The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-06

The Common School System Of the State contin.
ues efficient in the discharge OF its important objects
The number Of organized school Districts reported
during the past year, was 10 GIL; and thenumber OF
children taught i'll the common schools during Tho
year was I75,723, being an increase Of 1856 ovei
the number reported the preceding year. The num-
was 1856, in which 32,256 children were taught
making the aggregate Of sol, $40 children, who re-
,ciye instruction in the common and private schools
Of the Snlte. The amount of public money paid FOL
teachers wares, during the year, was SIi390O9 W
and the amount Paid on rate bills Tor teachers wages
was slG6 bi A. being an aggregate OF 81 1922 A
Ultimately connected with The success of our in
stituiion9 Of earnins Is the establishment an sup
puri Of Libraries for the of the public. The libe-
ral and far seeing policy of the law Of 1899 provide
IOr the formation and gradual lncEeas4 OF libraries in
each Of hi school dgtreia OF the State, During The
past year 81 64l Us hnye been expended by the
STATE for this object. Upwards Of one million three
hundred thousand volumes have already been dis
inhulej carrying the means OF mental culture into
every portion oil our Widespread territory. This
tcneiiceni legislation Of The State has recently been
seconded by signal example OF individual literally
the part Of one, who though not q native of our
land had realized in his own career the benefits oi
the iul and fur parlic patton in the privileges which
the liberal policy Of orr institutions extends 10 ALL
without regard TO the place or circumstance Of birth.
John Jacob Astor, n native Of Germany, who lately
died ai an advanced age, in the city Of New York
by his will has devoted The large, and, in this coun.
try, unprecedented amount, of four hundred thou
Rand dollars 70 the foundation and perpetual support
Of library for the use OF the public The trustees
10 HON the management Of this muniicpnt dona-
lion has been committed viii under the directions
Of the will, apply to the Legislature for an ACT Of
incorporation 10 render The management Of The library
and its funds safe and convenient cheeiiuly com
mend their application 10 your enlightened enco,r
ageInant The foundation Of such an institution,
with us treasures oflenrning cannot but be regarded
a. a striking event in the literary history OF orr State.
From le representations made To ne, am led Ia
believe thlt tha restoration Of the office Of County
Superintendent wanld be productive of good 10 the
school system. One OF The injurious consequences
III liz abolition, ! am informed by the Department
1 hal The tcpofl4 for which IL depended wholly an
there officers, greatly diminished III number
End thai inanyoi those received are 50 imperfect a.
10 be pt little value.
The rpnnrt OF the Executive Committee Of the
Normal School win show the condition Of that most
valuable agent in The cause of education This
pchoplis doing q great and good work. II has cea
sed to.he an Spcli,nent and under lis present judi
,inns management, Al Is growing III the confidence
oi his friends, and airac ting the interest OF lnans
who doubted its prarricability or It's useful
ness. r.""
| think the time has arrived when the Stale Is
called upon to make provision for the advancement
q. agricultural science and of knowledge In Tho
mechanic arts. OF late years, the science OF agr
culture has received lnuchattention and its influence
in combination with tho practical labors of those
engaged in the ennobling pnrsuiso of husbandry has
l"4sencd the toll and increased the returns Of the
iers of the soil, Similar influences have produced
rlnlla results, with respect to the mechanic arts
II the wealth, ana power, aud Independence Of ma
lion arG 10 he estimated hy it ability TO supply from
within itself, is most essential wants. and from its
abundance 10 minister 10 tho wants Of Others il is
both wise and polite for the State TO aid the advance.
nent Of those particular branches Of knowledge
moro Immediately bearing upon the pursuits Of the
great producing cIassts.
In this view cannot too strongly recommend
the endowment by The State of an agricultural
school, and school for instruction in the mechanic
Rrts. | would suggest an annual appropriation ic
be expended under the direction Of the Regents o
the University for instructors in the several bancle.
of learning connected with agriculture and the me
chanie arts, The appropriation should be sunicien
10 ensure tho best talents cs the utility Of thu
llan and, ii deemed expcdient, ito duration may ir
the first instance, be limited.