Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-11-21
Spirit Of yrffersol'.
Charlestown, W, Va, NOvember2l,
West Virginia School Fund,


| Charleston, November ID, 1911.
To The Comfy Superintendent Of Schools: !:
GENTLEMES:-0n tho frs: day of Sep.
tember, 1870, the School Fund in the TrGa-
sury subject to distribution among the several
counties, was s233; l4S O2 ; aud on the first
day of September, 1871 there waa subject to
distribution Sill; ;S06G2, indicating an ap.
parent decrease of SjS, ,2G4.4O in the accruiug
revenues Of this Fund during tho last year,
and proportionaly reducing tho amount ap,
pOlt;oncd to each county Of the State
Letters have been received Mt this Depart.
ment from the friends Of our school system,
school officers and Others asking an cxplanu,
| tion.
In 1860 there was distributed $40 ,5GS So,
o sum S25, 1923 Oh less than tho amount dis.
tributed in 1871. This indicates that the dis.
crepuncy between the amount apportioned in
1870, aud that AppOltionGd in 1871, was not
to be found in the fact that the revenues of
this Fund had decreased during tic year end
ing on the first of SeptembCri 1871, but was
due chiefly, at lcust, TO some unusual increase
in the amount distributed on the first Of Sep.
tembcr, 1870. And this is fully illustrated
by the facts
Previous to the time the Code Of Wes. Vir.
giuia took effect the State School Fund was
distributed on the first day of April iu
each year, but by the Code this distribu-
tion WIS directed to be made on the Gfst dny
OF September. The Code took effect on the
first day Of April, 1862 mud on that day the
State School Fund, amounting to the sun Of
sl40, ,5GS SIS, Us above stated, was distributed.
The next distribution was made on the first of
September 1870, the period Of seventeen
months hoviug elapsed in the mGantiinc.-
And so it was, that on the hrst Of September,
1870, there was appOrtioned among the several
couuties Of the State the distributable School
Fund that had accrued during this period of
scucnfccn mOaihs. In these five eAtra months
April May, juno, July and August. lNG9
the sum Of SIS, 1869 ~ was received Mt the
Treasury on account Of this fund. During tho
year preceding the Grst day of September,
1870, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
lany paid into the Treasury to the credit Cf
this Fund SIS, 10000 on account torarrGnrages
Of taxes due Tor former years, aud S5.Sl2 95
on account Of taxes assessed on thut Company
ioI .he year 1860. This Company has paid
No tx Tor the year 1870, owing to The omis'
sion, US am informed, of the iur,ner officers
to make the assessment for the year 1870, u3
is required by the 9th SER ol chap 20 Oftho
Cole. 1t will thus be seen that the uCgre.
ra'e sum of sGI lS2 %, from the causes here
named aIunc, entered into tho di,tributnbIe
Fund for the year 1870, that formed no par!
Of that fund for the year 1871 Deduetiug
this sum for the amount distributed on tha
first of September; 1870, leaves the sum Of
SlGS, 4Oj 10, which, Us will he seen. is S6,'
49l ~ less than .he amount distributed in
SeI tembcr. 1871. The facts presented illus.
rate TIM, tho unornt distributed in Septcm.
Der, 1871, ID larger than tia. distributed in
any rreviots ycar, except that of 1870, md
is sG,49l 81 larger than was produced from
the ordinary sources Of this Fund during tho
twelve months ne:t preceding the apporlion
ment made in that year This is gratifying
result, and cohclusivGIy demonstrates that the
revenues Of this Fund are increasing and not
diHiihishing. Very respectfully,
Z. S, LEWIS, Gen'I. Superintendent.