The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-02-18

year. These claims amount in the aggFe-
gate to $S46,000.
ASSESSMENTS.
BY reference TO the Treasurer's report
you will perceive that he calls attention to
the fact that the law gives the Auditor nc
right to reject claim made by any county
for an abatement of an account of double
and erroneous assessments. 1t would
seem that the Auditor should have power
to require evidence and specifications as
to such claims, especially when they are
made years after the alleged errors were
charged.
The Auditor also calls attention to the
propriety of making the assessed value OF
property approximate to the cash value.
1t Is evident that return of $l00,000,0 600
of taxable property, with levy Of eight
mills, would make better showing for the
State than a return of $50, 900, 900, with a
levy of ten mills the actual amount Of
property in each case being equal, the
n amount of revenue raised would be the
same, and the taxes of each individual the
same. Equitable distribution of taxation,
provisions for prompt collection, and
rigid but wise economy in appropriations,
will soon make our financial condition all
that could be desired.
EDUCATION.
For the following statistics concerning
public schools and institutions of learning,
am indebted TO the Superintendent of
Public instruction:
i Number of school districts, 1907 in
crease for the year, 1886 number of reports
from distric; clerks, ,62l increase for
the year, 389; number of male persons
between the ages of and Il years, 49,
007 increase for the year, 7,76l num-
Der of female persons of school ages, A, :
$40; increase for the year, 8,6O6; total
number of persons of school ages, 92,5l7;
increase for the year, l6,367 number of
male persons eArolled in public schools,
80, 1877; increase for the year, 6,558 num-
Der of female persons enrolled in public
schools, %, 4S4; increase for the year,
1888 whole number of persons enrolled
in public schools, 5S,69l increase for the
year, 1851 number of pupils in select
schools, seminaries and colleges, 2,7S4 +;
decrease, 6l5; whole number in public
schools and other institutions Of learning.
81, 465 increase, IA ,25G; average daily
attendance in public schools, 81, l24 in
crease, 1856; average length of time
public schools have been taught, five
months; number of male teachers en-
ployed in public schools, S96 increase,
]
in public schools, LIS; increase, 263
average wages paid to male teachers in
public schools, $37.07: decrease, $249 ;
average wages paid to female teachers,
$2S.9S; decrease, II cents total amount
paid for teachers wages in public schools,
1922, 1884; increase for the year, $685.
S44.40; amount expended for repairs and
incidentals, 81 .343.74: increase, $34, 025,-
81; amount received on semi-annual State
dividends, $ll7,l53.65: increase, $TO,-
45l.07; amount received from fines and
estrays, $l9,259.93: decrease, 81 ,630.44;
amount raised by direct tax for support of
public schools, S428, 983.99: increase,
$50, 56S2S; total amount raised for sup
port of public schools, 1866, 3l1.17 in
crease, $l36,095.59; number of school
houses-log, 349 frame, COG; brick, 35
stone, 224: total, 1918: increase, 260 F.;
total value of school houses, s ,03l 1892 90:
increase, $2lS,829.25; total value of ap-
paratus, ST., llS.00: increase, $5,Sl6.35
amount of U. S. 500 bonds sold by the
School Fund Commissioners, 100000
amount received on U. S. bonds, $29, 3l5.
90; amount of State bonds purchased
since February last, SIPS, 10000; amount
paid on bonds, Sis, 210.0O; total amount
of State bonds belonging to the permanent
school fund, $289, $4,000.
State Unirersity.-Then number of stu
. dents in attendance at the State Univer
sity during the year was one hundred and
forty-three. Of these, four are in the elias
steal course and twelve in the scientific
f The library has been increased by the ad
dition of over two thousand volumes. A
: valuable astronomical transit was recently
donated to the institution, and an observa
, tory wing has been erected.
' agricultural CoHege.-One hundred
! and seventy-three students have been en-
/ rolled in the Agricultural College during
the year. OF these thirty-two are in the
' classical department. One has been added
! to the faculty. A large amount of thC
r endowment lands have been sold. A suit
t able boarding house is very much needed
i Normal SchOoi.-The total attendance
I in the Normal School of 1869, was ont
e hundred and ninety-eight. Nine gradu
I ated at the last commencement. Sixty
!, seven students taught in public school
y during the year. The number of student
+ pledged to become teachers is one hun
b dred and thirty. The institution is il
great need of suitable boarding arrange
|. ments tor the students in attendance.
e Upon reading this and other portions Q
e the report of the Superintendent of Pub
l, lie Instruction, it occurs to me that tn
State of Kansas cannot be regarded q
s subject to the condemnation implied in tn
d aphorism which recently constituted tn
s platform of a successful political party i
1t the Argentine Republic 1.-THE ignoranc
of the people is the crime of bad govern
b ments." Surely State which provides S
p municifently for the education of it
4. youth, cannot be reproached for the ignol
d ance of any one.
is SCHOOL LANDS.
Al The Auditor and Supe rintendent {
le Public Instruction each calls attention I
D. defects in the laws regulating the sales
II school lands. 1t would seem that som
s. provision should be made to ascertain tt
he number of acres of school land sold und'
u the territorial government before the a
Is mission of the State the amount of III
10 ney for which it was sold, and whether
IL all reached the State treasury. 1t is all
desirable to ascertain the whole numb
of acres sold since the admission of Il
State the total amount of principal pa
u therefor the number of acres sold ea'
10 year the amount of principal paid
tie the years sales the average price P
ng acre, and the number of acres of scho
OIL lands remaining unsold in each coun
ISL which is organized.
On PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
IN The State CdpitOl-I recommend I'll
he an annropria tinn he made sniff ient