The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-18

persons subject 10 HlllIlaiy u.ty' o."
fixes their compensation Tor doing SC
yet no appropriation was made at tn
last session of the Legislature to pa.
them. 1t will, therefore, be necessar
to correct this oversight in the next ar
preparation bill. Other matters relating
to the military affairs of the State ar
referred to in detail.
The Adjutapt General expresses th'
opinion, that as the Soldiers Record ii
finished, and many other duties con
nected with his office, growing directly
or remotely out Of the war, are mucf
less than formerly, that the office o
Adjutant General might be abolished
and the duties pertaining to it dis
charged by one Of the other Stat.
officers. As a matter Of economy
think this should be done.
FREE SCHOOLS.
| have the pleasure of laying before
you the report Of the General Superln
tendent of Free Schools. 1t will be
found an unusually interesting docu
ment, exhibiting very clearly and ably
not only the advantages, but the defects
of the common school system as 1t ex
lists in the State.
Since the establishment Of popular
education amongst us, its growth has
been steady and permanent, and 1t may
now be regarded as a part Of our liked
policy, and justly so; for whatever
merit may be fairly claimed for other
agencies designed to promote the public
good, free school education, stripped OF
party politics, sectionalism, and sec
tarianism, is, and must continue to be,
the chief element Of our success; and
blow at it, whenever, and by whom
soever made, will be aimed atthe rights
of the people, and at the highest in
terests Of the State.
The report shows that the increase oi
school houses during the year was 4s5,
and that the whole number Of school
houses in 4S out OF the 53 counties in
the State, is 2ll3. The number OF
youths of school age in the State is
l62 43O, gain OF II ,4S3 over the num-
Der reported the year previous. The
whole number Of pupils attending the
public schools during last year was
81, $50, during the year previous 49,.
80, an increase for last year Of l4,O20.
The average attendance during last
year was 55,0S3, during the year pre-,
vious 1868, an increase for last year
of 1920. The permanent or irredu-
chile school fund now on hand, amounts
to S254, ,S60.l7. The amount ofmoneys
received during the year, for school
purposes, was 1862, ,76l; and the total
value of school property reported from
As out Of the SO counties,is 81 ,O57, Abb
81. Many other valuable statistics are
given by the, Superintendent; but for
these must refer Won to the report
itself.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The report Of the Regents Of the
State Normal School shows, on the
whole, an improvement in this depart
ment of education over the preceding
year. The Marshall College building
has been completed The attendance
at this school during the year was 2l6 ;
a very considerable increase over the
corresponding terms OF the previous
year. OF this number &c were on State
account, Al being males, and %
females.
The school at Fairment is reported
as not being in so flourishing a condi,
ton owing, chiefly, to the difficulty OF
obtaining boarding at low rates for
students. TO overcome this obstacle,
the Regents recommend some such
arrangement for boarding as that at
Marshall College. This, or a similar
plan, should be adopted, so as to put
the Fairmont school upon an equal
footing, in this respect, with Marshall
College.
The Normal School at West Liberty,
Ohio county, has been opened with
very fair prospects OF success, ~ stu
dents being in attendance at the first
term, II Of whom were on State &C,
count; the balance paid tuition, The
report of the Regents contains some
very able and practical remarks on the
subject Of Normal School training,
which deserve your particular atten-
ton
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
In consequence of the rivers being
frozen over, and the delay occasioned
thereby in the delivery of the mails at
the seat Of government, have as yet
failed to receive the report Of the Board
OF Regents Of the West Virginia Uni
versity. l cannot, therefore, state in
detail, as | would wish, the leading facts
contained in it. learn, however, that
the institution continues to meet with
the success it justly deserves. The new
University Hall has been completed,
and is a beautiful and commodious
structure, one OF which a State so
young as ours may well feel pround.
You will, no doubt find in the report
of the Board of Regents and the papers
that accompany it, which l will trans
nit to you as soon as printed, full par
ticulars of the general management,
finances, plans Of instruction and all
other matters connected with the oper
atoms Of the institution during the past
year.
The University has competent and
energetic officers; an able faculty; first
class buildings completed and occupied
and every facility for the thorough in
struction of-the young men who .maJ
attend it. All it needs now is. liberal
encouragement from the S.ate to make
it equal to any university in the ,souh
try, and even TO excel many of>them;
This encouragement | feel confident yot
will not fail to give. - f''.s' =.
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