USA > Alabama > Hand-book of Alabama. A complete index to the state, with map > Part 17
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In addition to the normal department, there is an industrial department and a training school connected with the institute. In the industrial department instruction is given in carpentry, painting, brick making, harness making, shoe making, tin work, printing, mattress making, farming, sewing and entting and laundrying.
The training school is especially designed for observation and practice in primary teaching for those pursuing the normal course.
The school has acquired by purchase and gift, 1,400 acres of land, and the school buildings are large and commodious and well adapted for school purposes. The entire property is free of debt and is valued at $125,000.
The act establishing the school provides that pupils shall be admitted free of tuition, on giving a written obligation to teach in the public schools of the State for two years ; but tuition to all is made free.
The price of board, including washing, lights, fuel, room rent, mending of clothes, etc., is $8.00 per month.
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Students are given an opportunity to work out 82.00 or $3.00 per month, thus leaving only $5.00 or $6.00 per month to be paid in cash. Some work out half of their expenses.
With a good outfit of clothing, $45.00 or $50.00 is sufficient to carry an industrious student through one school year (nine months).
The rate of wages is according to the age of the student and the real value of his work. The arrangements are such that students lose nothing in their classes by working out a part of their expenses.
All applicants for admission must be at least fifteen years of age, and must furnish satisfactory proof of good moral character.
The school opens first Monday in September, and continues in session nine months, closing the last Thursday in May.
The number of students in the normal department during the session of 1890-91, was 212; in other departments 518, total 730. Number of graduates 80. Number of states repre- sented 13.
Tuskegee, where the school is located, is the county seat of Macon county, and by the census of 1890 has a population of 1,803. It is situated on the Tuskegee railroad, a short line connecting Tuskegee with Chehaw, a station on the Western Railway of Alabama, five miles distant, and is distant from Montgomery, east, forty-four miles.
For catalogues and full information, write to the Principal at Tuskegee, Ala.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL FOR COLORED STU- DENTS, MONTGOMERY, ALA.
This school is organized and operated under the provisions of an act of the general assembly of Alabama, approved Feb- ruary 23, 1889, and is supported by an annual appropriation of $7.500 from the State treasury, and moneys derived from the Peabody educational fund, the Slater fund, tuition fees and voluntary contribution.
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The school is under the control of a board of trustees, con- sisting of six members, appointed by the Governor, and the Governor and the State Superintendent of Education, ex-officio.
Completion of the prescribed course in the normal school, and the passing of a satisfactory examination, entitles a gradu- ate to receive a diploma to teach in the colored schools of the state without further examination.
The school has an industrial department in which instruc- tion is given to the male students in carpenter work and print_ ing and to the female students in common and fancy needle work, drafting and dressmaking.
The session of 1891-92, opened with an enrollment of 800 · students, and more room and more teachers are needed to meet the rapid growth of the school.
For catalogues and full information, write to the President of the school, at Montgomery.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
By the act of March 2, 1819, "to enable the people of Ala- bama territory to form a constitution and State government," Congress donated to this State, to be vested in the Legislature and appropriated solely to the use of such seminary, seventy- two sections, or 46,080 acres, of the public lands within the State, " for the use of a seminary of learning." To carry out the object of this grant, the University of Alabama was estab- lished by an act of the general assembly, approved December 18, 1820, and December 18, 1821, a supplementary university act was approved.
December 29, 1827, the general assembly, by joint ballot, selected, as a site for the university, the town of Tuskaloosa, with permission to the trustees to erect the necessary buildings at any place within fifteen miles of the town. March 22, 1828, the trustees met and selected as the most suitable place for the buildings, the level plateau near what was then known as Marr's Spring, on the Huntsville road. about one mile and a quarter east of the court house in Tuskaloosa. The erection of the buildings was forthwith begun and the university was 13
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opened for the admission of students April 17, 1831. In 1834, the buildings were completed, at a cost of more than $100,000, and to these, other necessary buildings were added, prior to the year 1860, at considerable eost.
April 4, 1865, all the public buildings of the university, except the astronomical observatory, with their valuable con- tents, were burned by a brigade of United States cavalry, under the command of Brigadier-General Croxton, of Ken- tucky. Two of the professor's residences were burned at the same time.
By this burning, property to the value of more than three hundred thousand dollars was destroyed.
Shortly after the destruction of the university buildings, the corps of cadets was formally disbanded at Marion, Ala.
February 20, 1866, the general assembly passed an act pro- viding for a loan to the university, of seventy thousand dollars, from the State treasury, to replace its buildings,* and in Jan- uary, 1867, the first new hall on the college grounds ( now called Alva Woods hall ) was begun, which cost, when com- pleted, about ninety thousand dollars.
