Part 17 (1/2)

In concluding his annual report each year Mr. Was.h.i.+ngton would summarize the immediate needs of the inst.i.tution. In his last report he thus stated them:

1. $50 a year for annual scholars.h.i.+ps for tuition for one student, the student himself providing for his own board and other personal expenses in labor and cash.

2. $1,200 for permanent scholars.h.i.+ps.

3. Money for operating expenses in any amounts, however small.

4. $2,000 each for four teachers' cottages.

5. $40,000 for a building for religious purposes.

6. $16,000 to complete the Boys' Trades Building.

7. $50,000 for a Boys' Dormitory.

8. $50,000 for a Girls' Dormitory.

9. An addition to our Endowment Fund of at least $3,000,000.

A few months later, as he lay dying in a New York hospital, the following letter was received for him at Tuskegee. It was at once forwarded and pa.s.sed him on his last journey to his home in the South.

He never saw it. The donor, a Northern friend who withholds his name, has renewed the offer to the Trustees and they have accepted it.

_November 8, 1915._

_Dr. Booker T. Was.h.i.+ngton, Tuskegee Inst.i.tute, Alabama._

DEAR MR. WAs.h.i.+NGTON: I have read your annual report and also your treasurer's report, and make you the following proposition: If you will raise enough money to pay all of your debts up to May 1, 1916, and add two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to your endowment fund, I will give you the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for your building fund, to be used in building the items such as Nos.

4, 6, 7, 8, and the ”Barnes, etc.,” mentioned under the head of ”Special Needs,” and for objects of similar character.

The above does not include item No. 5, ”Building for religious purposes,” as I am not interested in that sort of work. I shall be glad to know whether this proposition interests you.

Yours very truly,

The interest of this giver was first _aroused_ by his reading ”Up from Slavery” when it appeared in book form in 1901. As soon as he had read the book he sent Dr. Was.h.i.+ngton a check for $10,000 for his work which he has renewed each year since until he made the above offer.

”Up from Slavery” has brought more money to Tuskegee than all the other books, articles, speeches, and circulars written by Mr.

Was.h.i.+ngton himself and the many others who have written or spoken about him and his work. Among its larger immediate results, aside from awakening the interest of the anonymous giver already mentioned, was its similar effect upon the late H.H. Rogers, Vice-President and active head at the time of the Standard Oil Company, and upon Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Rogers became so much interested that he not only gave large sums for the general needs of Tuskegee but eventually financed a large part of the rural school extension work, which has been described in earlier chapters, and which is now so important a part of the school's activities. Under Booker Was.h.i.+ngton's inspiration and guidance, too, Mr. Rogers later combined railroad building with race building. In building his Virginia railroad he undertook a wide-reaching work in agricultural education among the Negro farmers living within carting distance of his road. Booker Was.h.i.+ngton had demonstrated to his satisfaction that by increasing at the same time their wants and their ability to gratify their wants he would be building up business for his railroad.

Shortly after the publication in 1901 of ”Up from Slavery,” Frank N.

Doubleday, of Doubleday, Page & Co., the publishers of the book, in playing golf with Mr. Carnegie mentioned Booker Was.h.i.+ngton and told him something of his life. Mr. Carnegie was interested and wanted to know more. Mr. Doubleday gave him a copy of ”Up from Slavery.” After reading the book he immediately got into communication with the author, told him of his interest in his life and work, and of his desire to help him. The result was that Mr. Carnegie agreed to pay for the construction and equipment of a library to be built by the students. Booker Was.h.i.+ngton, his Executive Council, and the school's architect, spent hours and hours of time in scrutinizing every detail to bring the cost down to the smallest possible figure consistent with an adequate result. The final cost to Mr. Carnegie was only $15,000.

Mr. Carnegie was amazed that so large, convenient, and dignified a building could be built at so small a cost. Over and over again both to Mr. Was.h.i.+ngton and to friends of the school he expressed his surprise and pleasure at the result obtained by this relatively small expenditure. After that there was no doubt he would do more for the school. It was simply a question of how much more and what form it would take. In 1903 the following letter was received by the late William H. Baldwin, Jr., in his capacity as president of the Tuskegee Board of Trustees.

_Andrew Carnegie_ _2 East 91st Street, New York_

_New York, April 17, 1903._

MY DEAR MR. BALDWIN: I have instructed Mr. Franks, Secretary, to deliver to you as Trustee of Tuskegee $600,000 of 5 per cent. U.S. Steel Company bonds to complete the Endowment Fund as per circular.

One condition only--the revenue of one hundred and fifty thousand of these bonds is to be subject to Booker Was.h.i.+ngton's order to be used by him first for his wants and those of his family during his life or the life of his widow--if any surplus is left he can use it for Tuskegee. I wish that great and good man to be free from pecuniary cares that he may devote himself wholly to his great Mission.