Columbia gazette., 1854-02-18

terest OF s. OF State Indebtedness, am
the township in either c.se, then locate
their two sections elsewhere.
The interest only Of the school func
can be used-hcncc, I suggest that th.
settlers on the 10th and 36th sections
who choose to decline the exercise o
their pre-emptiou rights with the U. S
government, be permitted, with consent
Of the township School Commissioners
to file their bonds to the township with
lien upon the lands, providing for ths
payment of 81 % per acre aftsr---
years, and paying IN Advance each year
the interest upon the same at the rat.
of 10 per cent. per annum to the prop
er officer for township school purposes
Thus, ifthe whole of the school land
in each township of SO sections be set
tied upon, they would produce to the
township Is miles squafe) the annual
interest Con best security Of $l60 on
$1,000 of capital.
Each township of six miles square
may be expected to maintain school,
and this sum, though small, would be
sensibly felt in the ruraa districts of the
State, being applied only to cases where
the town School Commissioners deem it
preferable to locating elsewhere their
two sections. 1t must be borne always
in mind, that the 10th and 36th sections
belong peculiarly to purposes of educa-
tion, acithin the township, and cannot
properly 90 to the State fund. An Act
to regulate the manner of proceeding in
this relation becomes impcratively nee
essary. 1t may be expected that the
people of the township, Immediately in
terestcd, will better than any body else,
husband the small means provided, and
they should be sustained by the nccessa-
ry enactments of law.
| Provision should be made ip every
township now established; and in every
township sf six miles square as soon as
surveyed, got only for the election of
School Commissioners, but also for the
levyipg Of such rates of taxation as they
may deem necessary to support one or
more schools, free Of charge 10 eaHfAs
children acithin the iommshiip. This
should be xadc imperative: and in the
event Of any township failing to take
such action, 1t should be made the duty
of the County Superintendent to re-
commend, and the Court of Sessions, or
the County Supervisors to confirm, sab
ject to their modification, the rate of
taxation for school purposes within the
township 50 ncglecting the duty.
An Act amcndatory to tie existing
law, comprising the above named, as
we'll as an amendment to section 4 of
article 3 of tie Act of 1852, providing
that the school moneys shall be distri-
butcd in proportion 20 the acreage atten-
dance, instead of the number resident, 1
deem Of pressing Importance to the sue
cess of the system Under existing law,
it is made the interest Of the schools es-
tablished within district, to prevent
the establishment of others, to share the
funds. Some districts have large sums
now lying idle, by reason of this clause
in the law, whilst others, with larger
attendance of pupils, are suffering, if
not discontinued, for lack of FUNDS.
The inquiry, what shall be done in
respect to the remaining 26s, ,32O acres
Of the 500 600 acres, / should answer
in this way l would suggest that the
Act of 1852 for the disposition ofthese
lands BE- so modified as to reduce the
price to 81 % the acre, payable within
years to all actual settlers; pay
ment to be secured to the school fund;
and the failure to pay 10 per cent. per
annum interest, IN adronee, to the Coun-
ty Treasurer of the county wherein the
land may be situated; and the forward
ing of the Treasurers duplicate receipt
therefor to the Comptroller of State, to
be charged against hun; should work a
forfeiture. aud subject the land to sale
for the use of the school fund, to high
est bidder. / would further suggest,
that parties locating and pot occupying,
should pay $--the acre, in cash or
State securities, or within u--years:
and that upon the payment of the inter-
est Of 10 per cent. one year in advance,
in cash or State securities, they receive
certifeatec of ownership, emitting them
to register as the agents of the State.
and providing therein for a forfeiture of
title by non-payment of the subsequent
annual interest, in advance, as before
suggested.
The seminary lands awaiting ouly the
U. S. surveys to be fully and conclu-
sively located, l recommended to be
placed, at once, under the entire title.
control, and management of the Board
of Regents Of University, which l can
not doubt the Legislature will provide
for at an early day, in can Act to es-
tablish the California State University y
| 1t may be expected that the regents