In April, 1869, the university was, for the second time, formally opened for the reception of students.
In February, 1884, work was commenced on the buildings known as " Clark Hall " and " Manly Hall," and they were completed in June, 1885.
"Garland Hall" was completed in 1887. February 23, 1884, Congress passed an act empowering the State of Alabama to locate for the benefit of the university, 46,080 aeres of the publie lands within the State, to be applied to the erection of suitable buildings for the university and to the restoration of the library and scientific apparatus, which had been burned, the surplus, if any, to increase the endowment of the uni- versity.
All of these lands have been located, and a portion of them has been sold, producing to the university a considerable amount for the purposes of the grant ; but more than thirty thousand acres of valuable mineral lands belonging to the university remain unsold.
* By an act approved December 9, 1878, the general assembly relinquished this debt to the university.
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The constitution of the State * commits the management and control of the university to a board of trustees, composed of the Governor, who is ex-officio president of the board, the Superintendent of Education, ex-officio, and nine other mem- bers, two from the congressional district in which the univer- sity is located, and one from each of the other congressional districts of the State, to be appointed by the Governor, and . confirmed by the senate, who hold office for six years,t and who receive no pay other than their actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as such trustees.
The constitution declares, also, that the general assembly may not change the location of the university, except by a two-thirds vote of its members.#
March 1, 1876, a new university act was passed by the general assembly.
By this act, the constitutional trustees are incorporated, under the name of the " Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama," and all the rights, properties, privileges and fran- chises of the university are vested in the board, and it is given power to act in all matters affecting the university or promo- tive of the ends of its creation.
The board appoints the faculty and other officers of the university, fixes their salaries, and may remove them ; regu- lates the government of the university ; prescribes the course of instruction and fixes the prices of tuition and board and the other necessary expenses of students.
Regular meetings of the board are required to be held once a year on the last Wednesday in June, unless the board selects another day, and the board may call special meetings. All meetings of the board must be held at the university. Five members of the board, exclusive of the ex-officio members, con- stitute a quorum.
The university trust fund, which is held by the State, and for the payment of interest on which at the rate of eight per cent. per annum, the faith and credit of the State are pledged, and from which revenue the university is, in the main sup- ported, consists of three hundred thousand dollars, the pro-
· See Constitution, Art. XIII, Sec. 9, ante.
t One-third of the trustees are appointed bi-enially.
# See Constitution, Art. XIII, Sec. 10, ante.
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ceeds of the lands donated to the university by the act of Con- gress of March 2, 1819.
The collections of the university, in mineralogy, geology, and natural history, are extensive and valuable. The geologi- cal and mineralogical cabinets comprise many thousand speci- mens, consisting in part, of the private collections of the late Professor Michael Tuomey, purchased by the university before the late war; partly of the minerals, rocks, and fossils, col- lected by Professor Tuomey while he was geologist of the State; of the collections made by the present State Geologist ; and of many interesting specimens obtained by exchange from all parts of the world.
The chemical and physical laboratories are furnished with the newest and most approved apparatus for the purposes both of instruction and research.
The astronomical observatory is provided with a fine transit circle with an object glass of four inches aperture and five feet focal distance; also, with an equatorial telescope of eight inches aperture and twelve feet focal distance. There are three good field telescopes.
The philosophical apparatus has been largely increased within the past few years, and now embraces all that is neces- sary for the full illustration of the laws of light.
The university library contains, at present, ten thousand volumes, and the trustees annually appropriate one thousand dollars to purchase books.
The university halls consist of :
Alva Woods Hall,* which forms the rear line of the university quadrangle, a brick building of four stories, with east and west wings of three stories.
Manly Hall, i which forms the west side of the quadrangle, a building of three stories, constructed of brick with trimmings of dressed limestone.
Clark Hall, # the central building on the south side, which is the front of the quadrangle, a handsome structure of brick . and gray limestone, three stories in height, and with a front of sixty feet and a depth of one hundred feet.
,
*Named for the first president of the university.
tNamed for the second president of the university.
#Named for Hon. Willis G. Clark, university trustee.
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Garland Hall,* the counterpart of Manly hall, on the west, and which completes the university quadrangle.
Tuomey Hall,t a building for the chemical laboratory, containing a two-story part, 40 by 70 feet, and a one-story part, 30 by 70 feet.
Barnard Hall, # a physical laboratory, of same dimensions as Tuomey hall, and the rear wing or annex of which is set apart for a gymnasium, which has been furnished with the most approved contrivances for physical exercise and devel- opment.
All the halls and students' apartments are lighted with the Edison incandescent light ; water works supply an abund- ance of pure water to each floor of all the buildings, and a steam laundry for the use of the students is in successful operation.
