College Need Being Filled

HELLO FOLKS! — There are 4,000 more people in the world now than were an hour ago.

One fifth of the world population is white or Christian.

We in America are six per cent of the worlds wealth. Of that six per cent, American farmers are in the upper two per cent. This is because of the capital necessary to produce enough to earn comparable income with the balance of the population.

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IF WE WERE TO consider the world from the creation until now as a 24 hour day, we have made more progress in the last 15 minutes until midnight than in the whole 23 and three fourths other hours.

At one time it took 90 per cent of the population to produce enough food to feed the world. Today it takes less than seven per cent to feed everyone on a far better diet.

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THERE IS IN Albert Lea a group of citizens dedicated to the creation of a new college. They are in the process of gathering enough funds to get the program underway.

These men deserve our deepest respect and loyal support. Albert Lea needs a college and a site has been picked on one of the most desirable pieces of land one could imagine. 

It is easy to criticize and laugh at such a project, and while I have heard very little negative thought concerning it there is sure to be some. It could come from well meaning citizens, too.

It might be well to take a look back and see what has been the result of lack of foresight in the past. Then if there are any who want to go ahead with ridicule, let them know what they are doing to themselves and the community.

Had One, Once

Years ago Albert Lea had a college. Had the success of it been pursued with vigor it would have been a great asset to Albert Lea all these years and a greater asset for the future. We will all readily agree that it should never have been allowed to die.

Also, years ago the State educational Department wanted Albert Lea to install a vocational school. Albert Leans failed to take action and it went to Austin—currently a great asset to that city, much to Albert Lea's chagrin.

Today there is a revived effort to try to get such a school started. Nothing but Herculean effort can get the job done today. Albert Lea just missed the 'boat'. It may not be around again.

These are just two of the major things Albert Lea has missed in the past. It is not a pleasant thing to have to mention these things but if it will help us in the future and keep us from listening to the 'knockers' who are pretty apt to come along, it will have been worth it. 

We are just in the infancy of the educational boom. I am sure that in the future we will find ourselves more and more educated. 

If it is the least bit important that we have a college in Freeborn now it will be many times more important 10, 20, and 30 years from now.