The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-07-17
A History Of Columbus, Mississippi


10 oIAtt anu NOungy.
AS the time approached for the re-
newal Of the leases in 1920; although
II was felt that the present owners
had right to renew their leases;
yet in order to make themselves more
secure, additional legislation by the
State was sought. In 1913, General
Sykes prepared very able paper, ON
this question of the sixteenth section,
and all legislation pertaining TO 1T.
Among other things, he showed that
the title to these lands, was in the
State only, for the inhabitants of the
school district, and that the legisla-
ture, was and is, the only source of
power, and authority, for disposing Of
them, either in fee, or leasing them,
upon any terms at its option being
only required to reserve the pro-
ceeds, arising from such disposition,
as a fund to be devoted exclusively to
the public schools Of the respective
townships. The following taken from
0ne Of the renewal leases, signed in
August 1920, will give the conclusion
of this part of the story: Pursuant
to an act of the legislature of Mis-
sissippi, entitled, An Act to author
ize the successors in office of the
Trustees of the Franklin Academy in
the city of Columbus, State of Missis-
sippi, to execute renewal leases on the
expiration of, to-wit, August /, 1920,
of the then existing leases of the re-
spective lots situated en- section six
teen fractional township is, south
of range 10 west of the basis merid-
ian of Madison County, Alabama,
and lying in the City of Columbus,
county of Lowndes, State of Missis-
sippi, the terms of which leases are
for 80 years from the 1st day of Au-
gust, 1921, renewable forever; and
to regulate the time for redeeming
lots sold for non payment of the
leases, approved, March' goth, 1914
being chapter 462 Of the laws Of Mis-
sissippi, we, the Mayor and the City
Council Of the City of Columbus,
ounty and State, aforesaid, as sue
cessors in office of the Trustees of
Franklin Academy in said city, as
provided by an act of the Legislature
of said state, approved March 9th,
1873, and by an act of the Legislature
of the said state approved March 9Th,
1884, which last mentioned act con-
stitutes the Charter of said City by
virture of an act of the Legislature of
said state approved December 1880,
authorizing the renewal of said leases
forever, we the parties of the first
part, ETC."
Franklin Academy is the oldest free
school in Mississippi, antedating all
others by twenty-four years. From
the time of its establishment in 1921,
it has been conspicuous for develop
ment, and Columbus has been an edu-
cational center. Rowland, in the En-
cyclopedia of Mississippi History
calls the establishment of this in
stiution, "a remarkable event" He
speaks of Columbus as IAN oasis of
in wide desert of saw
agery." 1t will be remembered that
in 1921, Columbus was still isolated
firm the rest of the State, and from
the other states, until after the open
ing of the land white settlement, by
the Indian treaties, of the 3O's, afore-
He said further that
Franklin Academy is particularly no
table. as an instance ofwhat might |
have been done generally, with pro-
ceeds from the sixteenth sections.
The first school building of Frank
lin Academy was frame one. about
30 by 40 feet in dimensions, unceiled
and upholstered, glass windows in
front and long open windows, with |
shutters, in the rear, and covered first
with boards, and afterwards with
shingles. In 1885, two new brick
buildings were erected, as the male
and female departments of the Frank
lin Academy. After 1869 when free
dom and civil rights for the negro
were established, Franklin Academy's
charter was changed to conform to
the new conditions. In 1877, all the
requirements of the State school laws,
passed in accordance with the con-
stitution of 1869, wer incorporated
into the charter, and regulations of
Franklin Academy. Union Academy
was founded, securing to the eduea-
bic negro children. of Columbus and
the township, equal rights and advan-
tages with the white. children.
In 1873, a bill was passed, abolish
ing the old board Of Trustees Of the
Franklin Academy. making the May
or and Board of Aldermen, their le-
gal successors, except in literary man.
agement, and the election Of teachers,
which was nut in charge of a Board