Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-19

certainly be true, because never in
the history of the college has there
been such a crowding of men and
women into its halls. There are five
| hundred men and women registered
now of whom more than three hun
dred are studying for degrees, and
it should be remembered that the ma
| iority of them could not enter until
they had completed at least a four
year high school course. There are
more than two hundred soldier boys
from Georgia in the college pursuing
special lines of study and more are
coming every day. There are sixty
| five women enrolled at the present
time. This list does not include
short course or special term students
of which there will be at least five
hundred more.
The cost of living has doubled for
the college professors as it has for
every one else. The cost of coal to
the institution has increased since
1915 from $3.50 to $500 per ton
and is still going up. Janitors who
formerly worked for $500 a week
now get from $500 to $500.
Light and water rates have been ad-
vanced; furniture, laboratory sup
plies and equipment have doubled,
trebled and even quadrdpled in cost,
and yet the income of the college is
the same as it was at the inception of
the war.
have written this article both as
a duty and a privilege to acquaint
your readers with some facts by
which we are confronted, to let you
know that in spite of the great re
sponsibility which the people of
Georgia have placed upon the trus-
tees and faculty of the college for
the training of the finest set of men
and women to be found in any agri-
cultural college in the South, we are
undergoing process of decay and
decline because of the distressing IL
nancial situation by which we are
confronted.
I observe that you are making spec
ial appeals through your columns for
increases in the salaries Of teachers
in general in order that they may live
satisfactorily in the face Of the pres
ent high cost of living. 1 ask you In
the name of justice and fairness what
is an institution such as ours to do
under the circumstances? Some of
the state institutions secured sub
stantial additions to their appropria-
tions last summer and were undoubt-
edly able to raise the salaries of their
professors materially and to take
care of some of the increased costs
for supplies. The Georgia State Col
lege of Agriculture was not fortunate
enough to be in this, class. Is it not
a fact that an increase of twenty-five
to forty per cent in the salaries of our
professors is justifable, and should
we not have funds to pay for the in
creased cost of coal, water, janltor
service and other essential supplies?
Can we afford to Yet great institu-
ton which has blazed out new trails
and provided acceptable leadership
for our farmers for the last twelve
years shrivel up and decline when
the new agricultural wealth of Geor-
gia in single year approximates at
least $6O,O00,000.00 even after the
boil weevil ate up $4O,00O,O00.0O
oF ov1,~ cotton
If education is not adequately TAX
en- care of, and if leadership of the
highest type is not preserved, may we
not appropriately inquire what of the
future? l think in all the turmoil
and distress and the class strife which
is going on that the situation of our
colleges and their professors has
been very largely forgotten. l ask
nothing for myself; nor do I expect
to be beneficiary of anything which
may grow out of this presentation of
essential facts, but do insist that
the great, rich and prosperous state
of Georgia, dependent primarily up
on its agriculture for it's splendid
economic position before the world
needs to be acquainted with the Sc
rious financial situation by which its
College of Agriculture is confronted
If this is done through your aid and
cooperation, believe that the situa.
ton will be remedied and the institu.
ton placed on basis which will en-.
able it to continue its important and
ESSENTIAL service work and retain in
its employ the capable and efficient