The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-22


houses. When these are completed,
which must soon be the case, the rate of
taxes will be materially reduced, and
this ground of complaint will no longer
exist. And, as remarked elsewhere,
1t should be recollected that these, taxes
are merely local, imposed by the people
officers, elected by themselves; and, if
they wish inferior school houses, or a
less number of days of school in the year
in any township, the people of such town.
ship can elect officers who will levy less
money for these purposes and thereby
succeed in regard to these matters, as
well ms in the reduction of theirtaxes.
This subject is, by the law, in great
measure, left in the hands of the people
of each township, and is under their con.
troll. And while it is right that reason.
able economy should be required in es.
tablishing and maintaining schools, as in
other public matters, yet have too
much confidence in the good judgment of
the people to believe that they will now
stop, or materially retard, the progress
of this great aud beniicent enterprise,
which, if intelligently and reasonably
fostered, will enlighten and elevate the
masses of the community, and give us
better, happier, and more useful citizens
in the State.
The report contains much that is in
teresting on this all important subject, to
which l invite your attention. 1 approve
the recommendation of the Superinten-
dent, that there should be some provi-
sion in the law that will more certainly
and promptly secure the annual reports
required Of the school officers, and es-
pecially those required of the County Su-
perintendents, whose failure, in this re-
gard, leaves the General Superintendent
without the material on which his An.
nual Report to- the Legislature should be
founded.
A change in the mode of distributing
the State school fund, is also suggested.
Under existing law, this fund is distribu-
ted among the townships according to
the number of scholars reported. In
many parts of the State there are town
ships in which there are but few scholars,
scattered over large extent of territory,
and these cannot be brought together in
large schools, as can be done in the
more densely populated townships, and
in the cities and towns. Consequently,
more schools and more teachers are re-
quired in proportion to the number of
scholars in the former, than in the latter,
the funds are sooner exhausted, and the
schools are kept for much shorter time.
1t is now suggested that the extent Otter
ritory and the number of children both,
be taken into consideration in the dis
tribution Of the fund among the town
ships, and it seems to me that the sugges-
ton is good one, and that the law
should be amended accordingly.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
In pursuance of an act, passed Febru-
ary 81, 1867, Iappointed one person from
each Congressional District, who, to-
gether with the State officers named in
the act, constitute board to be known
as "The Regents of the State Normal
School," 1t appears from the Report
of the General Superintendent of Free
Schools, that the Board of Supervisors
of Cabell County, as authorized by the
act, purchased, and caused to con.
yeyed to the Regents, the property near
Guyandotte, in that county, known as
Marshall College," which they have re.
paired and fitted up, and it is now very
commodious and comfortable building,
and well adapted to the use of the con-
school. It also appears that,
as authorized by an act passed February
&c, 1867, the General Superintendent has
purchased the West Liberty Academy, in
Ohio County, in which the Regents are
required to establish a branch of the
State Normal School. This building also
needs repairs, which, the General Super
intendent recommends, should be pro.
Vided for; and he also recommends annui-
ty to each of these schools for the aid
of teachers.
Since writing the above, have re-
ceived report from the Regents, which
is communicated for the information OF
the Legislature. 1t will be seen that
this Report sustains the recommendation
of the General Superintendent.
By an act passed February 81, 1867,
the Legislature made an appropriation to
"The Regency of West Virginia Normal
School, !" at Fairmont, and required the
Governor to appoint FIVE discreet citizens
of the State, who should act in coniuno.
ten with the Regency in discussing the
money, and make report thereof to the
Governor. Soon after the adjournment
of the Legislature, the required appro-
priations were made, and the construc-
ton ofthe contemplated building for the
school was commenced, and has made
considerable progress. The Report of
the Regency and the citizens so appoint
ed, is herewith communicated, which
makes satisfactory exhibit of their
proceedings, and in which an additional
is asked for, to aid in the
completion of the work.
commend the interests of these
schools to your most favorable consider.
alton, believing, as do, that they are
almost Indispensable to the preparation
and supply of competent teachers for
our common schools, while they will
also afford the facilities to many others
besides teachers, for a more advanced
education than they can get in the com.
mon schools.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
As required by an act, passed Feb
ruary Z, 1867, and within the time there.
in prescribed, | appointed "Eleven suit.
able persons, one from each Senatorial
District" as Board of Visitors for
the "West Virginia Agricultural ECol-
lege, " directed by the act to be establish
ed at Morgantown, in Monongalia County.
The Visitors so appointed, met at Morgan
town within the time prescribed, organic.
ed, received a conveyance of the buildings,
lands and other property mentioned in
the act, and appointed the proper officers
and professors. On the 9th of June, the
College was formerly opened; and, al.
though have received no formal report
from the officers, nor does the law require
any, my information is that the people of
the State are manifestinga determination
to extend "a. the college very liberal
patronage-the number of students
already in attendance exceeding one hun.
dred and twenty-five, and the prospects
for the future being most fattering.
isa 81 4
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