
business affairs.
The present number of c~onvicts
1899, an increase of about 500 in fou
+ years. All but about 100 are pegroe
For the 81 months elapsing betwee
r October 1, 1909, and June so, 1911, til
period fixed by law, to be covered by til
d report, the receipts from the penite1
It tiary crops, cash paid into the treasur,
It exceeded the expenditures by 1913
K 1874.
l. By authority of the law, as governo
I borrowed the money to purchase 500
acres of land added to the Parchma
farm, nov consisting of 1879 acre
a All of this, except some needed pa
t. ture and woodland, is successfully cult
;. waited.
4 Better prices, l am sure, could be o.
tanned for the states cotton if it ws
4 offered for sale at a few of the leadin
2. cotton markets of this state and Of Men
q phis and New Orleans. This could /
done by samples, or by grading mac
l. by a sampler, whose work would be a
cepted. Before closing sales, bids frol
3 each point could be obtained. If Il
states cotton had been cold for cas-