s; thus making it possible to erect buildings entirely by the
aid of colored workmen and principally by student labor.

THE BOLL WEEVIL

In 1903 the Mexican boll weevil in its northward migration from
Brownsville, Texas, crossed Red river and, during the next seven years,
continued to deprive the farmers in the country north of that river of
all profit on the cotton, their principal money crop; and greatly to
injure the corn, their food crop. These long repeated ravages of the
weevil came at a time when the colored people were by no means prepared
to meet them.

In 1904 and 1905 they had been allotted 40 acres of unimproved timber
lands appraised at $3.23 an acre, or $130. The allotment was the
occasion of many changes in their location. They were really pioneer
settlers, in their own native country and without funds to make needed
improvements. They were happy in the possession of a home they could
call their own, and entertained great hopes for the future. But this new
and destructive pest, year after year for seven years, completely
checked the prosperity they had so hopefully anticipated. The years came
and went and they had nothing to sell worthy of mention to bring them
money.

In April 1905, at the first meeting of the Presbytery after the
reopening, many of the colored people voluntarily and enthusiastically
united in making pledges for the purchase of the land needed for the
buildings and farm at Oak Hill. But of the many generous hearted
friends, who united in pledging about $300.00 at this time, only
ministers and teachers receiving aid from the board, and a couple of
others ever became able to pay these pledges.

Parents bringing their children to school, with only a few or no dollars
in hand, would make pledges of payment during the term. The amount
proposed was $25.00 for boarding a pupil seven months, about one half
the real cost. When they became convinced they had no money to send,
some would send for their children during the term, while others would
leave them at the end of the term without notice, and even make it
necessary for the superintendent to pay their way home.

These disappointing experiences had a two-fold effect on the school.
They meant the loss, not merely of some expected income, but almost
invariably of the pupil and patron, and the constant change of the
student body prevents the development of the higher grades which must be
reached by the students, if the school is to accom