Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-05-07

her house at $4,000. That is all we can afford
and in debt for that We ask those of our cap
talist who are making these outcries about our
poverty, are they willing to take the compara-
tive value of school houses in these towns and
our own, as the index, Of our comparative
wealth, business, enterprise, and hberalityi If
they are not, we can assure them the world will
Judge them by this standard. And we know Of
no other by which they may be more justly
tried. just look at 1t gentlemen. Troy, with
a population just about equal TO our owr, has
$4,000 invested in school buildings, while
Salem, If some men may be believed, is fairly
crushed, Bank and all (the Bank so badly that
il has repudiated her taxi by a few hundred
dollars debt still due on her immense invest
ment of 50 900 in her one little common school
house If this does not give correct esti-
mate of our wealth and business enterprise, it
does certainly show what is our estim ate of the
Importance of education and general inteli-
gence.
Let us look at this in another light and see
If as poor as we arc, we cannot afford it.
Crceville with population of 1000 double
that of Salem) has during the year had FREE
SCHOOLS, for all of her 1900 children and
youth. Rich and poor have there met togeth-
or and enjoyed common advantages, during 40
weeks of the year. They have houses ample
for their accommodation. To pay teachers and
all the incidental expenses of the school, they
have only taxed the property to the amount of
three mills upon the dollar over and above the
common school tax. That is, the man who has
$1,000 worth of property, has had to pay an ad-
ditonal tax of three dollars to sustain the pub
lie schools, and as an equivalent for this he has
had the benefit OF these public schools for all
the children of his family, even if they were as
numerous as those of the celebrated John Rog-
crs Aud all his poor ncighbors. though not
worth ono cent, have had the same benefits for
their children, even if blessed with the like
number. While his richer neigh bors have had
the same benefits by paying in the same pro.
portion.
But how is it with us in Salem where it is
said VIC are too poor to build n school house for
our children. Why we have been saving money
that we might get up little in the world, and
we have been somewhat successful. We have
saved our building money, GLORIOUS consola-
tion)-We have saved tho three mills on the
dollar tax, (still moro glorious.) And then if
our children were advanced beyond the point
of education fixed in our primary schools, or if
they were crowded out of the school house for
want of room, why We have had the comfort of
their company at home or else at an expense of
g., a. Ill e..
schol lar we could send them to a private school.
This in the case of one of tho aforesaid John
Rogers families, would amount to at least the
clever sum of $l00 year instead of the three
dollars tax paid by our Circleville ncighbors,
for superior advantages. That is what we call
being ".penny ioise aud pound foolish"
1t may be stated thnt schools have not been
sustained in a cheaper manner in Circlevillc
than anywhere else. They employed there l3
teachers paying them liberal wages. The SUI
perintcndcnt receiving $1,000 per annum. In
not one half the towns where Union schools
were in successful operation during 1852 did
they levy the tax 70 the extent of the law. In
several, no additional tax was levied. The
common school fund with the foreign scholars
sustaining the schools. In other places the tax
levied varied from one to four mills on the dol
lar. For particulars, see statistics in the Ohio
School Journal for February last.
But really, let US see how much it will cost,
if we should undertake to strain a point and
build school house in Salem, that should be
adequate to our wants. First, we have now
good building for primary school and one that
would be adequate to the purpose, wo then
only want one for the high school. After
making and carefully examining a plan, that
seems to us every way, ample, we arc satisfied
that 81 900 would cover all expenses-givo us
every needed convenience and a building that
would be an honor and an ornament to our
Village.
Let us sec how much this would increase
our tax. We weie told to-day of man who
Lad ciphered it out, and ascertained that it
would cost not less than $4,000 provided we
borrowed the money to do it. That man will
certainly suffer less if he will go to school
while and study interest little more carefully.
He must have been educated before high schools
came in fashion, or in some town which could
not afford one, because it would make tho taxes
too high.
Let us too figure little and see If we can
come at any more favorable result.
The Taxable property of the District is as
near as we can ascertain, 100000.
To build school house with fixtures worth
$1,000 would require 2per cent, on this amount,
paid all down. No one however proposes to do
this.
Suppose the people to vote loan, say to bo
paid back in annual payments. The loan to be
$1,000 and rate of interest per cent, per
annum. To pay the debt principal and interest,
in7 years would require the levying of an an