The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-09-11

ignorance who claim tutorage, even to
have graduated at Booker Washing
tons school" These have prejudiced
us against an attempt to educate the
Negro
Again, we have members of the
race living among us giving good, In
telligent, unpretentious service, striy-
ing quietly for right, and working ca
pably in their line of industry
This is because we do not know,
have not actually seen what is being
done for the Negro. with Alabama as
the working center.
A week ago I left Birmingham for
noon of the same day. Arriving at the
depot at about two o'clock, was driv-
en- through the quaint little town. with
its huge shade trees and colonial
homes, to the Tuskegee Normal insti-
tute.
From the moment l entered the
grounds | saw the result of a wonder
full industry small city laid off In
streets, with parks, blooming plants
and graveled driveways. The center,
the school plant and it's workshops,
with a circular border of well-kept
homes, the homes of the teachers.
At distance beautiful view of grow
ing fields and meadows with stock
grazing leisurely along. Amazed does
not express my impression at first. and
establishment never ceased In my
rounds. All of the route from Mont
gomery along the way l had noticed
the same old plantation shanty, the
wash pot and the half red dog, could
never have imagined such a transfer
nation from existence to comfort, from
idleness to work, could have taken
place within SO few miles of one to
the other.
The story reads like a fable. In
1881, "a years ago, there was a eoliti-
cal campaign on in Macon county.
The Negro had voice in the elections.
AS a reward for political service a
promise was fulfilled to the leader of
the Negro voters-"that a good teach
er would be furnished to the Negroes
of Tuskegee." Booker T. Washington
was the fulfillment of that promise
political product that has worked
well. He had been educated at Hamp-
ton. Va, and came in response to the
demand for a teacher-thus the Ne
gro race came to be in possession Of
leader whose influence has been felt
over the world, and whose executive
ability has builded city of his own
out of the barren fields in Macon coun-
ty. Land was purchased at 81 an
acre; then that has price today. Grad
ually the school property has in
creased in acreage until it numbers
1900 acres now, with 1900 under cul-
tivation. Already there are SO hand
some buildings of brick, dormitories,
study halls, dining hall, a Carnegie
library with a circulation of 1000
books, a hospital recently built and
equipped at the cost of S55,000; an
electric plant at cost of 100000 has
just been finished. These bear the
names of the philanthropists who have
made them possible. All of the labor
has been done by the student body of
the school-even the brick are made
on the premises. This is wonderful
workshop from gateway to field. 1t
would take one a week to see the in
dustry that is under process of cre-
alton along all lines; and book to
enumerate all l thought and half that
l saw.
The entire work of shop and field is
done by the student body. thus the ex-
pense of procuring the advantages
offered by the school is very much re-
duced to the pupil.