The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-11
THE DIsTRIBUTABI.E SCHOOL.
FUND.
Letter from superintendent Lewi
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
DEPARTMENT OF FREE SCHOOLS, 7

DEPARTMENT OF FREE SCHOOLS,
CHARLESTON, Nov. 3, 1871.
To tie Comfy Sypsrintendents Of Free
Schools
GENTLEMEN On the first Of Septem-
Der, 1870, the School Fund in the Treas
ury subject to distribution among the
several counties, was 1923, l43 OF, and
on the first day OF September, 1871,
there was subject to distribution $l14,-
500 GO, indicating an apparent decrease
of SIS, 264 40 in the accruiDg revenues
Of this fund during the last year, and
proportionally reducing the amount
apportioned to each county OF the State.
Letters have been received at this De-
partment from the friends Of our school
system, school officers and others, ask
ing an explanation.
In 1869 there was distributed $l49,-
5GS. %, a sum S25 ,32S.04 less than the
amount distributed in 1871. This indi-
Gates that the discrepancy between the
amount apportioned in 1870 and that
appor,ioned in 1871 was not to be found
in the fact that herevenues Of this fund
had decreased during the year ending
on the first Of September, 1871, but was
due chiefly, at least, 10 some unusual
increase In the amount distributed on
the first of September, 1870. And this
is fully illustrated 10y the facts.
Previous to the time the Code of West
Virginia took effect, the State School
Fund was distributed on the first day OF
April in each year, but by the Code
this distribution was directed to be
made on the first day Of September.
The Code took effect on the first day OF
April, 1869, and on that day the State
School Fund, amounting to the sum Of
$40, 56S.5S, as above stated, was dis
tributed. The next distribution was
made on the first Of September, 1S7O.-
the period Of seventeen months having
ELAPSED in the meantime. And so it
was that on the first of September, 1870,
there was apportioned among the sew
eral counties Of the State the distribu.
table School Fund that had accrued
during this period Of SEVENTEEN
MONTHS. In these five extra months
April, May, June, July and Au-
gust, lS69-the sum of 43,369.97
was received at the Treasury on &C.
count of this fund. During the year
preceding the first day OF September,
1870, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company paid into the Treasury to the
credit OF this Fund $4,000 on account
Of arrearages OF taxes due for former
years, and S5,Sl295 on accout Of taxes
assessed on that company for the year
1869. This company has paid no tax
for the year 1870, owing to the omis.
sion, as | am informed, Of the former
officers to make the assessment for the
year 1870, as is required by the sixty.
seventh section of chapter twenty-nine
of the Code. 1t will thus be seen that
the aggregate sum of $64, 1922, from
the causes here named alone, entered
into the distributable fund for the year
1870, that formed no part OF that fund
for the year 1871. Deducting this sum
from the amount distributed on the
first of September, 1870, leaves the sum
OF $l6S, 405 10, which, as will be seen,
is Sc, 1872 less than the amount dis
tributed in September, 1871. The facts
presented illustrate that the amount
distributed in September, 1871, is larger
than that distributed in any previous
year, except thato 1870, andis Sc, 1872
larger than was produced from the Or
binary sources of this fund during the
twelve months next preceding the ap-
portionment made in that year. This
is a gratifying result, and conclusively
demonstrates that the revenues of this
fund are increasing and not diminishing.
Very respectfully, .....
C. s. LEWIS,
General Superintendent