The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-01

work. owing to the lack of an adequate teaching force.
 g. A new dormtory for men to provide living quarters for the rapidly growing student body. This is likewise an es- sential need.
 3. A library building to take care Of a collection of books of the greatest pos sible value The trustees have for many years ders coated the fact that this fine collection has been stored in a mere sec tion of a building designed and partly used for other purposes The building is in sense fireproof. The books are, therefore, constantly in danger of de- struction by fire Moreover, the limited library space Is totally inadequate. The library is recognized as the heart of modern institution of learning. No citi- zen of Alabama will forget that the uni versity has already had one disastrous experience in the burning of its library. Since 1865 we have been struggling hero- lcally to build up another valuable col lection of books It is plainly our duty to bring this matter again to the atten- ton of the legislature with the sugges- tion that a fireproof building shall be provided at the earliest possible moment. f. The completion of the new dormitory for women. The central unit of this build ing has already been provided. Ire orig inal plans call for the addition of two wings. There is little doubt that tie ie- | mand for the completion of this building will be quite as insistent as was the de- mand for the erection of the central unit. | 5. A modern chemical laboratory that 1 will provide room for the greatly en- l larged classes in chemistry. The building | now used as a chemical laborat Jry was | designed for less than one-fourtl, the | number of students now taking the vari- ous courses offered in chemistry. | -:.t-.. | cupied by the young men, It is our dessre to furnish the rooms occupied ty stu dents, excepting certain minor articles l that can readily be brought from their 1 homes.
 | [. A college hospital that will he open | to sick students free of charge Under present conditions sick students must be l cared for in their rooms or tatcn to a | private hospital.
 | S. A larger fund for the proper care of | the buildings and grounds. It IS any l thing but an economy to allow valuable buildings to depreciate through lack of needed repairs. The erection of three new 1 buildings several years ago carried with 1t the duty and the responsibility of pro- 1 vidng for their upkeep. In addition to the cost of needed repairs to the physical plant provision must be made for heat light and janitor service Inst rance is l likewise al essential item of expense that is constantly assuming larger proportions It is a fact that the university llas leen unable to carry adequate insuran nee toi | the simple reason that its income IS no' sufficient to warrant it.
 g. The beautiful campus, unsurpe ssed ir the country, has been receiving such at- tention as our limited income hes per mitted. Yet there is need of a consider able sum of money to complete essential improvements. It is indeed distressing In . A. oIl ,oryc hox hna
 sacrificed within recent years for no other reason than the lack of funds to give them suitable care and treatment.
 l TO- Library and laboratory equipment The only funds available for library ant laboratory equipment are derived iron special student fees. There Is need of z permanent appropriation to supply this essential need.
 I refrain from giving an itemized state ment of the cost of the various needs enumerated for the req son that we full, | recognize that the sum total required would far exceed the amount of none, the legislature. under the existing con ditions of the treasury, would feel justi fled in appropria ting.
 Never before in the long and usef'i career of the University of Alabama hal it occupied more important position 1T the life of the commonwealth. It ha, grown during the past four years as nc other institution in this entire section O the country. It has preserved and con stantly advanced it's high standards. I has taken it's place, in spite of ever, handicap among the great colleges of thu nation. With confidence we commit It! future into the hands of the represen
 tatives of the people who established it il
 the early days of our life as a separate
 sovereign state, which it has, through al
 these years. whether in war or in peace
 served with a rare devotion and an un
 remitting loyalty.
 l Surely there can be no shadow of turn
 ing aside from the great task and tn
 great duty of ''lengthening the cords an
 strengthening the stakes of this ancien , seat of learning which bears the nam , of Alabama, and which more than an other institution expresses to the natio ! the educational ideals of this common , wealth The quality of our intellectua life will inevitably be judged by the kin ' of support that is given to the fnsttu : tion which is recognized as the suprem
 expression of that life. Let us refus
 to permit our sister states to outstri
 us in this great undertaking. Let Il
 bring the University of Alabama up to
 level of efficiency and usefulness that
 oompera ble to the relative position (