The mess hall, kitchen and bakery are on the lower floor of Woods hall, and all are supplied with fans run by electricity. The kitchen has recently been furnished with a new range, steamer for meats, and coffee boiler, and has every appliance for properly cooking and serving up food for the students who board in barracks.
The three literary societies of the university have large and well furnished rooms set apart for their use, where regular meetings are held once a week.
The residence of the librarian of the university, which is a commodious and well ventilated two-story brick building is outside of the campus, and a part of the second story is nicely fitted up as a hospital.
The university has two general departments of instruction: an academic department, and a department of professional education.
In the academic department, as at present organized, there are ten schools : the school of the Latin language and litera- ture, the school of the Greek language and literature, the school of the English language and literature, the school of modern languages, the school of chemistry and metallurgy, the school of geology and natural history, the school of natural
* Named for the the third president of the university.
+ Named for Michael Tuomey, late professor of the university and first State geologist.
# Named for Profes-or F. A. P. Barnard, who resigned from the university in 1st.i.
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philosophy and astronomy, the school of mathematics, the school of history and philosophy, the school of civil engineering.
There are five undergraduate courses of study: the classical course, the scientific course, the literary course, the eivil engin- eering course, the mining engineering course. The first leads to the degree of bachelor of arts, the second to the degree of bachelor of science, the third to the degree of bachelor of letters, the fourth to the degree of bachelor of civil engineering, the fifth to the degree of bachelor of mining engineering. Each of these courses requires four years for completion.
Students who, from inability to remain long enough at the university, or for other sufficient reasons, are unable to com- plete all the studies of one of the regular courses, are allowed , to select a course of study on certain conditions, and, upon the completion of the course of study in any school, are entitled to a certificate of proficiency in that school, and are enrolled as alumni of the university.
Students who have received the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of letters, may obtain the master's degree in the same course by remaining one year longer at the university, and pursuing advanced studies in at least three · academic schools of the university.
. Students who have received the degree of bachelor of civil engineering or of mining engineering, may attain the degree of civil engineer or mining engineer by remaining one year longer, and pursuing advanced studies in the school of engi- neering.
Every candidate for admission to the first or freshman class, must be at least sixteen years of age; for admission to a higher class, he must have a proportionate advancement in age. Every candidate must present testimonials of good moral character. If he comes from a chartered university or college he must present a certificate of honorable discharge from the same.
In the department of professional education there are three schools : The school of international and constitutional law, the school of common and statute law, and the school of equity jurisprudence. Important advantages are offered to students in this department. Any one pursuing this course of law is allowed, free of charge, to enter and take the studies
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of any one of the academic schools of the university. The degree of LL. B. is conferred upon those only who have com- pleted the entire course of study in this department and have sustained a satisfactory written examination in the presence of the faculty. A rule of the supreme court of Alabama pro- vides that graduates of this department may be admitted, on certificate, to practice in all the courts of the State. The law library contains at present 1,200 volumes, and is rapidly in- creasing.
There is, also, a military department,* embracing a course of instruction in military art and science, military law, and elementary tactics. The corps of cadets is organized into a battalion, composed of four or more companies of infanty and one company of artillery, officered by cadets.
The discipline of the academic department is military, and is so regulated as not to interfere with the student's academic duties. While young men are not excluded from the univer- sity on account of physical disability to perform military duty, they are under the same military discipline as other cadets.
The academic year is divided into three terms, beginning in October and ending in June. The yearly expenses of a student in the academic department, for board and lodging, washing, fuel, lights and attendance, surgeon's, hospital, med- icine and incidental fee, is $161. Tuition in this department is free to all students who are bona fide residents of Alabama. Students from other states are charged $40 a year for tuition. Students who work in the laboratory are charged a small fee, extra, to pay for gas and material consumed. The diploma fee is $3.
Every cadet must furnish himself with a cadet uniform and other articles of clothing. The estimated cost of these is about 845 per annum. The university supplies room furni- ture, bedstead, mattress and pillow. The bed covering, to-wit : sheets, blankets, comforters and pillow cases, must be supplied by the student himself. These may be purchased in Tuska- loosa or, if convenient, brought from home. Students must also provide for themselves text books and stationery, which are estimated to cost from $10 to $15 per annum.
* The military system for the government of the university was adopted in 1860, and has been maintained to the present time.
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In the department of the law the tuition fees are $50 a year, and law students can obtain board, including lodging, fuel, lights and attendance, in the best families in Tuskaloosa at from $15 to $18 a month.
The university has no preparatory department.
The name of the university postoffice is University, Ala- bama.
The university, now in the sixty-first year since its halls were first opened, counts on its rolls nearly eleven hundred titled academic graduates and about two hundred and fifty law graduates, and many of its graduates fill the highest sta- tions in church, and state, and society throughout the South.
