The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-02-15
Gbe Rrgistrr.
MIDDLEBURI. FEB. 10, 1854.
Union Sc hools.

Union Schools.
Last week, VIC gave. concise state
mcnt of the character aud design Of gra-
ded schools and of the extent to which
they have been adopted. The tcstimo-
ny in their favor, wherever they have
e'mc into use, appears to be uniform
anl decided. In the larger villages
Ike ours the most feasible method Of
introducing the system of graduation is
that provided By tie Statutes relating
to Union Schools. \ writer in the
Montpelier U'utchman says
Graded schools are formed in two
ways. undor the provisions of chapter
20 Of the Compiled Statutes First, by
establishing central and other schools
IN the Same district. The manner of
accomplishing this is seen in sections
IS and 81 inclusive 1t has been done
in Brattlcboro'. The other, is by a
union of two or more contiguous dis
tricts. In the latter case, though a new
district is formed, vet the old ones re
t:il their organization, anu conduct
their business as before in the support
Of one or more schools Of low grade ;
but all the advanced scholars are provi-
ded for by the new or Union district.
Tho mode of operating is detailed in
the same chapter. sections 80 to 6j, and
No. 81 Of the Acts Of 1852. Five dis
,ricts in the village of Burlington are
united in this way, and maintain, besides
their primary schools, a large Union
high school in their academy building.
Of $50 scholars, which employs three
teachers.
An application of this Principle to
our own village would, we are sure, cf-
feet an important and very desirable
Transformation in the condition Of our
schools. The system requires more
thorough organization. both Of the dis
tricts and of TIE schools than we can at
present boast, aud would be likely to
awaken more lively interest in these
matters. the want of which has been pre-
viou,ly felt By thoso who have had this
business in charge
MIR. Foors Pacific Railroad Bill.
A new plan for the construction Of
a Railroad to the Pacific coast was in
tro luccl in the Senate by Hon. Solo
MON FooT, Of this State, on the 31st
ult. The bill is published in the Ma
tional hdelligenc,r. We lave not
room for it entire this week. We find
the following statement of its rrinci
pal features in an exchange paper:
Tho Company is to be organized un>
der the name Of the g. Pacific Rail
road Company with a capittl stock
Of seventyfyc million dollars, or more,
if required one.third to be subsc,ib-
ell for by individual stockholders, ten
dollars advanced on each share; ohc
third to be loaned to the Company by
the Government, the principal and i'll
tcrcst to be repaid by 1885 and ono
thru to be granted the Company by
Government pcrretually without inter
est.
10 locate the road and 70 attend to
preliminaries in the organization of the
company, tbs bill provides for creating
commission Of one from each State,
(thirty-onc in all y the name Of each
designated. The commission is to meet
two months after the passage Of the
act, and to be allowed six months in
which to locate the road. 1t is to
close its labors within twelve months,
and to receive eight dollars FER day
for the time employed.
When the road is located, books are
to be opened, and closed two months
thereafter.
The whole number Of shares is to
be seven hundred and fifty thousand,
of which two hundred and fifty thous-
and are to DO subscribed by individual
stockholders, ten dollars advance on
each share giving two and half. mill
ions; adding to which five millions Gov
ernment it makes seven and half
millions, which is to commence the work.
Three Commissioners are to be ap-
pointed by the Government to act in
its behalf. The terminus of the road
is to be III the Territories, and its DIFF
ferent parts are to he connected with it
by telegraph. For one-third of the
stock, the Government have free use
of the roads to transport the mails,
troops, ETC.; and the road is to be
mortgaged for the other third. Six
years are allowed in which to complete
the road. No alternate sections Of
land are given.
WASHINGTON CouNTY. "A county
Temperance Convention was held at
Montpelier on the 4th inst. Among the
resolutions passed was this very sensi-
bic ono-taking tho true ground which
the State Convention appears to have
overlooked or misapprehcnded
Resolred, That We congratulate the
friends Of Law and Order on the tri-
umph of the principle of Prohibition in
the late crisis Of its passage in the Leg
stature and while we regret the pas