The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-14
s9O6,s22 %
$s59.S45 SO

Total expenditure for school purposes
IN lc3S, Ioo,obS ~
The whole amount Of public money received
from all sources during the year ending on the
first day of July last, by the several town supern-
tendents, was sl,o35,e54 50, Of which S73O, 79s IL
have been apportIoned among the several districts,
IN the mode prescribed by law, for teachers wages,
t9l 1868 80 for library purposes, and the residue for
contingent expenses in the several cities and large
towns, where special provisions Of law exist.
The number OF private unlD corporated and Sc
lect schools in the State is reported at 697, and
abe aggregate number OF pupils n attend tnce upon
such SCHOOLS during the year 1919, alto, sos.
IMPROVEMENT AND MANAGEMENT or THE COMMON
SCHOOL FUND.
The accompanying tasle, marked u, contains
statement furnished by the Comptroller, showing
the increase ana dimnulion &c The capital of the
Common School Fund, during the year ending on
the 3Oth OF September last aud the present revenue
OF that fund, by which II will appear that the CAPT
tai Of this fund hn been increased during the year
by the sum Of ti7 100 81; and that the balance Of
revenue now In the treasury, applicable TO COM
mon school purposes, in addition TO the revenue
eccruinR from the United States Oeposite Fund, is
3l37,52i on. The amount of revenue annually
contributed TO this object from the avals Of the
Deposite Fund IL tl6D,OOO, which, added 10 the
amount above stated accruing from the Common
school Fund, gives an aggregate OF 500 52i 0T,
the present revenue OF the combined funds As undsr
the existing provisions Of law, not only the capital
but the revenue Of this fund, ~ constantly and
STEADILY increasing. no good reason ~ perceived
why The apportonment for the ensuing year,
ne ascertaned by the census lust completed, may
not be increase from s2-5, OOJ to $4,000. This
amount IN connection with the sums required by
the present law 70 be rased upon the several coun
ties and towns, by The respective boards Of super
yisoTs, will contribute 500, 900 to the support of
scboos and distinct libraries for the ensuing year,
independently OF any other provision; leaving only
about s5OO,OO0 10 be raised by district atom in
the enure State including the several cities where
nearly one half 20 this amount is already provided
for By special laws II. however. the system Of
district taxation shall be wholly dispensed with,
measure which II Is earnestly hoped will be adopted,
and an adequate system Of STATE county taxa
tion substituted Ia ts stead this liberal incre OF
fhe State superintendent will materially lessen the
amount thus required to be raised.
DISTRICT LIBRARIES.
The whole number Of volumes in the several
school district Libraries of the State, on the 3ls Of
December, 1919, was Las, $50, being an increase
OF iO,Iyb volumes during the year reported, aud
comprising an average Of III volumes 10 each
school district.
The system of district Libraries is one peculiar,
II 10 believed, TO our own State. Attempts have
from time to time been made 10 Introduce IL into
the school organizations Of other States but hither-
TO without permanent success. Its benefits are
beyond the reach OF computation. II places at the
command Of every inhabitant of every school die
trict IN the State, collection Of literary and scien
fihc information, embracing every department Of
useful and practical knowledge, and well adapted
to excite a taste in the minds o the young for
reading and reflection In the absence, however
of any efficient local supervision, there s too much
reason to believe that many Of these libraries are
cupably neglected by those officers, whose special
duty IL rs TO take charge OF them; and that very
large proportion Of the benefits which might other
wise be derived from them, are thus lost to the in
hsbltsnts Of the districts lnjudicous selections Of
books are also not unfrequenty made by the uus-
tees, and the library funds committed TO their
charge squandered upon worthless worse than
worthless publications The at,entan Of the Le-
issture is respectfully requested 10 the expedency
of such modification Of The law in this respect,
as shall more efiectually secure the efficiency and
utility Of these institutions.
The superintendent begs leave to renewkhe sug-
geston made in the last annual report from this
department, IN reference 10 the exped cy of sup
plying each district library OF the State with a
copy of Webser's unabridged American Dictio1-
Ay. II " IN every respect quite desirable that our
stsad erds Of photography and orthoepy should be
ne far ss possible uniiOrm throu ghout the State;
end public opinion seems 10 have concentrated
sHelf with very general unanimity upon those com.
prised in this work "A portion Of the library fund
might not inaPProPriatey be devoted to this i'm
porIsnt object