Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-05

in the CONTROLLERS report at $9ssoO, 6s6 0s but
am satisfied this valuation Is too low and as
sumo as fair estimate that the lands OF the State
with their improvements, are worth on an average
"A per acre-making $l28 100000 Add to this
300 600 slaves worth on an average $500 each, and
we have $3.50 OOOO 900 more; and then add to this
live stock, worth $40, 100000, shipping lumber,
naval stores cotton and wheat in hand and tobacco,
manufactured and unmanufactured-al ready for
market, and that can be spared-money at interest,
stocks in banks State securities, and all other per-
sonal property of whatsoever kind, and we have an
aggregate of not less than five hundred millions OF
dollars, the cash valuation OF North Carolina;
showing an increase in wealth since 1910, of one
hundred and fifty per cent, or, on an average, OF
nine per cent. per annum.
In lS4O when common schools were established,
there were but two colleges in the State, but one
hundred and forty academies, and but six hundred
and thirty-two primary or old field schools.
There were at these colleges about 175 students at
academies about 5000. and at all the other schools
about Is, OOO-making in ALL male and female, about
10000 Now there are six male, and about ten
female colleges; not less than $50 academies and
institutes; and $500 primary or common schools
There are now at colleges not less than 1900 stu
dents, at academies IL 600, and at common schools
about 40, OOO-making, in ALL $500 of the 215,-
900 children of the State, between and 81, con-
stany at school. One cheering fact is that all the
new counties and new towns at once 60 to work to
| of the older communities in the State seem to have
received new educational life. The new county Of
Polk has, for example, recently appropriated 3d..
600 for a school in which to educate common school
teachers: and if even half the counties in the State
would .'go and do likewise" the deficiency in our
system in this respect, so seriously felt, would
| soon be remedied.
| In 1s45. there was distributed by the literary
board for common schools-the counties raising by
taxation half The amount-the sum of $97, 652 "A;
knni in oil
per annum disbnrsed and raised, STAG, 700. In
1855, 1885, and 1857, there was distributed by the
board for each year the sum of $50, S6O-making,
with the amount raised by the counties, the sum of
S271 800; showing increase in ten years OF the
| amount appropriated to common schools OF $l24, 62O
per annum This increase in the amount distributed
by the board, is mainly owing to the increased dlvl
dends on bank stock and to the income OF $24, OOO
per annum from the Wilmington and Weldon rail-
road.
In 1910, the permanent fund for common schools,
l. exclusive of the swamp lands, about 81 500 O0O
OF this amount however, 5000 900 were in the stock
of the Wilmington and W edon railroad, then un-
productive, leaving only 81 100000 in productive
stocks. Now. the permanent fund, exclusive OF
swamp lands, is as follows:
5,o27 shares in the Bank of the State, at 800
| each S5027O0 90
each 544,4oo 90
1000 shares in the Wilmington and Weldon
railroad, at 500 each, 100000 90
1000 shares in the Wilmington and Manches-
ter road, 800 each, 100000 90
$50 shares in the Cape Fear Navigation Co.. ,-o,o M
nj siMo each. $4,000 90
Amount Si due by the State on bonds, $4,000 90
| by Wilmington and Weldon rail-
by Literary Institutions, 1884 80
| bv Individuals 1871 IL
Making, sa,l5o, AS ~
Two hundred thousand dollars of these stocks, to
wit, in the Wilmington and Manchester company,
are not yet productive; while the Cape Fear Navi-
CATION is paying but four, and the Roanoke but one
per cent; vet the day is at hand when the Will
lnngton and Manchester will pay six per cent. and
the value above par of the lO,47l shares of bank
stock would more than cover-what trust will not
happen-the entire loss Of the Cape Fear and Roam.
oke Navigation stocks. So the foregoing amount of
S2156745 ~ may be safely assumed as the perma.
nent productive fund in hand This does not
include the swamp lands which must after time,
be a source Of considerable income to the permanent
fund ; the tax retailers and auctioneers, and
entries of vacant lands, which increasing every
year.
lay his selfish itching palm upon it! 1t is the result
of long years of anxious effort, and it has been SOL
EMMY dedicated to the nobest object that en-
gage the attention of free people. Let US guard
it with jealous caro- and let strive by all just
means, to add to it. and thus extend and deepen its
field of usefulness.
There are persons here who remember when
there was no fund like this, nor indeed any fund
and when there was not more than one " old-ield'
school to every ten miles square. We never for
get 1.-THE thirst for knowledge, and the want o
means to acquire knowledge. The rude cabins ir
which studied our first lessons the long and wea
nv walks to school; the books thumbcd and ovel
which we pored-Pike, Webster, the Columbian
Orator-al besides the Bible, that we had the pot
hooks and hangers we constructed never getting
hung ourselves, in Practice in I" Tare ant
Tret;" the rivalry in spelling, and the trapping
thereupon; the masters looks with well. brushed
} clothes, hs watch in fob, with shining silver key
his face so gravcy kind, checking the hayward, en-
couraging the diligent, and drawing out the timid
his conscentiousncss, doing his whole duty by tn,
boys, and by the redlipped, bright-eyed girls, fo
Just Sc by the year, duly subscribed before tn,
school begun; the rustic play grounds and the mos
sy spring, by which, in the thick shade, took ou
meals at noon; ; the ghosts we thought saw, re
turning home late in the biting or the mellow eve
; the awe with which we looked out the grea
world, so far away from U.S. and yet so near !; tn
poverty that logged our steps and barred our way
yet fitted US for life and made US happy, though WI
knew it not-and the States poverty, which deniet
us mental food all this is fresh before of yes
terday craven memories in lines of fire -
and if ever forget those boys and girls, now mel
and women, or their children after them, or thei
chldrens children; and if forsake this, thei
cause, as it once was mine, may my arm be palsie
4 and my tongue be dumb!
n Nor has the progress Of the University during tn
!. last ten years been less remarkable and gratifying
i. than that of common schools. In 1867, the fac
}, ulty consisted of but ten professors and tutors
# now, there are seventeen. In 1S47 there n
l., scien tc school attached to the University; now
there is with sixty-nine pupils. In 1867
there 1876 matriculates; now, there are No.
n In l947 there SO graduates; at the late com
e mencement there So. The increase in the Ii