Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-16

CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.


Growth Of Chicago-Public Schools
,. l.. Ptckard- Salaries of Teachers-
school Bufldings-A. III. Andrews g.
the Music Trade-The Light Plano
w. w. KtInbeil's Music store.
The growth of Chicago, in population, COM
merce, manufactures and wealth, has no par
allel IN modern history. In her grain market
and cattle and lumber trade she is without a
rival. Her citizens boast of her prosperity in
season and out Of season. Her praise is on
all their tongues, and they certainly have
'raised the wind" to some purpose by elbow
ing" There is no denying, or wiping ont,
that fact; Her population, by the census OF
last April, was ~, 373, and the sanguine fore
cast it at 300, 900 by the first of next January.
But great as is Chicago in the elements of
Numbers, wealth and enterprise, her crown
ing glory Is her
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There are q school districts and 2S public
school buildings in the city, in which 80. 600
children are instructed by 43O teachers
There are also about $1,000 children taught
in private and parochial schools, making a
total of 48, 900 out of GA 900 of the proper age
for attending school.
THE SUPERINTENDENT
is j. l.. Pickard-formerly State Superintend-
ent of Wisconsin on a salary of 81 200 and
the best superintendent the state ever had
but who now receives $1,000 as city superin-
ate to the value of his services. He has done
much to improve the character OF the public
schools, and to cultivate a healthful spirit
among parents, teachers and pupils.
THE SALARIES OF TEACHERS
range from 50, 500 to $780, according to ca
pacity, qualifications and age in the service.
The Principal of the High School receiyes
81, 500, and his male assistants 81, 200, and
the principal of the Normal Department 81 =
600. The principals of the district schools
receive u, 500 the first year, 81 900 the sec
ond, and 81, 600 thereafter. The female as
sistants IN the district and primary schools
are paid for the first fourteen weeks at the
rate Of $3.50 per annum; after that for the
first year $3.50, the second year $3.50, and after
that 800 year. the total amount of sala-
ries for teachers this year is $751;, 900.
THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS
erected within the last few years are of a very
superior character. Take the Holden school
house, built last year, in the southwestern
part of the city, at cost of over $40, 600, as a
sample. 1t stands on a lot 200 feet wide IN
front. 299 feet wide in the rear, and 262 feet
deep. The building is sixty-nine and half
by eighty-seven feet, and four stories high
above the basement. The first three stories
are divided into four principal rooms, with
wardrobes and closets for teachers and pu-
pills, corridors, &c. The second and third
stories have reception rooms. Tho fourth
story has two school rooms and a large AS
of the room in the first story is 12k feet of
the second and third stories 49, feet, and of
the fourth story IA Sc feet. The exterior is
without ornament, save the bold projecting
buttresses forming the ventilating and Chin
ney shafts, and at the sides of the deeply re-
oessed doorways. The school rooms are
wainscoted two and one-half feet from the
floor with ash, oiled and vanished, above
which are blackbOards extending entirely
around the rooms. The balustrades are OF
black walnut. Each room has separate ven
tilating shafts, in both exterior and interior
walls, and the whole building is ventilated by
a fan driven by low pressure steam appa-
Tatus, which distributes to all parts of the
rooms fresh warm air in winter, and cool air
In summer. The rooms are furnished with
/ 200 single desks and chairs of the most ap-
proved pattern and workmanship,
MADE BY A. H. ANDREWS & CO., CHICAGO.
The larger desks have their Patent Ink Wen
adopted by the Board of Education for their
superiority They have the largest mandatory,
and the only patent "Scraper'' in the west for
making all kinds of school furniture with perfectly
smooth surfaces, and can make 300 desks of their
that the Messrs. Andrews-whom we knew as school
boys in the Eastare fulfilling the promise of their
boyhood by supplying 30 largely the best school
furniture and apparatus in the country. Office and
salesroOm, 90 Washington street.
Another characteristic OF Chicago is the promi-
hence it has given to
public and private II is not merely one Of
the variations, introduced to break up the
monotony OF the school exercises, and give
vent to the exuberant spirits of youth bnt il
is taught science. And in the eXanIina-
lions IN the first grade, music stands fourth
IN the list of topics, being preceded only bv
arithmetic, history and geography. And
the pupil, in his examination, Is required to
write music i'll different measures, and to cor
rect music enormously written. And the
superintendent, III his report, says, 1.-THE
teachers of vocal music have labored 10 bring
about more uniform and better system OF
teaching music SO that music lis not mere
ly parrot-hke pastime, but it is part OF the
system of education. Who can estimate the
refining and elevatIng influence of this music
culture upon the rising generation? And
what wonder that Chicago has become the
head of
THE MUSIC TRADE
in the Northwest, and that six music houses
here have sold million of dollars worth of
pianos the past year Thank Heaven, there
can be no monopoly of music. The myriads
of human voices are tree, and though often
harsh and dlscOrdant yet when attnned by
the master hand, and inspired by divine emo
tions, they make grand diapasOn of music
to which the angels might lTsten delighted.
Ne one, too can invent and construct piano
so rich and perfect in tone but some one ay
come after him 10 give tiIetweFld better Inc
strnnent. I was reminded of this fact While
listening to the rich, liquid, deep, full tones
of the Lighte Piano at ssa b. +.
". W. KIsIBAIL's MUSIC STORE, a
in Crosby's Opera House, GO Washington
street, and learned that It's sales led the most
popular pianos, though but five years in the
western market He is sole agent for Lighte's
Pianos and Smiths American Organs, sells
Hallet Davis & Co.'S and other pianos, Kim
balls MeIodeons, all styles piano stools I
covers, &c. His st ere occupies two floors, 60
by $50 feet, and his sales last year were $780,
600, taking the lead in the wholesale trade
throughout the northwest.
The weather is fine, trade is brisk-faees.
look cheerful. 81 8a4ss rs - H. n