The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, January 13, 1904, Supplement, Image 8
average attendance for the year was 206,825 pupils, therefore the
amount paid for each pupil was $5.06. The total enrolment was
288?332, of which number 134,330 were white, and 154,002 were
colored, showing an excess of 19,672 in favor of the colored pupils.
Surely these figures alone should stimulate our white population
and should cause parents to make every sacrifice for the education
of their children. For further details regarding our common
schools, I would respectfully refer you to the complete report which
has been prepared by the State Superintendent of Education.
TWO SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
Our educational system, however, will never be complete until it
shall include the education of the hands as well as that of the brain.
In other words, the weakest part of our present system is the lack
of schools of manual training. Is not the time propitious for this
State to take up the important question of the education of our
children in the several crafts? Could not our larger cities and
towns begin the good work by starting schools in which boys may
be taught these honorable pursuits? In addition to this the question
of night schools has not yet received with us the attention it de
serves, and the opportunity and need for their development seems to
especially exist in our large and growing mill communities.
A number of our boys and young men are compelled each year to
leave the State in order to learn useful trades, which cannot be
taught them here, and many children in our mill districts frequently
cannot go to school as long as they should, for the reason that night
schools are not provided for them. Such conditions should no longer
exist, and we should see that a remedy is provided.
OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
Our common schools are the living foundations upon which rest
our institutions of higher learning. There can be no antagonism
between them, for each has its own indispensable work in our educa
tional system. We can well afford to congratulate ourselves upon
the number, condition and record of our various higher institutions
of learning. These have faithfully and ably fostered a broad spirit
of education throughout our State, which honor is equally shared
by what are known as our sectarian colleges. No higher encomium
can be paid their share in this work than is included in the state
ment that during the past year one of these institutions has added
to its endowment by raising the sum of $125,000.00 for educational
purposes alone.
' MTH CAROLINA COLLEGE.
This honored a. historical institution is now in its ninety-ninth
year. For practically one hundred years this institution of learning
has contributed to the history of South Carolina, and among its
alumni are to be found the names of many of the most distinguished
men which the State has produced. Hoary with years, rich in the
honors these years have brought, its doors still stand open for the
youth of our State. The College is well managed, its faculty is a
most efficient one, and from my own observation I am justified in
saying that its affairs are wisely and economically administered.
There arc now upon the rolls the names of 226 students, and of
this number thirty-seven have been received from the establishment
by your body?at its last session?of a normal scholarship for each
county. These scholarships were wisely created and are destined
to do much good in advancing the educational interests of our State.
At your last session you approprated $7,500 for the perfecting
of a sewerage system for this College. The Trustees will state to
your body that though this amount has been judiciously expended,
it has proved not to be enough, and they will ask "for an additional
appropriation of $8,500.00 to provide, in the cheapest and simplest
manner, for the preservation of health among the students of the
College." All of the State buildings should be connected with the
city sewerage, and I recommend that this amount be appropriated
for the purpose indicated. At your last session you appropriated
for current expenses, $29,400.00, and 1 recommend a similar ap
propriation this year.
It has been called to my attention by the faculty that in January,
1905, this College will have completed its one hundredth year of
active usefulness, and it is their desire to celebrate, in appropriate
manner, this centennial. Such an event marks an epoch, not only
in the history of this College, but in the history of education
throughout South Carolina and the South, and it is most appro
priate that it should be fitly celebrated. In order to do this, some
expense will be necessary, and the Trustees will ask from your hon
orable body an appropriation of $500.00 for this purpose, and in
this request I also join.
WINTHROP NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE.
It has not been long since this College was organized, but it has
rapidly taken a leading place among similar institutions through
out our entire country, and is doing a truly great work. The im
portance of sending forth such skilled, trained and educated teach
ers as are numbered among Winthrop graduates is of inestimable
value to the cause of education in this State. Certainly, to an ap
preciable extent, the educational awakening in our State is due,
in a great measure, to the splendid work of the graduates of this
College. There is no higher mark of the civilization of a country
than in the education of its women, and none which will tell more
upon the future welfare of the State. President Johnson has had
charge of this College since its organization, and, seconded by an
able corps of assistants, he has steadily maintained its high stand
ard and general excellence.