The number of students in the university, June, 1892, was : academic, 128; law, 15. Total, 143.
For catalogue and full information, address the President at University, Alabama.
THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE .*
By an act, passed July 2, 1862, Congress donated to each State, 30,000 acres of public land, or land scrip to that amount, for each Senator and Representative in Congress, to which the State was entitled by the census of 1860, to enable it to endow and maintain at least one college, " Where the leading object should be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such manner as the Legislature of the State might prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life." The capital accruing to any State from the sale of this land, or scrip, was directed to be invested in some safe fund, producing not less than 5 per cent. per annum-the capital to remain forever. undiminished, and the annual interest to be inviolably appropriated to the support of the college, or col- leges, established ; but 10 per cent. of the amount received by any State from such sale might be used for the purchase of
* Known also as "Alabama Polytechnic Institute."
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10%
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sites and experimental farms. No part, however, of either capital or interest, is allowed to be used in the purchase, erec- tion, preservation, or repair of any building or buildings. A State taking advantage of the act, was required to provide, within five years from its passage, at least one college, or the grant failed and the State was required to refund. The act, also, excluded from its benefits, every State engaged in " rebel- lion or insurrection, while so engaged."
Under this act, Alabama became entitled to 240,000 acres, but being, at that time, engaged in war with the United States, was, for the while, excluded from its benefits : and nearly three years of the five allowed, expired before peace was restored.
By an act passed July 23, 1866, Congress extended the time . within which the States might comply with the provisions of the original act, giving the States three years from the passage of the later act within which to file an acceptance of the benefits of the act of 1862, and five years from the filing of such acceptance within which to establish the necessary col- lege or colleges.
The general assembly of Alabama, by an act, approved December 31, 1868, accepted the grant, and appropriated $1,000 to carry such acceptance into effect, and to pay agents for selecting and locating the lands or selling the scrip. This State received only serip, which was sold. The amount real- ized, and which constitutes a permanent endowment fund of the college, never to be diminished, was $253,500.
The act of the general assembly, establishing the college, was approved February 26, 1872. When the question of the location of the college came before the general assembly, three places made offers for it-Florence, Birmingham and Auburn. The trustees of the East Alabama College, located at Au- burn, offered their building with its grounds, and the citizens of Auburn offered, in addition, 200 acres of land. After a warm contest, the college was given to Auburn. On the 20th of March, 1872, the board of trustees of the new college, ap- pointed under the act of February 26, 1872, met, organized the institution, and elected a faculty, and the college was opened immediately.
The constitution of Alabama * commits the management.
* See Constitution, Art. XIII, Sees. 9, 10, ante.
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and control of this college to a board of trustees, composed of the Governor, who is, ex-officio, president of the board, the Superintendent of Education, ex-officio, and nine other mem- bers, two from the congressional district in which the college is located and one from each of the other congressional dis- tricts of the State, to be appointed by the Governor and con- firmed by the senate, who hold office for six years,* and who receive no pay other than their actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as such trustees. The constitution also, provides that the general assembly may not change the location of the college, except by a two-thirds vote of its mem- bers .;
February 10, 1879, the general assembly passed a new act on the subject of the college, under the provisions of which the college is conducted at present.
By this act, the constitutional trustees are incorporated under the name of " The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama," and, in so far as the government of the college is concerned, are vested with the same rights, privileges and franchises, and charged with the same duties as are the trus- tees of the university of Alabama in matters concerning the university.#
The board appoints the faculty and other officers of the college; fixes their salaries, and may remove them ; regulates the government of the college ; prescribes the courses of in- struction, rates of tuition and fees, confers degrees, and acts in all other matters affecting the interests of the college and promotive of the end of its ercation.
The board is required to meet once a year at Auburn, and the Governor may call special meetings. Six members of the board constitute a quorum.
Since its organization, the college, under a wise board and an able faculty, has kept steadily in view the objects of the law calling it into existence, and, with slight fluctuations, has achieved a career of increasing prosperity and success that, under all the difficulties attending the establishment of the institution, may be regarded as signal.
* One-third of the trustees are appointed bi-enially.
t See Constitution, Art. XIII, See. 10, ante.
# See page 188, onte.
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The department of instruction continues, with only a few modifications, as originally established in 1872, some new chairs having been added with increase in the revenue of the college.
"By an act approved February 23, 1883, the general assem- bly appropriated $30,000 to the college for buildings and equipments, and by an act approved February 28, 1887, $12,500 more was appropriated to provide further appliances, necessary to give better instruction in the technical depart- ments. By an act approved December 12, 1883, 850,000 was appropriated for the purpose of completing, furnishing and equipping the new main college building erected upon the site of the old building, which (as stated on page 198) was burned June 24, 1887.
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