The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-12-13
Kan hi hafara tha PaapleI
rzxa o1rx AND COUNTY

remain IN session during the greater part OF the
week, and if the County Superintendenrs pro-
gramme be carried out, its meetings will be not
only entertaining but highly instructive. 1t is
expected that essays on different subjects per-
tanning to education will be read by the teach
ers; books and different modes Of instruction
will be discussed, and lectures delivered. All
friends Of education are invited TO attend.
.CmLDREx's CONcERT.-FOr some time past,
Mr.. &. B. Higgins, An accomplished professor,
has been teaching vocal music IN our city
school, with considerable success. The pay Of
Mr.. Higgins for the first term, which has just
expired, vas draWa 6rOu Skr - -
The Board Of Education are anxious that be
should continue his instruction, and to have
him do so without drawing on the school fund
for his salary, they have determined that the
children shull give d concert on Tuesday even
ing next, at the Methodist Church, in the hope
thereby to realize sufficient funds to pay the
professors salary GN aNN4hsStsEm. Ills hoped
and believed that the concert, in REV of the
circumstances, will be well attended and its
object fully accomplished. Those attending
will have no reason to regret their liberality
the entertainment will be interesting and well
worth the small admission fee.
CITT ScHooL.-Last year the Common C0un-
Gil wisely levied tax Of 2j cents on the one
hundred dollars of valuation of property in the
city for school purposes. This tax yielded
revenue, which, with that derived from the
State and county school funds and a small
r.
rents were able to pay, left, at the end of tie
school year, q surplus Of some thirteen hundred
dollars in the school fund This surplus the
Trustees desired to appropriate to the erection
Of high school building so that our young
folk could receive liberal education, at small
charge, without leaving home. A plan for the
building was procured and an estimate Of its
cost made, when it was ascertained that So, 600
would be necessary TO complete the work. The
cost necessarily prevented tho commencement
Of the building during the past season, but it
was determined that it should be begun next
summer, when, it was anticipated, there would
be at least three thousand dollars in the
school fund that could be appropriated to that
use. There are quite large number Of boys
aud girls in our city, who are sufficiently ad
vAnccd in their studies to commence the higher
branches of education, for instruction in which
we have made no provision in our city school
rs yet, and which want the contemplated high
school would have supplied All of our Gill
zens who appreciated the advantages Of educa-
tion looked forward to the completion of this
enterprise with pride and pie. sure as u proud
testimonial Of the libcrality and intelligence Of
our people, and as the source Of untold good
to the rising generation. No taxpayer muir
INJURED at the payment Of the tax,-lhe Board
Of Aldermen protested to be favorable to ii, and
some Of them even thought it might be in
creased trlhe for the benefit Of so useful an
enterprise. Judge of our amazement, then,
when We discovered that the Board of Alder
men had cut the school tax down To ten cents
on the one hundred dollars. We are at u loss
to account for this retrograde movement. \ is
true that times are hard and taxes and duties
have accumulated to nn alarming extent; yet
We are astonished that so intelligent a body as
the Board of Aldermen should make their only
retrenchmeut from the amount expended in the
cause of cducation-the wOrtbiest and most pa.
triotic cause for which willing people was ever
taxed. We suppose that it is too late to mend
the matter by demonstrating or finding fault,
yet our wish to see our city youth have facili-
sies for being well educated at small cost, is so
earnest that we hardly know how to refrain.
We know tsat the Board of Aldermen feel an
interest in our public schools, and deeply re-
gret that the "hard times" has cocrced them
10 place themselves false on the record, for, of
course, their action has, TO use vulgarism,
played out the high school for the Ut 1t year or
two.
A MovE IN rHE RIGHr DIREcrIoS. Earnestly
and hopefully the Directors Of the "Placerville
and Sacramento Valley Railroad Company
have gone to work. Their late action, so neccs.
sary. mendabe and vigorous must encour.
age every friend of the enterprise. At meet.
ing of the Board Of Directors ON Monday night,
Chief Engineer Bishop submitted his report
and his survey was adapted. He was ordered
"a prepare the first division from Folsom this
way, fifteen miles in length-for letting of con-
tracts Immediately. Commissioners we're ap.
pointed to solicit subscriptions Of stock in San
Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento, Virginia City,
Carson City, and in this county. Resolutions
we're adopted requesting our Senators and Rep.
Tcsentatives to procure the pa ssage Of an act
authorizing the county of Fl Dorado TO sub
scribe for two hundred thousand dollars worth
Of stock, and the city Of Pacervile for one
hundred thousand dollars worth-the question
TO be submitted to the citizens of the county
and city, at special election, for their adop-
ton or rejection. That they will decide, by
large majority, in favor of the proposition. we
do not entertain doubt. In view of the i'm
portancc Of the enterprise, the benefits Of which
must be incalculable to our city and county,
and in order to secure the hearty cooperation
of its friends in Upper Placerville, we would
respectfully suggest to our legislative delega
tion the propriety of having our city charter so
amended as to include within the corporate
limits Of the city, Upper Plucerville. We can
see no serious objection TO the proposed change,
and that it would result advantageOusly to both
towns is se!fevidcnt. The citizens Of U PIPER
Placerville are as deeply interested in having
railroad, and desire its certain aBd speedy con-
Struction as ardently as we do, and are willing
N give as their influence and assistance in
building it. To make thai influence and asss-
lance most effectual we must have hearty, uni
ted aud vigorous action and by consolidating
the towns we secure such action. Let US all
work with will for the railroad. Let us, by
al the means in our power, second the judicious
action of the Directors. and it will not be long
before we shall have the pleasure Of chroniclng
Nha nf Our IN ilrnod
Social PARTY.-We have attended many
pleasant parties in Placerville, but none that !
passed off more agreeably and gleefully than
that given at the Cary House on Wednesday
evening, by its esteemed and affabIe proprietor,
Hr. Cullen, 10 his boarders and friends. 1t