The session which has just closed has been a most successful one,
every department running smoothly, with no friction. Five hundred
and ninety-three students in all departments have been admitted
during this session, and the new dormitory, which was so much
needed, has been completely filled. The report of the Board of
Trustees asks for an appropriation of $56,982.66, which is $2,301.54
less than was asked for last year. The carefully prepared report
of the Board of Trustees furnishes all details necessary for the
consideration of your honorable body, and reveals also the fact
that strict economy will be necessary to propcrlv manage its finances
on the amount asked for.
The report further shows that the farm connected with the Col
lege is not of sufficient size to meet the requirements of larger
growth* and they recommend that the sum of $10,000.00 be appro
priated, to be paid in three annual instalments, for the purchase
of additional land for farming purposes. They also request that
twelve or fifteen convicts be given to the College to be used on the
farm, as was formerly done. In the amount of the appropriation
asked for, and in the other two requests of the Board, I bee leave
to heartily concur.
? CLEM SON COLLEGE.
This educational institution, with reputation and influence ex
tending throughout the South, is certainly a source of pride to our
State. It is liberally supported by the State and is giving, in return,
great and substantial benefits. It has only been organized a few
years, but its scope and influence have developed a power that gives
it a leading and prominent place among progressive educational
institutions. Clcmson College was primarily established with the
intent of making it an agricultural college, devoted to the education
of those looking forward to agricultural pursuits. In addition to
this, it was also believed that through the instrumentality of this
College substantial benefits would accrue to the agricultural inter
csts of the State. 1 am glad to say that both of these most im
portant objects arc being rapidly accomplished.
In connection with the regular work of the College a most suc
cessful Farmers' Institute is held there each year, and in addition
to this, a number of smaller institutes, under the auspices of this
collegiate department, are held in various counties. Both of these
tend to educate the farming classes and thus enable them to keep
abreast with the advanced information of the times. The Clemson
Board also, each year, have elaborate experiments conducted in
different sections of the State, which cannot but result in great good.
The building of an agricultural hall, which is to he accomplished
this year, will be of inestimable benefit to this, one of the most im
portant departments of tins College.
Thorough courses in agriculture, biology, mechanical and elec
trical "engineering, civil engineering, metallurgy and textile in
dustry, are presented to the students, the military feature of the
College adding materially to the complete training given. The
report of the Trustees shows that 580 students matriculated this
year, and the further fact is stated that the College could give com
fortable quarters to not more than 570 students. There were 665
applications for admission, but 85 of these had to be refused, for the
reason just stated. Sixty graduates were sent out from this insti
tution last year, the largest number in its history. For further 0
report of this College I would refer you to the very complete reports
of the President and Board of Trustees.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY ACADEMY.
This is one of the old and historic institutions of the State, with
an honored, useful and patriotic career. It was established in 1842
and continued in operation until 1865, when, on account of the
condition of affairs in the State, it was closed. It was reopened in
1882 and since then has again been doing efficient work. A number
of its undergraduates have secured appointments at West Point and
Annapolis, which is, in itself, the very best evidence of the careful
training received both within its walls and upon its campus. A
general order of the United States War Department annually admits,
as an officer in the United States Army, one honor-graduate of this
Academy, and this is a further tribute to the general excellence of
this institution?as such appointments arc awarded to few schools
throughout the country.
The Academy opened this year with bright prospects and is, in
attendance and management, in such condition as well guarantees a
continuance of its useful career. The Board of Visitors, through
their Chairman, ask for $25,000.00 for the support of the Academy,
$1,000.00 for repair of buildings and $250.00 for additions to
library. They again renew their request for an appropriation of
$10,000.00, this to be used for improvements in heating and lighting
the buildings. This latter seems to be very much needed and I
concur in all the recommendations made by the Board.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA INSTITUTION FOR "THE Euu
CATION OF THE DEAF AND BLIND.
The fifty-fifth annual report of this institution will be presented to
your honorable body through the report of the State Superintendent
of Education. For more than a quarter of a century the State has
recognized the great importance of the needs which this honored
institution so well supplies. The work here accomplished has alle
viated the afflictions of many, and has trained and sent them out to
lives of usefulness. This report will show that there were enrolled
during the past school year 181 pupils, of which 121 were deaf and
60 were blind, 127 of the total number being white. The report will
also show that the health of the pupils is most excellent, the average
annual expense for 28 years for medicines and medical attention
having been only 67 cents per pupil.
The affairs of the institution, during its long years of usefulness,
have always been well managed and have been marked by strict
economy. The Board asks this year for $24,000.00 for support and
$3,000.00 additional for repairs and improvements. I earnestly
commend their recommendation to your consideration.
