The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-05-27
TIE Preston County Journal caIIs

attention TO the "Baltimore and Ohio
railroad question" in its last issue, and
hopes that the subject will be kept be-
fore the people between now and the
fall elections, with view to having an
expression of the popular sentiment
when we come TO select the members Of
the next Legislature. The ''essence OF
the matter" says the Journal, consists
In this:
"Shall every taxpayer in the State OF
West Virginia put his hand IN ms PocK-
1T, and according TO his abillty' con.
tribute to the Il. s. o. X. IL 20: sum OF
money for the purpose OF paying Ihelr
Ia1es7 The sum wtthWhicn the company
propose to buy themselves on from tnelt
LEGAL obligations to the State, together
with Ibs arguments with which they
Expect 10 convince the legislature of the
Drourietv of their demands will be a
mere tribe in comparison to the solid
obligations that they seek TO be relieved
OF, Before the people this. question
needs no argument; to state the ques-
tea Is to answer it's
The same paper brings us the pro-
eeedings OF public meeting held in
Portland township. which we are re-
quested 10 copy, in regard to the public
school system OF the State, in which the
system is arraigned as crude. defective
and inadequate. The particular fault
found is that the system gives $50 the
children OF rich and populous commu-
mites, or towns, six or eight months
schooling during the year, while it af-
fords 10 the children OF poor and sparse
IL settled ueighbOrhoods but one, TWO,
or three months, and to those OF very
thinIy settled communities, none at
ALL" Therefore the meeting
RESOLVED, That TO avoid as far as pos
Eibie the evil Consequences of per
capita distribution of the township levy
for school purposes, the Board Of Edn-
cation for Portland township are here
by requested to so arrange, and, If ne
csssary, so ehange the boundaries Of
the several School districts pursuant to
the provisions of section 10 OF the school
Law, AS TO give as far as possible the
same amount of schooling to all the
children Of the township.
The meeting also and further resolv-
ed
THAT We need practical man in the
Office Of superintendent Of Free schools
In the State OF West Virginia"
We very much doubt the propriety
ofthe latter resolution, aud we only
iusert it because we are requested to do
so. Professor Whites attainneuts as
u Superintendent are notfamiIiar to US,
aud We do not therefore feel at liberty
to give publicity to a resolution Of
ceRsure upon them from any convic-
lion ofour own as 10 its propriety. We
know that there exists difference OF
opinion ON this point. The Kanawba
Journal, edited by the Superintendent
of Schools in that county, speaks in
high terms of his qualifications, while
another Of our West Virginia exchange
es, also edited by county sDperin-
tendent, holds a different opinion.
We regret that there should be this wide
margin Of opinion among our school
officials and school people, both as to
the merits of the system aud also as to
Its administration in tua1 practice.
Prof. Ross, who, more than any one
else, was the author Of the Common
School System of the State, received, as
we happen to know, testimonials oEtbe
highest and most cordial character
from conspicuous and practical scholars
in other States, several Of them Super
intendents, who considered his plan, II
not altogether unezeeptionable, us GER
taiuly among the latest and amplest
improvements upon other systems.
Prof Ross himself was u teacher of
many years experience, andn man OF
scholarly nttainmentS. And, with all
proper respect for the Incumbent Of the
Office, we may say that we always re-
garded it az both unjust to the author Of
the system. and the system itself, that
he was not permitted to inaugurate the
experiment in West Virginia. i