The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-30
SOME IMPRESSIONS OF THE WONDERFUL
 WORK THAT IS BEING DONE T TUSKEGEEI
  Workings Institution Founded by Washington

Twenty five years ago Booker T.
 Washington devised a plan to call the
 negro farmers of Alabama Georgia and
 other states together once year for a conference. This conference had been so far-reaching in usefulness that be-
 lore his death he had planned the pro
 gramme for the Farmers Conference"
 of 1916
 Wednesday, January 19, was confer ence day, and there were farmers from all over the southern states and many 1 rom the north and west Negroes who owned their land, and who had been sue cessful, and others who wanted the ex- perience lessons in order for greater success for their own efforts.
 The crowd was tremendous It was
 estimated that there were as many as 50o0 negroes present at dinner on the lawn where a barbecue had been ranged, and a bountiful dinner served in picnic style. It was a wonderful grounds designated for "hitching
 places" looked like. the scenes the old time campmeeting grounds. There were many white people in at tendance, men and women, in fact it was a tremendous demonstra tion of in terest In the best methods of farming, and home improvement. There were many speakers from among the negroes telling of practical experiences, and of experiments. The boil weevil seems to
 be the most formidable enemy in every he iS al ba Nothing said or tried seemed to destroy | his appearance Each farmer starting
 out as if he had the remedy. but the I final result only proved there is but one
 way from the destructive power, and that was raise diversified crop, have
 more stock and feed the home mar ,kets" This is only the extension and purpose of the spirit of Tuskegee instl- tute.
 | IS NATURAL FARMER | The negro is a natural farmer. lie 1 loves the soil and the sunshine-and l that they are buying homes and using modern methods is an assurance that l they are beginning to be more thrifty
 and are being benefited by the en- | courag agement and training they have been given.
 had a keen desire to spend a few |
 workshop, and this was an opportunity. 1 The invitation came to be among thelr
 white friends for the conference, and | I spent three days most profitably with | in the enclosure of the institution l going every minute, and even then left much to be seen although this was my second visit.
 | The spirit of Booker T. Washington Hives there among the teachers and stu dents there evidenced the one great purpose-toiling for service and strong
 CT citizenshp-in answer to his call There are there now 1920 students en- | rolled 50 per cent of which are boys,
 each one learning a trade. Think or
 what an impetus to labor in the prepar-
 alton for the better workmanship.
 Each girl is compelled to learn do- meSAc work-cooking, sewing, wash | ing and household work-and economy 1 is their watchward in these lessons.
 The entire student body works one 1 Speaking of economy and figuring on good management. The arithmetic used 1 in the school was compiled by a former l rupil. The lessons are based on the direct management, income and disbursement ol l the institute during the year of 1911. cal | culating the income from products or all | departments, expenditures, insurance, loss | and profit, etc Thus every arithmetic
 class knows the detail business of the | A l local there is more interest in the study | These figures can be obtained for every | day of the year now--for instance, have
 before me today the report for January | 15 1916. This report is placed on the desk l of John H. Washington, director Of ln- | dustries. and furnishes some interesting l facts as regards the detail management of the department, upon which depenos | the supplies for the table, and buildings | oyd fin al n.
 There were 7S,99l pounds of coal used Tn l A hours at a cost of $2.91 a ton. l On January l5 there were 9S25 gallons of
 milk containing 5.2 per cent fat mixed | and 10 gallons bought extra from farm | CTS A milk wagon twice day supplies 1 many families in Tuskegee. and there IS | also a bread and vegetable wagon oper- l ated each day from the bakery and gar 1 den.
 l Bought from farmers same day. 20 gal | Ions of skinned milk and 10 gallons or cream. M
 1 Churned 2O9 pounds of cream, test 30 per 1 cent fat; made 75 pounds butter. | Number of dairy cattle on hand. l62; amount of feed used for the day 29o l pounds of cotton seed meal. 25 pounds of | oats 25 pounds bran 700 pounds of hulls' | roo pounds hay. 1900 pounds silage. | In the poultry yards there are 5S3 hens and 51 cocks: 20 dozen eggs laid that day. IDEA OF DETAILS This is only to give an idea of the de- tails and careful attention given each department each day; as each depart ment submits an accurate report daily Another feature of the industry, the ln- stitute buys from farmers white and col ol ed their surplus and thus furnishes to them a market and encourages other ln- dustry A cannery for the preservation of their own products is operated. ana other growers are encouraged to plant and cultivate a bountiful supply by an ara ngement to use the cannery on shares Every boy or girl nearby can make their extra dimes by supplying this market with berries in season. to be pre- served for winter. Much canned stuff, with the Tuskegee institute brand, is shipped each year.
 With the view to making useful and better citizens the entire school forces are laboring virorously, and the result will certainly reflect credit on the country cor ditions Warren Logan, acting prin- cinal has proven himself equal to the emergency and perfect cooperation pre- vails among the teachers. The wife and
 brother of Booker Washington are ac- lively in the work. and their services and kindly touch are noticed in every depart
 is spreading the growth of home improve
 ment From Tuskegee to the rural schools ment and marks of greater civilization is evidenced in the schoolrooms for miles around and in many counties Of the state: in fact, with the Rosenwald fund