Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-01-12

/, Legislature aud to the local authorities the
necessity OF prudence anI the most careful
economy.
! Few citizens, ] trust, are disposed to
nbtidge tue means and opportunities ef edu.
| cation now offered to the youth ol the State
They know that the power created BY edu-
catlor, and mode available in al forms of
labor, 10 ali processes of art, and iG every
sphere of useful action, is worth many times
It's cost They feel, however, that the cost
is great, AMI care is needed, lest by inprov-
dence and extravagance dissffecton may be
excited toSafds a system So beneficent.
With view to the increased efficiency
Of the system again direct the attention
OF the Legislature to the propriety of more
effective aid to Teachers Institutes, and Of
some provision for agents to bc appointed
by the State Commissioner to fulfil those
duties of addressing public meetings and
conierring personally with local authorities,
now imposed on that officer, but impossible
to be adequately performed without prejudice
TO demands on his time and attention even
more important.
| with view to greater, economy, IL de-
serves inquiry whether some additional limi-
tations may not be usefully imposed on the
powers now exercised by the Township
Boards Of EIuca,ion. .......
The interest OF the Irreducibe debt aris.
ing from sales of School Lands is now dis
tributed among the counties according to
their respective interests in such lands. In
the counties il is again distributed among
the townships in proportions determined by
similar considerations.
1t cannot be doubted that the Federal
Government, in granting these lands, in.
tended equal benefits to all parties of the
State. The terms OF the grants, however
were originally construed as vesting the
title to them in The State for tho use of the
townships in which the sections sixteer
were situated, or for the use of larger dis.
tricts for which provision was made b,
grants of land not within their limits -
Whether this construction was correct o
not, 1t may not now be worth while to en-
quire. II has long been acted on. and ma!
perhaps be regarded as settled. 1t defeats
however, to q certain extent, the equal in
tent of the grant; imposes great labor OF
the State and county Auditors; perplexe
the public accounts; and embarrasses SOM
what the general operation Of our schoo
system.
Upon examination .of the apportionme q
among the counties of the whole fund thu;
disu ibuted, | am satisfied that very little, |
any cause Of complaint would arise, If tn,
various divisions Of the lrreducible Debt in
to Virginia Military, United States M ili,ary
Section Sixteen, Section Twenty Min,
/. Western Reserve and Moravain were con
. solidated into one fund, and the whole in
terest distributed among the counties in tn
: sane proportion as the general School Fund
: The saving of labor ana expense whic
would be effected by this reform, and th
clearness aud inte Eligibility, which it wou
: introduce into our financial system, win, il
my Judgment, warrant some compensato
TO particular counties, should it be foun
that any are deprived by it OF revenue, Il
which they have just claim. The subjec
: is certainly OF sufficient Importance and in
: terest TO merit your careful consideration
and as such recommend it to your utten
. ton.
The condition Of the Benevolent and Re
fofmato-y Institutions is, upon the whole
highly satisfactory.
The number remaining in the Asylum 70
the Deuf and Dumb at the close of the las
year, was 1853, at the close OF the precedin,
year l50. A greater number of inmate.
than the present caunot be accommodated
though, for wnnt Of room, many equal,
needy and equally deserving with thost
now received, must be excluded. Tho ex
penses of the past year were $25,l2i, an,
those of the preceding year $2I,433. A
! larges part Of the increase was for neccssar,
repairs and Improvements beyond those
ordinary years. An appropriation of $24,
400 10 asked for 1850; und an urgent reque 81
: for new building is preferred. Nor shoul,
] hesitate to recommend nav and enlarge,
structures II the revenue from the levies
last year would warrant mo in SO doing
Should you see ft to take measures for a s.
certaining the best location and plan of such
structures, and provide for the cost by thr
necessary levy, do not doubt that your ac
lion would be approved by our common con.
stituents.
i The number ,of inmates of the Ins,i,u.
tion for the Blind increased from lO5 in
1858, 10 llo in 1869. The highest number
which had previously enjoyed the benefits
of the Institution was 73, in IS48. The
constant increase In the number of pupiIs.
and their improvement, is the highest eulopy
upon its management. The expenses in
1880 were SIH 837. In I2b9 gIe on, m