r.

It is also worthy of note, that good agricultural lands, purchased at
the government price in a new section of the country that is destined to
be filled with new settlers, is always a good investment. The land
rapidly increases in value where the incoming of new settlers causes a
rapid increase in the population.

[Illustration: OAK HILL IN 1905.]

[Illustration: FLOWER GATHERERS FOR DECISION DAY.
February 22, 1910.]

[Illustration: LOU K. EARLY.]

[Illustration: MARY I. WEIMER.]

[Illustration: JO LU WOOLCOTT.]

This annual increase in the value of new land is known as its "unearned
increment." This unearned increment is now accruing to the Board on
every acre that has been purchased. Those that were purchased first have
already doubled in value.

Every acre of land added to the Oak Hill farm at its virgin price means
now, by reason of its annual income and gradual increase in value, a
live unit added to the permanent endowment of the institution and
enlarges the scope of the self-help department.

SELF-SUPPORT MEANS INDEPENDENCE

The negro needs to be taught to be "self-dependent, self-reliant and
self-respecting."

Wherever public schools have been established and supplied with good
teachers and text-books, they have rendered efficient service in
improving the condition of the people. The lack of text-books has caused
many of the rural schools to prove very inefficient, one textbook often
having to serve as many as three pupils, Then there are yet large
sections of some of the southern states in which there are no public
schools for the colored people.

In proportion as the colored people attain a general christian education
and become progressive, industrial workers, do they rise to their
natural inheritance; an inheritance that brings to them what America now
holds of freedom, justice, opportunity and benevolence to the oppressed
of other lands, that are coming a million a year, to locate in this land
of civil and religious freedom.

Among their essential needs to self-support are a fair industrial
opportunity, distribution, education and equal protection of the laws.

Whenever too many unskilled workers, including women and children, crowd
into towns and cities, the number that have to live in poverty-stricken
hovels is greatly increased. Their general health and good morals are
also endangered.

Every youth will do well to adopt the thrilling watchwords of the early
American patriots, "