The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-03
BLACKSTONE PLANS
BIG IMPROVEMENTS
FEMALE INSTITUTES GROWTH
MAKES MORE FACILITIES NEcEs-
sARY AT EARLY DATE.
JUNIOR COLLEGE COURSE
WORK OF FIRST TWO COLLEGE
YEARS TO BE GIvEN--GREAT
GROWTH OF SCHOOL UNDER
DIR. CANNON.
JUNIOR COLLEGE COURSE

The addition of a two years' COL
lege course, the erection of an add
tionai plant at a cost of S50,000.o00, a
greatly streng thened teaching force
and enlarged student body are among
the plans that have been made for
the future of the Blackstone Female
Institute, blackstone, Va, ana will be
put into tangible shape at u very
early date.
Announcement OF these plans was
made in the last issue of the Christian
Advocate, of which DIR. James Cam
non. Jr., the principal Of the Institute,
is editor. In outlining the plans for
the future DR. Cannon writes as fol-
lows.
THE twenty-frst year finds the In
stitute in fine condition, with much
the larger enrolment in its history.
The principal reluctantly realizes that
the time has come to build the Wes-
Dormitory, and press for the compile
ton of the general building plan OUT
Incl in 1905. This will require an ex-
penditure of over $4,000, and the
principal Is reluctant to enter upon
the effort to raise mor,<y for any pur-
pose for some time. But what ought
TO be done is always the question to
be settled first, and all personal pre-
ferenccs must be shaper by that.
1T Is possible that the Institute
may be made Junior College in the
fall of 1915. 1t has been realized for
many years that there should be some
adjustment OF curriculum which
would meet the needs Of students who
do not desire a full college course, or
who could not meet the expense OF
the same.
1T Is believed thae the work of the
first two college years. that is the
freshmen and sophomore, can be
given at Blackstone by competent
teachers at a moderate additional cost
of about $50 per session, which pays
the full charge for the session for
board, room steam heat, lights, laun-
dry, medical attention. and tuition in
all subjects except music art and elo-
cution. 5000 per session, 1t Is thought,
will meet all the expenses OF students
provide a faculty of instruction Tor
these two years fully equal to the de-
mands made upon 1t.
Many of the students OF the In
stitute have desired to pursue their
studies one of two years longer, but
were not able to meet the heavy ex.
pense which is at present enta1led by
full college course"
DR.. Cannon has only recently re-
W tbc AAStkkGtS GS piANsP1A "a
ter an absence of four years.. during
which time Rev. 7. r. Reeves was
principal of the school. The plan for
the erection of a complete new wing
to the building in which Will be a
large number of facilities not now
possible in the buildings of the school.
was drawn in 1905. 1t will comprise
the third addition that has been
necessary to the buildings since its
first building. twenty years ago
Eeach addition has practically
doubled the capacity or the school.
and It's patronage has reached the
number of $50 students. Its rates
have been the matter of most remark
in the material history OF the school,
$3.50 having paid all charges for
board and tuition, ever since Its
foun ling.
DIR. Cannon was the first principal
and has built practically every build
ing on the property. From nothing
to approximately $250.000. 1t is now
recognized throughout the South as
one OF the greatest schools for girls In
the country.
The announcement that there will
be an additional two years OF work
in the curriculum has been long ex-
pected 1t will doubtless mean
the addition of several college
teachers, in order that the two years
Of college work may be adequately
handled. The school has never posed
as a college but merely a preparatory
school, its certificates having been &C
cepted for college entrance for many
years and emitting the holder to first
grade teachers certificates from the
State The alumni of the school num-
Der many thousands Of Virginia and
southern girls.
1t ia announced that the school at
ter the addition OF the junior college
department will do only Junior col
lege work. making an attempt to give
a complete college course.