The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-02-18
By JESSIE w. HILTON

copyrighted 1917 IN" o"Cr. % rs'.s.s % % SS"''"' Not " " 'D'''''
From personal observation and information given me
NV j. NJ Marques superintendent Of the Coiored Agr
cultural and Normal university at Lsngston negro town
ourteen miles from Guthrie the state has been negligent IN
caring for the needs of the institution and giving proper
housing protection in case Of fire.
First. Three hundred and fifty students are housed
in dormitorss ft for any ssfrespectns citizen Of
hos.sS ,. II w.. 1udin.. On. shack with toilet room
directly in the center OF the hall down'tar'; the other
coubustble Gndsrbox wooden frame two..tory build
ing he's thi'ty'nins rooms and narrow halls with only
two single sxits
Al Isys ". housed IN one feur:sesy dormitosy
even mess d1apidated than the GiFIs buidinsa One
my last thought at night. my first thought on awaken
Ing says Marques s the safety Of these children almost
fear to look toward these buldinss"
There h not fire escape on the university campus
lake fire during II. night children would be caught by the
hundred In these fire traps
Second. The ancient .implemsnt-of- civilization
way Of washing elothng-tub and washboard styIc-s
the only apparatus for students do their doSmtory
and psrsena washins. Six smal cement boilers sruns
along over built.in fire pot the handiwo.k Of Mar.
qussa who insisted on having 'tsrli:ed eleh'ng com
at the eolorsd university Student: provide this from
home, hence washinss large. The tubs are never
sasns, the boiler fire b never banked
Third: A few hand tools, . circular and ordi-
nary soap other wooden boxes for lumber comprise
the only equipment for the uadss department, promi
because Of the desire OF hundrods OF otuoen TO
become practical when they leave their state uni
vsrsity" 10 take their place among their people.
Fourth' !sas line Of empty shs..s so%pri's' g: the
only reference library for this university" WcI.mean-
ING eongrsssmsn have from time to time mailed free
copies Of congressional rscords which carefully
shslvsd BY the faculty.
Nothing is wasted" says Marques
few broken sets Of volumes of references are
My ndexed full set Of any reference work has ever
been q part of the library
During the $50 negro teachers spend their time
let this state university brushing up on postgraduate work
and preparing for their next years work.
"It's shame to take their money, says the supern-
|tendent.
ported entirely By the stdsnt body From the msassr
tuition board Of @ll month"; funds sufficient TO main
tain dossc ssisnes department sst aside. There
h 10 appropriated for THE dspartnsat.
Sixth, No funds have bssn provided for scholar.
ship for club work. though ths unvsssiy the center
Of the negro home dsmonstratien work q ths A. N.
Colless Saltwater Twelve negro demesslzatsrs work
from there Julyl. T
Seventh, With 276 acres under the plow out Of
the $40 acrs tract and fine herd Of cattle % part Of
the farm barn facilities poss at The other de-
cayins buldinss.
reached the Coored Agricultural and Normal unver
y Friday morning January 81 and found that five demon
|srators from the A. M. college headed by Ms Emma
chandler holding conference for homo demonstra
tion worewth twelve negro women demonstrators School
work. great day VA In the domestic science depart
ment for guests to be entertained at special domestic
science dinner.
J. M. Marques invited me into his home for brief
stay before proceeding the various buidnss believe
! tcsrssuss Pace D. Column ~ -