The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-28
The Peabody Fund-MeetinR of the Board
of Trustees.


At meeting Of the Board of Trustees of the
Peabody Fun. in Baltimore, on the I'D, Samuel
Watson, of 1Ahnessee, was unanimously elected
to I'LL the vaGe9ey caused by the death of w. G.
Rves, Of Virgi.iia. The report of d. Sears says
that, since hislast report, special attention has
been given TO Western Virginia, Arkansas and
Western Tennessee. In Western Virginia, during
the past year. 500 school houses were erected
and one nornsRl school opened, while o second
is waiting only for funds sufficient to pay the
salaries Of teasEafs. The State superintendent
appears well qualified for his duties, and the
county supeFin-sndents whom DR.. Sears saw are
selfsacrificing SD efficient Everything, in fact,
appears propi;sg, although the system is In its
infancy. II hfyears that for every $1,000 from
the Peabody f7ld, $4,000 we're raised by the peo-
pie, besides what they paid for school houses.
In Arkanses ceep interest is felt on the subject
of educatior. .the State is divided into school
districts. Thess Is State superintendent elected
by the people for four years. as well as ten circuit
superintendent; appointed by the governor for
four years, gr(rGlso trustee in each district Is
elected annually by the people. A tax of one
dollar is paid bG every inhabtant over the age Of
At Pine EnF proposition was made to Civ
$500 from The fund, If the people would rails
5000. At Iitts Rock, where there are $50
white and 1000 colored children, arrangements
we're made, fo- large primary schools in cad
vard, and for a high school to accommodate froa
four TO five erhdred advanced pupils.
A similar proposition was made to the towns
Fort Smith,. Van Buren,, Jacksonport, Camdei
Washington Fayetteville, Helena and four or fin
other smaller towns, which, so far, most pgs
been accepteds Tennessee has a school law, bd
not 30 perfect "a West Virginia or Arkansas. Th
subdistrict Stem s its worst feature, lntrodut
log nothing bus confusion and disorder. Unfortu
nately, alsd, tie school fund has been pledgedn
security 70; state debts, and until recently no dt
tributon hsa been made to schools, and then 0nl
in small amounts. The school law, although Of
nearly two years. standing, is just beginningp
take effect year ago there were few orD
schools. Nov there are IN several countiesn
average OF about fifty schools. Knoxville cl74
has now 0 complete system Of graded schools Z
for the support OF which nine thousand dollars az
paid from It's treasury, and $1,000 from the PeaDo
dy fund. The attendance was nearly equal to ~!
Of the whole country last year. The puea'
schools Of Chattanooga were called into exist
ence by a. offer of $1,000 from the genera
amount, and are also highly prosperous. Mem
phis has been similarly aided, and is now erecting
fine, large building to bear the name OF Pek
body. -Four of the civil districts Of Tennessee
have receiEed various amounts, from five hundred
| to one theusGnd dollars similar arrangements
have beenletiGcted in other States. Perhaps no
city has made nobler advances than Petersburg,
Virginia. IN Louisiana, through the gratuitous
age1cv ~ Hon. r. b. Lushsr, general agent,
schools have been established in ten towns OF the
State. =. . o.s..s a..
The next annual meeting be held on the third
Tnssdsy in January 1870, and that thereafter thai
sbsll be- the time Of holding the annual meeting
until otherwise ordered.
On motioa Of Gen. Grant, seconded by Coz
Graham, 1t Sas
Resolued. That in token of our grateful remss
brance of Tie founder OF this trust copy of %
proceedings Of this meeting, signed by the chsr'
man and secretary be transmitted TO him, with TO
respect of Tbs board. Resolutions were adopRi
recognizing the wisdom, fidelity and diligencsl
which have marked the course of the general
agent in bis appropriation of the means comm
ted TO his discretion and care.
The board then adjourned.