THE COLORED NORMAL, INDUSTRIAL, AGRICUL
TURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.
The report of this institution has also been filed, giving account of
receipts, expenditures and the general condition of the College. The
amount of appropriation requested this year is $7,622.32. Of this
amount $2,500.00 is for the purpose of completing and equipping
the new industrial building, which, in my judgment, is the most im
portant feature of this college. It is the belief of the Board that
after th^ completion of the building the institution can be run on
an annual State appropriation of $5,000.00. The Board recom
mends that their body be increased by the addition of the State Su
perintendent of Education and the chairmen of the committees on
Education of the House and the Senate. I concur in this recom
mendation in regard to the appropriation asked for.
STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
To the report of the State Hospital there is appended a sketch of
the institution, its origin and development. From this account it
appears that public charity has been recognized in South Carolina?
Province and State?for over two hundred years, and that the Hos
pital itself has been in existence over eighty years, and is therefore
one of the pioneer institutions for the insane in the United States.
Aside from other reasons, the care of the poor and unfortunate is
enjoined upon us by our Constitution. There can be no doubt as to
. the purposes and intentions of our people in the proj>er bestowal
of public charity.
The record of the State Hospital is an honorable one, but there
is no doubt that at times the needs of the institution have been in
excess of the ability of the State to supply them all at one time. The
growth of the institution has, therefore, necessarily been the result
of a slow process of evolution.
The methods of support for beneficiary patients have passed
through several stages. For many years alter its foundation indi
gent patients in the asylum were supported entirely by the districts
or parishes through their commissioners of the poor. Then for a
short time about the close of the war, the State paid one-fourth and
the counties three-fourths of the annual expenses for maintenance,
and finally about 1870, when the counties had fallen hopelessly in
arrears for their quota, the State assumed the whole burden by
adopting the method of "State Care." While this gradual tendency .
towards centralization is interesting in itself, it also raises the ques
tion whether the assumption by the State of the entire, burden of
support does not, in a large measure, explain why, in recent times,
the admissions to the Hospital have comparatively become so exces
sive, now averaging five hundred annually. While in the last
twenty-five years the population of the Hospital has nearly quad
rupled, the expenses have not doubled, and the annual per capita
cost has fallen from over $200 to about $100. For some years the
General Assembly has granted all the appropriations asked for by
the Regents and resident officers. Last year the appropriations for
this purpose amounted to about $140,000, and the same sum is again
asked for, $120,000 of the total being for support proper. To learn
what neighboring States arc paying for the support of their insane
hospitals. I made official inquiries with the appended results:
Virginia, $345,000; Alabama, $191,444; North Carolina, $259,000;
Kentucky, $449,407; Georgia, $325,000; Florida, $85,000. The
State of Kentucky also expends $165,000 for boarding out harmless
-?? Tenncssec the annual per capita allowed
SK "'"to * admi,,cd'?tach i,,$,itu
f/l? vcr ton any other similar Southed, ins.i.ut.on. I find als? .ha.
? X Storing S.a.cs the number of inmates in the ...sane
Lpi als is limited I taw, and that when ?^M^g^
readied new patients cannot be received except when vacancies
reached new pa ^ ^ ^ ^ Col)Scqucntl>, our
occur.
institution seems to serve as a receptacle for all classes of defectives
and unfortunates, who are not otherwise provided for. It is the
rare exception that applications for admission are re used, and
these exceptions are only for non-residents of South Carolina.
The Regents and resident officers seem to take the broadest view
of the purposes of the Hospital and the function it should perform to
the public By fostering the idea of the greatest good to the greatest
number and of restricting the number and classes of patients 4s
little as possible. It hardly becomes the Executive to wish to curtail
the usefulness of the Hospital, yet the question may well again be
asked whether the institution is not frequently imposed upon in the
class of individuals committed to it, and whether after all "State
Care" is not attended with certain deficiencies. The Regents them
selves ask whether greater care and local interest may not be se
cured bv requiring the counties to pay a portion of the expenses
for each patient sent to the Hospital. The present system seems
rather to offer an inducement for each community to place upon the
State burdens and responsibilities which they should assume them
selves in part, at least. We'cannot at this late date take a back
ward step in the care of the insane, but either our appropriations for
that purpose must be greatly increased in the next few years, or
we must devise methods of restricting admissions to the State Hos
pital. Furthermore, there seems little doubt as to the need of the
separation of inebriates and epileptics from the insane proper. But
it is a question whether the State is at present in a financial condition
to undertake the support of another separate charitable institution,
with the prospect of others still later on. Such inmates should lie
placed in separate buildings upon the present property.
