Evening star., 1915-10-25
TUSKEGEE SCHOOL /
SHOWS PROGRESS
DR.. Booker T. Washington
Submits Gratifying Data
in Report.
C0TTON-GROWlNG SECTION
HAS TRYING EXPERIENCES
Annual Statement for Year Ending
May 81, 1915, Tells of Important
Work Done at Famous Institute.

Gratifying progress along all lines in
spite of the hard conditions in the
south during the past year, and in the
face of a destructive fire at the institu-
| tion. is indicated in the annual report
just issued by the principal, DIR. Booker
T. Washington, to the trustees of the
Tuskegee Normal and Industrial In
stitute. The report is for the year end
ing May 81. 1915.
During the past year this part of
the SOUTH" writes DR.. Washington, In
part. especially the cotton growing
section. has been passing through one
Of the most trying experiences since
the civil war. Conditions have been
serious among both white and black
people. The institution has been do
ing an unusual amount of work in try
ing to teach the people how to over
come them by planting something 10
eat / have devoted considerable time
both in the state of Alabama and in
other portions of the south in urging
the negro people to diversity their
crops and get away from the hard
conditions always to be expected when
a race or section is more or less de-
pendent on one crop for its sustenance. -
Tuskegee has never passed through
year when so much interest in what
1t is trying to accomplish has been
manifested by the white people of the
south, according to the principal. and
individuals representing nearly every
part of that section are constantly
visiting the school. Only few weeks
ago there was held on its grounds a
meeting of the university commission,
of each of the state universities Of the
south.
National Health Week Promoted.
A matter given special emphasis by
DR.. Washington as an illustration Of
the work done by the school away from
its grounds is the promotion, Jointly
with Hampton Institute. of a national
health week in order to bring about
better health conditions among the ten
millions of the colored race.
Although conditions in Europe just
preceding the opening of the school
term led those in charge to fear a
great falling off in attendance. this.
happily, did not materialize. The term
began with an enrolment in excess OF
September, 1913, and the total enroll
ment of the year has been about the
same as for the previous season. There
are 9O7 boys and $50 girls, represent
ing thirty-two states and territories
and nineteen foreign countries and
in the practice school. called the
"Childrens House"
Through our extension department"
says the report, we have been aiding
this year. as last, in building rural
schools, the people themselves con-
tributing a certain amount of money
We hope during the present year to
build and equip at least 100 schooi-
houses throughout the south"
New trustees elected to the board. OF
which Seth Low of New York is chair
man, are George McAneny. president OF
the board of aldermen of New York
city; Edgar A Bancroft; general conn-
sci of the International Harvester Com
pany, Chicago, and Rev. Alexander
Mann, rector of Trinity Church, Bos-
ton.
gle piece of work ever done on the
school grounds-the central heating
plant-says DR.. Washington. Is wei! on
it's way toward completion. This plant
includes power distribution rewriting
of buildings, building for new power
plant, boilers, chimney, engines. gener-
ators. electric wiring. transformers.
power piping, steam conduits. sewer. .
plant. cold storage plant and railroad
extension. The principal calls attention
to the importance of making provision
for the completion OF the cold-storage
plant and sewerage system.
Among gifts mentionel is the dona-
tion by c. B. Cottrell & Sons Company
of Westerly. R. l.. and Chicago, ILL.,, or
four-roller, two-revolution printing
press to the school printing plant. This
press says DR.. Washington, supplies
genuine and long-felt want.
In order to overcome the dffnculty ex-
perienced by graduates in acquiring
farms which they may work William
G. Wilcox one of the trustees. and
number of other friends of the school
have purchased 500 acres of land nine
miles from Tuskegee. and are giving
to a selected number OF
alumni to purchase forty-acre tracts
thereof on a longtime plan of pay
ment Already nine families have set
tied on this tract.
School Has Heavy Fire Loss.
"since my last report We have ex-
perienced the most disastrous fire In
the history of the school," says the
report. THE burning of a portion of
our horse barn caused a money loss OF
sl1,432 and the loss of twenty-e eight
animals We have received from In
surance on 10th $6,312. leaving the
net loss s5.l20."
The trustees states the principal, al
lowed a budget for expenses and i'm
of s2SS,303. The budget for
current expenses was overspent, but
that for improvements was underspent,
he net overexpenditure being STAGE.
This everexpenditure is due not to
says DR.. Washington, but
TO the fact that a large proportion OF
he schools industrial and extension
operations are of such nature as to
prevent definite estimates of cost. The
,ifts to the endowment fund for the
year amounted to $2S,102, making the
.otal fund stand at s1.s10.2l4.
Some of our present and most urgent
,eeds," concludes the report. ARE the
,ollowing: $1,000 for permanent schol-
.rships, $4,000 each for four teachers
cottages, $4,000 for building for re-
igious purposes, $4,000 to complete
me boys trades building. $4,000 for a
,oys' dormitory and the same sum for
ia1 an