The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-29
GoRGAS LIBRARY


 not to be longer delayed.
 GORGAS LIBRARY
 T regret to report to the trustees that it has been impractcable to renew the csmpaign for subscriptions to the Gorgas library. owing to the war situation It had been our plan to complete the fund during the current year. This matter must however, be deferred until condi- tions are more favorable to money rais- ing.
 'Srhe action of the trustees five years
 ago concerning the location of fraternity houses has already res0ated In i,4.uslng back to the campus seven of these or ganizations. This has meant great deal to the young men and to the life of the institution. Great credit is due to the fraternities in view of the financial CO.,
 operation that has been given by them
 OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
 This has been another notable year in the number of material improvements made at the university Reference has already been made to the new fraternity houses. Other improvements include: The extensive grauIns on poen sides of University avenue and the removal of the Foster cottage to another location. The clearing away Of the Gns. E .itlF set clement on the so-calied Pratt property, which has during the last year come into
 our possession.
 The construction of additional grano lithic walkways and curbings. The repainting Of Conner, Smith and Morgan halls.
 ''The construction of new roadways "The erection of three new homes for
 members of the faculty. The enlargement ana improved physi- cal equipment of the executive offices "The installation of modern equipment in the postoffice.
 FINANCES
 ''The need of increased financial support has never been more urgent at any stage of the history of this institution. Tt is, of course, well known that the income of the institution definitely avail able from the state has not been increased since 1907 Of course, the contingent ap- propriations of 1911 are no longer avail able. There is little or no prospect that there will be any release of the large sums that are due on account of these appropriations. Unfortunately there has been an impression in some quarters that the university has. more completely than and other institution, enjoyed the benefit of these appropriations. That is not true. The simple fact is that at the end of next year there will be balance of S2O0, 900 due and unpaid on these conditional appropriations for which no warrant has ever been issued.
 The report of the treasurer will give a complete exhibit of the financial status of the university. The solid improvement in this essential phase of our institutional life has been in my judgment the most noteworthy achievement of the present admnistra tion Instead of drawing on endowed funds for improvements as was the case in former years we have been building up these funds year by year. PREMEDICAL STUDENTS The so-called B. SIM. D. course of study is each year growing in popularity. The national defense council recently ad- dressed an open letter to the colleges of the country urging premedical students to remain in the colleges at this crisis as & matter of patriotic duty. The school of medicine continues to take rank among the leading schools of the country I express my approval of the financial budget presented by Dean Frazer, with the understanding that any outstanding obligations of the school of medicine shall be included in the sum total of the authorized expenditures for the year 1917-1S.
 THE BUDGET T am frankly stating to the trustees my inability to submit $ fixed budget at this uncertain and critical period of the nations life. Our income is derived substantially as follows: One-third from
 
 state appropriations, and one-third from student-f fees. No human being can say precisely what will be the effect Of war conditions on the finances of our col leges. We do know, however, that con- siderable numbers of young men who would otherwise be in the colleges will be on the firing line. While we are certain that many of the more intelligent men will remain in the colleges to get the dis cfpline of the reserve officers training corps, and at the same time prepare themselves through college training to render a higher type of service to the nation, it is believed that there will be necessary falling off in numbers In the best American colleges for the time being. Numbers will reflect no distinction upon college in war times. The fact that the average age of our student-body is greater than that of the colleges which offer neither law nor medicine means in evitably that we shall be more seriously affected than the purely under graduate colleges. Moreover, since a larger per- centage of our total income is derived from student-fees than is the case in the average tax-supported institution. the financial burden will fall on us with ex- ceptional severity.
 l am therefore recommending that the budget of 19l6-17 be taken as the basis of the budget of 1917-1S with the proviso clearly stated that this budget shall later on be readjusted by the president and the executive oc mmtietescnwyushaas the executive committee in such way as to meet the exigency of any situation that from time to time may arise in view of the present or prospective condition of the country'
 GERMAN IS GIVEN
 TI1sca loosa May 2X-fSpecial )-rTha first