Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-01-13

resources lof the promotion OF this object, which is
too important to be rendered dependent on the de-
lays or decisions OF any human power, save that
which flows from own authority as the people Of
an independent State.
Tothe diffusion of intelligence through the med
inm Of Common Schools, all profess to be friendly;
and the subject has long furnished a standing
theme Of speculation among us, that IT has lost the
interest OF novelty, yielding little but tre observa-
tons to the truth of which every one gives ready
. assent. Yet it cannot be said that we have ever
realized the benefit of single practical effort 10
establish general system Of Education throughout
] the State. The original act to create a fund for
this purpose, appropriated for it, the money arising
from marriage and tavern licenses from which alone
with the exception OF very small sum derived
from other sources) the present school fund has
been accumulated. Thrty-two years have elaps-
ed since the act went into operation, and the amount
of that fund may be now nominay estimated at one
hundred and sixty-eght thousand seven hundred
| and seyenty-three dollars and forty cents. In this
| estimate. one hundred and tweny-one thousand,
nine hundred and fifty dollars consists of stock of
the Farmers Bank Of the State of Delaware. at
fifty dollars per share eleven thousand, four hun
dred and seventy dollars of stock in the Bank of
Delaware, at three hundred and ten dollars per
share three thousand nine hundred and fifty two
dollars Of stock of the Bank of the United States
at one hundred and twenty three dollars and fifty
cents per share ard twenty thousand dollars OF
stock of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Com
pany, at two hundred dollars per share. The res.
idue is money in the hands olhe trustee not invest
ed. TO ascertain the extent Of our available means
for the establishment OF schools 1t becomes neces-
sary TO inquire what is the revenue annually derlra-
BILE from the proceeds ofmarrage and tavern licen-
ses. From careful examination of this sutjec it
appears that in period Of ten years, commencing
with the first day ofJanuary, eIg hleen hundred and
nineteen, e. ending with the first day of anuary, egh
teen hundred and twenty nine, the number Of mar
riage licenses dispensed in the State was four thou
sand two hundred and ten. Assuming therefore four
hundred twenty-onc as the mean proportion OF mar
riage licenses annually dispensed, the yearly
nue. flowing from this source is the sum ofegt hun
dred and forty two dollars. The number Of tavern
licenses dispensed during period Of ten years, wac
eleven hundred and thirty -seyen, or about one hun,
ared and fourteen per annnm, yielding yearly
nue. of about thirteen hundred and slXty-eght dol
lars. With these facts before the following es-
innate Of the annual income applicable 10 the pur,
poses OF education may be considered sufficiently
accurate.
Annual dividend ON 243o shares Of stock in the
Farmers Bank Of the State of Delaware, or
!, S12l.950 at 5 per cent. c,097 so
Do. do. on 81 shares of stock in the
Bank of Delaware, at $50 per
share TAO 90
Do do. on 50 shares of stock in the
Bank of the United States, at Sc 90
per share 2Oo 10
Proceeds of marriage and tavern IL
censes 2,2lo 90
S9.255 so
Shelving an annual income for the purposes of ed
ucation of nine thousand, two hundred and itty-h
dollars and fifty cents without taking into the esti
mate the sum OF twenty FIVE thousand dollars in stock
Of the chesapeake and Delaware Canal Company
and which is at present uDproaacitfe, OF TIE un'ns
vested balance Of six THOUSAND. Jour hundred and
one dollars and forty cents IA lie hands oI the tr,s
! tee
! II should not be regarded as objection to an
attempt TO introduce schools throughout the State
at this period that the fund will itself, unaded by
anv other resources, be insufficient TO effect the
purpose. Ii did not enter into the imag'natlcns os
those who established it, that i. would ever accom-
psh that design without the subsidiary efforts o.
i the people among whom it might be Distributed. Or
its snciency to the purpose for which ii was
intended, you are now tojudge. ifenongh can he
given IRON the revenue to this fund TO induce vosun~
tarv contributions from the people adequate TO sup
Div ,ts own deficiency or lift can by any be SO
applied as to give successful impulse to system
OF general instruction throughout the State, it will
answer the end anticipated from its establishment.
A division by law ofthe several counties into school
districts appears to be contemplated by the original
act as the first step preparatory 10 the distribution
of this portion of the public money. BY means OF
such division the inhabitants of each district
would learn with whom they are associated in the
business Of education, and unobstrnced by discor-
dant interests may, in the manner they most APP
prove, make such contributions or efforts for the
purpose, as will entte them to a Proportlonable
share of the income Of the fund. Donations and
requests to the State appear to have been anticlpa
led by the trainers of the act, and in this they have
been disappointed But such contributions in favour
of the districts would doubtless be frequently SUI
pernduced by the strength Of local attachments and
personal predictions 1t will remain for the Leg