The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1913-02-08
EFFORTS
OF THE PEOPLE.
Put Miles Memorial College on
Good Footing.
AMBITION OF THE STUDENTS
Alabama Institution Receives Loyal
Support From Members of Religious
Organization Which Enables Il to
Broaden Sphere Of UssfuIness-J. w.
ovsltrea to Direct Industries.

Organization Which Enables Il tc
Broaden Sphere of UssfuIness-J. W.
ovsltrea to Direct industries.
Birmingham, Ala The establish
ment and maintenance OF Miles Me-
mortal college, a local institution of
learning under the auspices Of the
COlored Methodist Episcopal church
In this state, present the most re-
markable example OF self help among
the colored people Of the south per
haps yet on record.
The institution has been In existence
for several years, but recently 1t has
received a character Of support from
members Of the race In Alabama who
are members Of the church In this
state that has placed it in its equip
ment and in the character Of work on
a par with any other institution In the
state, with the exception of Tuskagee.
For four or five years the ministers
and laymen in the various churches
have given Of their meaCar earnings
on an average about $4,000 per year.
But With the increased needs Of the
work and the demands made upon Il
by its constantly growing influence
this amount Will hardly be adequate
for all purposes.
In keeping with a well acknowledged
conception Of the needs Of education
In the south, no colored school is con-
sidered able to fully meet the de-
mands made upon it unless 1t has a
well developed manual training or in
dustriaI department, giving training
to its young people in such callings as
they are most likely to follow in the
future. Miles Memorial college has
Just got to the place where it feels
that 1t can with wisdom and justice to
all concerned give attention TO the de-
velopment Of its industrial plant
|. The management feels that the peo-
pie have done so well in developing
this institution so far that it will be
encouraged in the effort TO provide for !
fits young people such industrial train |
ing as they undoubtedly need.
They have accordingly called in an |
experienced man to develop the indus !
trial work OF the institution. ]. W. |
Oveltrea, who has charge of the work, |
is a TuskeGee graduate. He was for !
fourteen years at the East Tennessee
Normal and Industrial institute, lOcat- |
ed at Hartman. at which place he did |
some effective work.
Two years work In Admission, Ala, |
as principal of the cOlored pubic /
schools secured for Mr.. Oveltrea the
best COMMUNICATION Of the authorities /
and all the local journals, and he is
now working uHnfuliy To build up in
this great birmingham district such an
industrial plant that viii lie able TO
train the young people 81 that they
may cope with the larger demands Of
this highly industrial section
Those who appreciate the situation
have given generously az their means
and the management If the institution
has always expressed Il grateful and
sincere acknowledgment of the sacri-
fees the more thoughtful Of the race
was making. Encouragement Of these
people by the friends of education gen
orally will have a twofold effect-that
Of helping to place within immediate
reach Of practically 1900 young peo-
pie the very kline Of education they de-
sire.
To meet this situation the trustees
decided to call in Mr.. Oveltrea, who is
regarded rs one Of the most expert
enced men available for industrial lead
ership. Developments thus far since
the beginning Of the work have proved
the wisdom Of their choice. The stu
dents do not by any means manifest
that distaste for work that is so often
held up to be the truth. The race itself
has got entirely away from that.
The girls do sewing, raffia work, bas-
kerry, housekeeping, cooking and laun- 4
dering. Some good results are also seen
In the practical and scientific farm
work attempted on the twenty acre
farm which the school owns. The a
needs Of the institution for the develop Il
ment of an industrial plant sufficient to 7
meet the demands Of the people can =
therefore be very plainly seen :
1t does appear that one good, well de-
7eloped school in this district, where
1ur people in such large numbers are !
depended upon to do practically all the
Of a character that places
Greater Birmingham in the class with
The worlds greatest industrial centers Q
will appeal especially to people who n
would want to do anything for race
If people that is making such heroic
light for development
Certainly the needs Of the work and
IIr. Oveltrea's ability to develop and
IT on a high character should
,ommend IT to every one who for the u
moment gives thought to the vast
mount Of work yet to be done for the
anger emancipation Of the masses