The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.3, page 316, Apr. 1893, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers &c. The money would go largely into increasing the teaching power and productive value of the present industries. Many of the industries are now operated at a great disadvantage for want of a capita] with which to supply material in large quantities; better machinery and tools, and tin] some cases stronger instructors. (3) Tuskegee has always steered clear of all denominationalism, hence reaches all classes and spends no time in spreading sectarian doctrines. (4) It has a boarding department and is in the country away from the influence of city life which often tends to educate the young colored men and women away from the masses. (5) The work that Tuskegee is doing is past the experimental period. Its value is shown by the fact that its graduates are engaged as leaders in all lines of industrial work and are in constant demand. One graduate who learned brick-making here superintended last year the manufacture of 600,000 bricks. The people are the practical value of this training. The school has a system of contracts which compels the students to remain at a trade or industry ~ or 3 years. (6) The literary course of study at Tuskegee is confined to a plain English education going far enough into the sciences mathematics and general literature to enable the students to understand the principles of the industries and to form the habit and love of study. (7) The industrial system fully developed here could be made to serve as a great object lesson in the way of industrial education in this part of the South. The Negro is not yet sure of his own ability. It has been proven that the white man can succeed in what he undertakes. It has been proven that the Negro can be developed under the immediate control of the white man. It remains to be proved how far the Negro can develop under his own direction. Nothing helps and encourages a Negro so much as to see one of his own number succeed. Does not the success of Tuskegee in the past argue well for its success in the future if properly helped on its feet, with a larger sum of money? Success here, wholly under the control of Negro instructors, would give the masses of the colored people a confidence and stimulus, that few other things could by reason of the object lesson furnished. Yours truly, Booker T. Washington TLpS Con. ~o6 BTW Papers DLC. 316