Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-02-11

| Orleans Railroad" The amour
due from these two roads. on ia
said first day OF May, 1870, wa
| sl,l25. .s5s IS. They are sdyer,is
cd to be sold on the Il and 18th day
days Of February next, aud hop,
10 realize thereirom at least half 0
the amount due the School fund,
3, s25O, 900 OF tho amount claim
ed in tho suits now pending IL
Washington, based on tho Texas In
dsnnity bonds. think this amount
may reasonably be realized from
these suits amor paying all eHPen
ses.
4. slO,269 30, (s9,sOO in Unitet
States six per cent. bonds and si69
80 in currency) reported by s. M
Swenson, Esq, of New York, to bC
in his hands and belonging to the
State. Mr.. Swcnson desires 10 hold
this security for claim which he
has against the State, but have in
formed him that / have no authori
ty TO make snch arrangement, and
he will probably pay over the
amount when called upon. ..
8. SCI 900 in Texas Indemnity
bonds deposited by Provisional
Governor A. ]. Hamilton, Mt the
Treasury in Washington. The cash
(gold) for these can DO had nj any
time on application there.
In connection with the Public
School fund, or rather tho Uniyer-
sity fund, (the two funds properly
being considered together.) l would
call your attention TO tho donation
made by acts of Congress, Of scrip
representing 10000 acres Of land,
to provide colleges for the "benelt
of agriculture and the mechanic
arts" / have mado application at
Washington for this scrip and it
has probably, ere this, been turned
over to the agent appointed; but
undor tho said acts, (July 2, 1862,
and amendment July %, 1860 of
Congress, the State must provide,
within five years from 1866, at
least one such college as is describ-
cd in the acts, or must refund TO
the United States tho scrip or its
proceeds. Less than one year re-
mains within which this State can
secure tho benefits intended. l
think wo cannot safely attempt at
present tho establishment of more
than ono of these colleges, and sng-
geat that this be incorporated with
the State University. recommend
the early passage Of an act applica-
bio to the case.
According To my aDove csI,mate
of the school fund, the actual cash
Cor equivalcnt) gold value of it, is
now upwards Of two millions five
hundred and seventy-fvo thousand
dollars. The items will 80 be with
in few months, and when we re-
collect that the school fund was not
long since given up in the minds of
most people as totally lost, the above
results are very gratifying. ! re-
commend that you authorize all the
above sums, rs fast as realized, TO
be converted in United States bonds,
and also that similar disposition be
| authorized of proceeds of sale oi
school lands or public domain, and
of the 2 per cent. per annum re-
ceived from tho railroads, on &C.
count ofthe sinking fund.
The money received from these
sources constitute what the Consti.
tuition denominates the "Public
School Fund" proper. The inter
est of this fund, and the poll tax
and the one. fourth of the ordinary
State taxes, and the proceeds o.
such special school tax as the Leg.
islature may authorize, is to be ap
propriated by your body annually
to the support Of the public schools
If those portions of the fund MOI
now yielding interest, are speedily
| invested in the United States bonds
| | think that for the current year
| the sum of $500 900 may be expcct
ed as disposable by appropriation
maintenance of public schools, with
out resorting to the imposition o.
any special school tax; and | re-
commend an appropriation of that
amount to the establishment ant
maintenance of public schools, such
appropriation to be drawn only
from funds especially disposabl'
| for school purposes.
But the first matter requiring at
tention in this regard, will be tn
enactment of an efficient school law
to the end that your appropriation
may not be expended in vain. Th
law passed at your last session
seems in many respects impractica
BILE, and not likely to carry out tn
spirit of the excellent provisions o
the Constitution. l will instanc
here the enactment in that law 10
enforcing the educntian of children
The Constitution makers seemed I
reason that parents or guardian
could not wilfully permit childre
under their care to grow up in lg
norance, without themselves be
coming guilty Of an offensc sgains
the public welfare. The Constitr
ton evidently intended the infliS
r ton of substantial punishment o
such persons, but the enactment o
that subject in the law, will, by mo.
of such delinquents, hardly be eo'
sidered punishment.
I The measures adopted by yor
, body at the last session, for the Q
esnization and maintenance of ii
, Militin and State Guard, and Of
State Police, have been put und'
way 10 the best of the limited meal
placed at my disposal therefor: It
, condition Of these corps and u
: statement in detail Of what has bee
, accomplished, will appear on reie
ence to the report Of the Adlutsl
: General and Chief Of State Polio
, There has been organized 30 co!
1 panies Of State Guard, e3 comPa
!. les Of Reserve Militia. There q
> of the State guard. 1Z7 officers o.
D 3 $50 privates, and Of Reserve NJ