Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-10-31
CIRCULAR

CIRCULAR
TO SCHOOL INSPECTORS AND
DIRECTORS.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIcI
INSTRUCTION,
Iowa City, Iowa, Sept. 18th, 1843.)
Sir send you herewith the neces-
sary blank form for your annual report,
the first division Of which embraces the
general statement required by the 39th
section of the school law. The second
division is designed to include such addi,
tlonal information as is contemplated in
tho latter clause Of the 9th specification
of the same section. In the first you will
observe a section appropriated for the
amount Of funds set apart, and paid over
for the support Of schools, and the re-
spective sources from which it has ac-
crued, at the bottom of which, in the same
columns, is space for funds Of the same
class not paid over. presume your re-
port for the present year will consis,
chiefly Of this latter class While an
of opinion that, according 10 law, the
county school tax belongs to the pernla-
nent fund, | have seen proper to include
it with moneys appropriated for immedi-
ate distribution among the several school
districts, as | have no hes!tancy in be-
lev!ng that It was designed for this pur-
pose, and will be appropriated by spc-
clal act Of the Legislature when it con-
venes. Please observe the utmost pre-
caution in making out and recording each
particular item in a plain, Iegible style,
us Il word or figure impe rfectly written,
or partially obiterated by blots or stains,
often renders it almost impossible to de-
'ermin the meaning Of the writer. And
| would here remark that many Of the
reports heretofore made to this office are
very defective in this particular. Per-
mt me to urge upon you the absolute ne
ccssity Of accuracy in this respect. Each
word and figure particularly the lat,cr)
should be made plain ard distinct. The
above statistics accurately set forth in
your report, will enable me to lay be-
fore the General Assembly fund Of in
formation, which will greatly facilitate
them in their Legislation relative to our
common school system. Indeed many Of
the inaccuracies Of our present school
arc doubtless attributable TO the want of
this information. feel assured there
fore, that, from the nteres: you have in
common with the rest Of our citizens on
the subject, you will not fail to furnish
them, even though it may require more
,|t
under our imperfect organization.
BY the Goth section Of the law it is
made my duty to apporlion the in,crcs.
Of the permanent fund among the several
Fund Commissioners on the first Iay Of
January, The same day II is made payable
al your office. 1t is obvious that this
could not be done, as would be totally
ignorant OF the amount actually paid in.
10 remove this difficulty, you will please
report to me promptly, Immediately after
the first of January, the amount Of inter-
est paid over to you on that day. In the
meantime shall recommend to the Gen
eral Assembly to postpone the day Of dis
trlbutlon till tho 10th Of January, which
will afford you ample time 70 forward
your special report.
My attention has been directed to the
pay Of. Trustees and Surveyors for The
allotment Of the 10th sections. There is
no provision made for their compensa-
ton in the law. am under the impress
sion that the allotment, contemplated in
the first section Of the act to provide for
the management and disposition Of tie
school fund, was to be by imaginary lines,
instead Of an actual surrey, except in
cases Of fractions, where an actual sur
vey would be necessary to determine the
area. | feel satisfied that the Legislature
will promptly allow all necessary expense
incurred in the allotment. would the re-
fore request, in every instance where the
Trustees have deemed an actual survey
requisite, that you forward to me the
bill for the same prior to the meeting Of
the General Assembly, that l may lay it
before them in my annual report.
AS observed in my communication OF
June last, none of the selections made last
year as part Of the 100000 acre grant
have been approved by the government.
Indeed many OF them have subsequently
been entered at the Land Office. For
official information on this subject beg
to refer you to the accompanying letters
from the Registers Of the several Land
Offices of this State. In every instance
where selection was made prior to their
respective dates, the purchase money
should be promptly refunded TO tile pur-
chaser, a receipt taken for the same, (em-
bracing the date Of the contract and
description of the land,) and the bonds
Cancelled, except in those cases where the
land has not been entered, and the pur-
chaser still desires to retain it; in which
even: the old contract should be Cancelled,
and new one entered into and the land
Immediately reported to this office.
Some inquiry has been made relative
to the selection Of lands granted in lieu Of
the 10th sections. For full information
on this subject, please refer to the sub
Joined general circular Of the Commits