The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-26
ALABAMA ALUMNI URGED TOOBSERVE
 CENTENNIAL DAY
Mccall Issues Appeal for 0b- Servance of Anniversary of First Meeting of Board
 of Trustees

 versity of Alabama to formulate plans for the celebration of the tooth anniversary of the first meeting of the board of trustees of the univer sity. has been issued by Dr. Daniel T. Mccall, president of the Alumni association.
 It is asked through the appeal that in every city. town or village, wher- ever there are two or more alumni, that they get together to discuss the history of the alma mater, and to plan for her future. The growth of the university from the day 1t first threw open its doors with an enrolment of s5 pupils, to shis time when there are over 1,700 enrolment, has been traced with the hope that by the end of the next cen tury there will be enrollment of IT, coo, not unreasonable hope in the light of the growth of past years.
 McCalIs Appeals The Call follows:
 @,To the Alumni of the University of Alabama:
 The first centennial of the first meeting of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama will occur on April 6, and 1t Is the desire and the plans of the alumni of this great Institution to observe this occasion in each city, town and hamlet Tn the state where two or more alumni can be brought together. The services which this great institution has con tributed to the state and the nation during the first 100 years of It's life will deserve to be thus fittingly me moralized and commemorated. The trustees who composed the board at this first meeting 100 years ago knew not and could not have known what would be the career and success of the institution which they were thus tnaugurating. It is a well known and recognized fact, that the graduates from this institution have taken prominent and leading parts in all of the businesses and vacations of life, as we'll as in politics and religion. The alumni, therefore. requests that each alumnus of the institution take an interest in the celebration of this first centenial of our alma mater; and that they have some kind of form of meeting for all the alumni of their respective cities, towns or hamlets, and discuss with each other the his tory and stories of our alma mater; and also her success in the future and plan for her greater possibilities and a broader field of activity. and that she may do greater service in the future than she has done in the past however great this service in the past may have been.
 History of School There are few facts in connec- tion with her history which we might call to your attention: That the uni verslty was formally opened for the reception of students in 1881, and the enrolment on the first day of the opening showed only 35 boys. There are now enrolled at the institution more than 1,700 boys and girls By the end of the next century, 1t Is not unreasonable to hone that there will be enrolled more than 17,000.
 We believe that these meetings together of the alumni in the various cities, towns and hamlets will tend to create a new interest in the Univer- sity of Alabama, and will not only preserve but cultivate a love and ad- miration for our alma mater and in- sure each alumnus to greater efforts in promoting her welfare. If the alumni of the state will only take the proper interest in the welfare of this
 
 should not in a few years become one of the great universities in America. This institution possesses natural advantages and natural wealth in the form of do- nations of coal land, which l is not possessed by any other institu- tion of like kind in the world. These | natural resources are worthless, un- | less the institution can be supplied |
 
 and develop these great resources. If the institution could only for once receive the necessary funds to pro- mote and develop these coal lands, 1t could probably thereafter become almost self-sustaining, but until funds from some source or other are first acquired to provide the neces- sary buildings, equipments. etc. for developing and utilizing these lands, they will be of but little or no serv- ice to the state. otherwise than dead and useless capital.
 Auburn Campaign Our cousins, the alumni of Au- burn, now have on drive to raise $1,000, 900 for their alma mater. It Is both fitting and proper that the uni versity alumni should be interested in and aid our cousins in their worthy efforts. While there should De nOnOrdDl6 rlNdlTy between thc alumni of these two institutions, there should be no selfish or dshonorable rivalry; and for the alumni of one in- stitution to fail to give encourage rnent and aid to the efforts of the alumni of the other institution In their effort to promote the success of their respective alma mater would be selfish and dishonorable rivalry. To raise $1.00o.000 for Auburn will be a great inspiration to the alumni of the university to go and do like wise, as well as a great encourage xnent and inspiration which 1t will create and promote in all the people of the state to seek and encourage education generally, not only in our highest institutions of learning, but in all schools. even to the lowest grade. Tt is urged that the university alumni throughout the state hold meetings as suggested. Incident thereto 1t Is suggested that by writ ing to Tom Garner, secretary of the University Alumni association. Uni- versity, Ala, he will provide ma terial, helpful to such meetings.
 L'ANIEL T. MCALL.
 president University Alumni Asso-