My deepest sympathies go out to those unfortunate ones among
our fellow citizens to whom has been denied the blessings of life,
and I have taken pains to bring the noble institution for their home
before you in full detail. They arc fortunate, at least in being under
the faithful and gentle ministrations of the capable and thoughtful
Superintendent of this institution, to whom our State owes a debt
of gratitude. I need not add that I heartily concur in the recom
mendations which are included in this report.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
In conducting such an institution as this our object should be to
care for its inmates with thought fulness and kindness, to keep it
uj)on a plane where humanity and consideration, together with bus
iness judgment, arc never lost sight of. The present management
of the penitentiary and the condition of its affairs show that this
can be accomplished, and I am sure you will agree With me that
our thanks are due to the officers of this institution for the good
work they have done. The report of the Superintendent and Board
of Directors will show that affairs here are in excellent condition,
and this report, with its wise suggestions, is commended to your
careful consideration and favorable action.
The convict statement shows:
Prisoners in confinement Dec. 31, 1902.7c 1
Received under new sentences.216
Recaptured. 8? 224
9?5
Discharged.ly0
Pardoned... I ^
Escaped...
Died. 24? 228
In prison Dec. 31, 1903.g^
The health record, while exceptionally good, shows that 23 of
the 29 deaths resulted from tuberculosis, and it is believed that it will
be impossible to reduce the number of deaths from this cause until,
through the erection of a suitable building, such patients can be iso
lated from the other prisoners. The Superintendent and Board of
Directors request that they be allowed to erect such a building from
their surplus funds, and I earnestly recommend that this be done at
once.
The financial statement shows the following figures ?
^!T.!Ia!h ?" hTd PeC* 3I? 1902.$17,112 14
43
Total receipts for the year 1903. 73!oo8
Current expenses for the year.$56,396 44
Permanent improvements. 5,000 00
Land bought for Ix-xington farm. 800 00
$91.020 5;
Cash in hand, Dec. 31, ,903. tag*? 11
Cash in siRht and available. ? " ' ,'5?, ,,,
$36.35" U
Hits amount i. appears, will be more than necessary {or current
rcZw'S?' " iS fur,hcr '??o'"n.ended that, after Ike
ct on of the b,nl<bnR for consumptives, the balance be used ft*
n farI~ , ? ,T rooms "?<? ??ces. The pro??
quar are ...adequate and I Relieve this ,0 Ik a Rood suggcsU
.on Stat t"' n y?""K Cri"'inals '-'?"?Wished on ,hf Lcxing
pc?sable ?ST .'T^ *?? h m"? ?" *?<A?tC\y in*
tarlv eln?l T * '? M ,ha? rr]^""s ?"eise, are reg.
?*N a 'N*l, reformatory and o? ,h, convict farms,
an of wind, services arc well attended.
THE STATE DO ARD OE HEALTH
Boa d ? k a'airin ?f thc Exra,,iw Committee of this
Z o TjSZ " IT"? 10 whic"' ?Ith .be annual
Thermo, li I^ r ?ard W'" * s,,hmit,?< 'or your consideration.
inte^TeIL",*- Um"m" "cals with ?overal ?ubjects of special
situation T|, nnporlant bei?K ,hc consideration of .be smallpox
c b ,s - : 'SCaSC prpvail?' '" extent, in certain
Woftt T"Vl and t(ricic,U r?P?'s<' ?hieb ...e S.a..
??1'^,called u,?,,. The effective
**? Vhdiffic"" ma!,or'and yo"r TM
gestio,,? with this objec?m vi< w ' " """^ "*
ti? 7^^,"^?"' ,hc """<>"? Election of vital statis
these is 2, S? ?f ,he VnM S'at? Government .0 treat
Ptan is w? f rl V"M imlus,rics a'"' "sources of a State. A
claimed SSfiT Y ^ tMt ma>' accomplished, and it is
d? able *? S,a!iSUCS So,,th Carolina will materially assist
of our Statcm'Krat'?" giVi"8 0,Bcial fitrurcs reKardi"? 1,cal"'
The
le Pure food law and its advantages are discussed, and so are