Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-01-12
lamation of well done good and faithful

servant
Liberal appropriations are made annually
to our penitentiaTies, lunatic asylums, and
other charitable and beneficial institutions,
without requiring from those who receive
and disburse the money any satisfactory ev-
| idence that it has been faithfully applied to
the objects intended. This is wrong, and
should be corrected without delay All Of
fccrs of the State who receive public mon
eys, not excepting the Governor, are requir-
ed by law and usage to settle their accounts,
on proper vouchers, in the Auditor Gener-
ais office. This is right; and there is no
good reason why the same accountability
should not be enforced against all those who
receivs annually such large sums of money
from the bounty of the Commonwealth. |,
therefore, recommend that law be passed
requiring all persons who receive and dis
burse State appropriations, to take proper
vouchers for all moneys So expended BY
them, and TO make quarterly settlements of
the same in the Auditor General office.
This is important, not only to protect the
interests OF the State. but also the good
name of those who receive and disburse
the money, aud of the members of the Leg
isature through whose influence the appro-
prations are represerted to be procured.
For many years the general appropriation
bills have been signed on the day of the
adjournment of the Legislature, and ht re
repeat my suggestion OF last year on this
subject. The Governor has been forced
either to sign the bills without proper in
vestigation, Notwithstanding any objections
he may have suspend the means to defray
the operations OF the government for the
ensuing year; or call an extra session OF
the Legislature. it is therefore earnestly
desired that the appropriation bib be taken
up, discussed and passed at sufficiently
early period during the session to enable th.
Governor to give 1t that thorough examina-
ton its Importance demands.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The peculiar interest which rs always
manifested by the people in the subject of
education, Is an lnducemept to lay before
you, more at length than would other
wise be done, the principal statistics of the
system drawn from the report OF the Sa
perintendent of Common Schools
There are within the State 1.97I school
districts; ,936 schools; 2,445 graded
schools; II, 900 school directors; 76 super
intendents; Il, l42 teachers, and SIS, 753
pupils. The average cost of tuition for
each pupil is ninety seven cents per month
The whole cost OF tuition tor the year is
80, 500, 704 26. Total cost including ex-
$50, las 90. Estimated value of school
property sl4, ,045, ,632.
Notwithstanding the fact that our school
law was made general in the year lS4S, it is
remarkable that there still remain five dis
trictS within the State which have not yet
conformed thereto Hopes are entertained
that four of these will soon accept the con-
ditions of the law, and the remaining one,
known as the Harmony District, under the
control of the Economics, having good
school o. Its own, will probably not. adopt
the public school system so loug as the pres
cnt organization of that society exists 1t
is, therefore, subject worthy of hearty
congratulation that our school system has
been so universally adopted by the volunta
ry consent and general acquiescence of the
people.
As important auxiIiaries to our common
schools, the Normal schools are entitled to
assume the front rank. Their fiourishing
condition mag be understood from the fol
lowing statistics: The whole number OF
students thai have attended the four Nor
NAL schools is 10 237, of whom 32l have
graduated During the past year there were
in these institutions 76 teachers, and 4, lis
students. Since MY last annual communi
cation, State Normal school has been fully
established and recognized at Bloonsburg,
Columbia county. Its buildings are Of the
most finished and substantial character,
and 1t commences its career under the most
auspicious circumstances. Another is now
in a state of preparation at California,
Washington county, and VIII probably be
completed during the current year
Your attention has been invited to the
fact that there are about seventy-five thous
and children in the State that do not attend
schools of any desert iiption, and who are per
mitted TO grow up in ignorance and without
employment, and, in MANY instances, from
lack of industrial and educational training
become not only the votaries of vice but
prolific source from which the inmates of
our prisons ard penetentiaries are supplied.
The number of children throughout the
State attending private schools,i is estimated
at eighty five thousand.
The aggregate of the educational condi-
tion of the children Of the Commonwealth,
may be thus stated Attending the public
schools, SIS, 753: Attending private schools,
IS, 900: Not attending schools of any kind,
1900: Whole number of children, 975, 753
The subject of non attedance by so large
a portion of Children, is especially recon-
mended to your consideration. 1t is true
economy on the part of the State, If posi-
BILE, to save these children from ingnorance,
vagrancy and crime. Doubtless in your as
sembled wisdom you will be able to devise
some effectual mode by which this evil can
be remedied.
Many of the recommendations contain
ed in the report Of the Superintendent are
of the utmost Importance, and eminently
deserving of serious attention and Legisia-
tive action. The facts above set forth IL
lustrate most forcbly the practical value of
our most admirable common school system,
and bear testimony that cannot be misun
derstood, to the wisdom, and liberality by
which it has been conceived and so success
fully carried into effect.
SOLDIERS ORPHANS SCHOOLS.
Attention is invited to the report of the
Superintendent of the Soldiers Orphans
Schools, for the year ending May 81, 1869,
in which is exhibited their condition, cir
cumstances and expenditures.
The whole number of children admitted
into these schools, from their origin to the
3lst day of May, 1869, is four thousand,
five hundred and nine; of whom three
hundred and seven have been discharged on
order FIVE hundred ana eighteen on age, and
and fifty-three have died making a total of
eight hundred and seventy eight, which
left three thousand, six hundred and thirty
one in the schools at the end of the year