Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-30
The Third District Agricultural School at America

trict Agricultural and Mechanical
Schools of Georgia stands the Third
District School, located at Americas.
The Third District School, now in
its fifth year. has received the enthus
lastic encomiums of practical agTi-
cultural educators from all sections OF
the country. Leaders of agricultural ell
vocational movements in various states
have visited it, thoroughly exam
ined its methods, studied the plant
that has been gathered together in SD
short a time, had practical demon
strations of the efficiency of its work,
and given to it their hearty endorse
ment.
Locally the Third District School is
recognized as great factor in the ag-
ricultural development of Sumter and
its sister counties of the Third Con-
gressional district Every progress
sive farmer in the fifteen counties
composing the district realizes its
great value as promoter of scientifi:,
diversified agriculture. No more 10y
al supporters could be desired for any
institution than the Third Distri =
School has in the experienced planters
of the district. The fact, that from
the opening of the doors to the pres
ent time the accommodations of the
school have been strained to the ut
most to meet the demands of the sons
of the planters exemplifies beyond
question their faith in its value as a
training school for the future farmers
of Southwest Georgia, for the future
leaders of progressive agriculture in
Georgia and the South. Not a year
but finds applicants for admission
turned away. So pressing became the
need that a third building, girls
dormitory, is now nearing completion
and eventually, it is already apparent,
another large dormitory for boys must
be erected to provide rooms for those
knocking at the doors for admission
It's history for the five years of use
fulness already behind it is an ample
evidence of the great future that
awaits it.
The Third District Agricultural
and Mechanical School was located at
Americas through the enterprise and
liberality of the people of Americas
When the plans were laid for the
establishment of these district schools
it was decided to establish them at
whatever point in each district mad
the best financial offer. The compet-
tive spirit aroused in this way was
exceedingly keen. Americas bid three
hundred acres of ground lying right
adjacent to the city and ample funds
TO erect the two main buildings, This
bid was accepted and Americas be-
came the site of the school. The city
government borrowed 100000 on its
credit to carry the project through, an
Indebtedness that has since been
wiped out. The buildings, two large,
handsome brick structures SHOWN "a
the accompanying illustration were
pushed to completion as rapidly as
possible and when the school opened
its doors for students on January i,
1908, provisions had been made for
one hundred, an efficient corps of
teachers had been gathered together,
an able superintendent provided in Mr.
]. NJ. Collum, who has continued the
efficient administrator of the school,
and from that day to this the affairs
of the institution have been on high
plane, conducted without friction, with
ever-increasing efficiency and with re-
suits that have been highly satisfac-
tory to all who have watched it's de-
yelopment and studied the results
achieved.
At the beginning the school was
naturally hampered somewhat by the
initial needs requiring larger expen-
diture than the monies received from
the state. The state legislature had
set aside all fees received from the
inspection of fertilizers and oils, to be
divided equally among the eleven dis
trict schools. The first year or two
the revenues received by the school
from this source were between SO 900
and $4,000 annually. Then the in
come from the state reached larger
figure, approximately $4,000 year,
which permitted of an expansion of its
plant and work. 1t is not improbable
that in the near future the great
value of institutions of this charac-
ter will be appreciated by the ma
tional government and liberal appro-
priations be made for their support
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