The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-17
PETERSBURG, August Is, 1868.

1t may interest other places in the state
to be informed Of the progress that Is max
ing here in organizing and putting IN ope-
ration the free school system adopted by the
authorities of the city. -,
The Board of Education, inmedla,e,y
after their appointment, entered zcn'ouss
on their duties, and have aireauy w. .
great amount Of work. The plan Is 10 nave
a high school and three primary schoois LOT
white children, and four primary scnoois
for colored children-lnaking elgh' IN
all. The old Classical Institute, STU
ated in the central part OF the clty,
near the custom-house and posto-thce, has
been secured for the high school, and II
now undergoing alterations and enlarge
ment adapting it to the purpose. 1t Is to
consist Of different departments for the
sexes, and will be under the superintend-
ence of three teachers--a principal and two
assistants. These are to be well qualified
for teaching all the higher branches of edu.
cation The salary CT the principal will
not, it is supposed, be less than from twelve
hundred to fifteen hundred dollars; ana
that Of the assistants about eighty dollars
per month. The salaries Of the principals
and assistants Of the primary schools viii
he about eighty dollars per month for the
former, and twenty-five dollars for the lat
ter. The Board have advertised for full
corps of teachers, the applications limited
10 the LIST Of September, and the elecilons
10 he made on the Sth. The applicants are
already very numerous for situations In
the white schools. These can easily pc
filled with natiye-born citizens, ana II Is
understood the Board intend 20 contlne thelr
choice strictly to such. For the colored
schools The applicants are much less nuner-
ous. and it is very possible the Board may
have 10 look abroad for competent teachers.
1t will doubtless be their policy, however,
to provide instructors Of their own Color a'
the earliest practicable moment-as soon aS
such can be educated at home.
The Beard are now engaged IN having
the schoo-houscs all fitted up III the most
comvlctc manner. The chairman, Mr..
Greene, has gone to the North for the pur-
nose of getting both furniture and text
books, and every preparation Will doubtless
he made by the Ist of October, when the
schools are to be opened for the admission
Of pupils.
The amount appropriated by the city is
SIG. 600. For the first year this will be very
iuadcouatc; but Dr.. Sears will contribute,
OF the Peabody fund, at least $4,000; and
from other sources enough Is expected TO
raise the aggregate to $4,000. 1t Is estl-
mated there will be about twelve hundred
children OF each color attending the schools
the first session. As they grow in popular
ity the number will doubtless be much in
creased but the free-schoOl system has
great prejudice to overcome in Virginia be-
fore !; can draw all classes within its folds.
II will have, however, q fair trial here, as
the provisions are thought to be more Hbe-
tai and better adjusted than anywhere else
in the State, or indeed in the South.
An effort is being made in Prince George
to obtain the executive pardon for Albert
Williams, the negro convicted this week
for assault and battery on Dr.. Bayne, and
for the robbery Of his person. The former
charge was fully established, the punish
mcnt for which is fue and imprisonment in
the county Jail. Il was on conviction OF
the latter charge that 10 was sentenced to
the peniteItiary; but though Bayne's
satchcl was cut open and riied, it was not
proved conclUoively that Williams did it, as
il passed through other hands, and in Il
large crowd, before it WAS restored to the
owner.
Quite considerable business is now do
ing in sumac--Gn article hitherto considered
of little or no value. On all the old fields
in the surrounding counties itcontends sue
ccssfully withthe blackberry and dewberry;
and 1t is 4 happy thing for the women and
children of the country negroes that it can
be put 10 IL profitable use. An advertise
mcnt Il short time since by a prominent
house in the city has had the effect Of bring
ing in immense quantities of the leavesa and
twigs, which readily sell in the dry state at
n cent and a half per pound. These are
ground fine by machinery, and then shipped
North for dyeing and tanning purposes.