The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-09

school playgrounds. His work was pre- sented to the Alabama Educational as- sociation and to a full meeting of all the county superintendents of education of Alabama, and elicited the warmest praise. Interested inquiries have been received concerning the work through out all sections of the United States.
 Health
 Tt is with great pleasure that I record
 the fact of the exceptionally excellent state of health prevailing in the student body throughout the larger portion of the year Among the Seo students enrolled there has not ben a case of serious illness during the academic year-a truly remark able record. Health is a great factor in good work and we have enjoyed this benefit this year to the fullest. Among the causes conducive to this happy end may be mentioned the excellent health conditions of the location of the college, the unusually good water supply. which is vellnigh chemically pure and our sys- tenn of official supervision of the health Of the students by college surgeon thl- der this system no excuse for absence from college work is valid unless ap- proved by the college physician. More over, every case of indisposition is exam ined immediately and unfavorable tenden- cies checked in the very inception of the disease.
 l beg leave in this connection to call attention to the long and honorable ser vice of Dr. J. H. Drake. the faithful of ncer Of the college who has served in the capacity of surgeon for 43 years. Every morning at 7:45 reports of sickness are filed, and conference held between the surgeon and the president concerning the health of students. For l2 years of my the surgeon has never been absent from a sin gle call
 Improvements in Courses
 "For the academic year 1914-l5 the Ala bama Polytechnic institute will require for unconditional admission to the fresh man class IA units of high school work. At all times every effort has been made to correlate the institution with the pre- ps ratory schools of the state. But with the fullest regard for the arbitrary stand ard for admission set up by the colleges the country, the policy of this institution has always been to do the most good to the greatest number, feeling that it's first duty is to recognize the con ditions of the educational system of the state and not a theory; and., first of all, 10 serve all the youth of the land both he rural youth, who has had only meager nigh school facilities, as well as the urban youth. who have enjoyed facilities some- what better. With the gradual develop nent of the state county high school sys- en- II IS now felt that the institution nay without violation of it's duty to the tate, move it's requirements for admis-
 ion to still higher point. It is sin erely hoped that the action will not seri- 'usly impair the fullest efficiency of the nsutution Studies a once more diff 'Llt and more technical are now offered n the sophomore year. and where for norly the separation of the course oc- Lrred in the junior class. now the separa- ion is made in the beginning of the sophomore class However, it is not al- l ways an easy matter for immature youth | make a wise choice of life vocation at his stage of his education.
 "A new course In wireless telegraphy | las been added in electrical engineering
 Physical Improvements
 During the year substantial improve nents have been made in the physical | of the institution l. In the de- | 'artment of animal industry. 9 In the. de- | 'artment of pharmacy extended improve nents have been made in the labratory md storerooms, and the third story of the | building made available for the use of | he department, thus placing at it's dis l 'osal the entire three story structure B. | The wireless telegraph apparatus present. d to the institution by it's distinguished | tithiiuS, MT Mlier heeCe ftutcn1nSOn Of | New York city, has been duly installed at | considerable cost and has been put into | lctve use.
 Ut is with high appreciation that I an- l lounce to the board of trustees that his | sxcellency, the governor of the state has been both able and willing to release for the use of the college S30.0O0 of the funds provsonally appropriated by the last leg siature of Alabama. The total amount | 2 -nnr0nri1 1,xr hot nan md this was for imperative needs that confronted the institution four years ago. l The lack of the funds has been keenly | cit in the actual demand of the institu- l ion for it's proper work I am glad to | tate that the rapid and satisfactory pro- | ress has been made in the application of | he funds thus released for the purpose as ordered by the board of trustees at its | meeting on June ?. 1913,
 '1. Work is rapidly progressing on a | lew boiler house which will be adequate or the protection of the valuable ma hinery therein installed
 ''2 Owing to the phenomenal deficiency n water fall throughout this section of | he south since last September. the fall 'elng only one-half of the normal precip- tation (25 inches S against over 50 inches 'f tfN previous year), it became urgently necessary to extend materially the capac- ty Of our reservoir This work has pro- sressed rapidly under the direction of | Prof. G. N. Mitcham. and when completed promises to meet adequately all the de- rands of the situation.
 B. Since the completion of the agricul- | lral building (as has been hitherto fre- | luently noted in my reports) all of the departments located in the building have | 'een entirely unable to prosecute the lines | if educational and of research work that l equired gas supply for the purpose of | leat. This handicap has now been re- | moved by the installing of complete gas | machine equipment with the. required pip | ng and gas fixtures.
 "A. Adequate seats for the auditorium ave been purchased, and as soon as pos ible will be set up, thus displacing the | rsightly benches which have been hither- o used. No high school auditorium in he state had such primitive equipment s the auditorium of this great institution.
 ''5. A gas engine, lathe and other ma hinery have been added the department f machinery.
 and :. Plans have formulated for an nfirmary and an official residence. &C., ording to the resolutions of the board t it's last meeting.
 'tate Funds for Experiment Station
 "The legislature of Alabama in 1907 ap- ropriated annually to the Alabama ex- eriment station the sum of $27,500. As