The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-25

SUPERINTENDENT JoHNsoNs CIRCULAR
Hon. Warren johnson, State Superintendent
of Common Schools, has addressed a lengthy
circular to school committees, town supervisors
and district agents
The circular begins by presenting an abstract
of the educational legislation of.1S71'72 and
then fellows table indicating the present regu-
lar sources of school revenue, the approximate,
not exact amount of each, and the approximate
total to each town and plantation from which
certified returns have been received.
The per capita tax so cents, is based upon the
census of 1870 This with the school revenue
from savings banks, which is only the income
of six months, payable July /, 1872, the next
payment to be the income of whole year, and
which will probably be twice the amount, to-
gether with the school mill tax, which will
amount to 1924 $50, or about one dollar for each
scholar, will give as sources of revenue apart
from school money raised by the towns, about
81 60 for each person in the State between four
and twenty-one years.
The school revenue table alluded to furnishes
the largest approximate totals as follows: !
Auburn, $760S; Lewiston, $16,S76; school
revenue available for Madawaska Territory,
$3.50; Brunswick, S6132; Cape Elizabeth, $6447 !;
Gorham, $4272; Portland, $4,000; West
brook, $S110; Harrington, $685.; Bucksport
$4342; Deer Isle, sass, Ellsworth, $6s24 Au-
gusta $9337; Gardiner, 1925; Halloween s64S3;
Vassalboro, 1851; Watervile, $6165; Camden,
1886; Rockland, $685.; ST. George, $S054;
Thomaston, $3704; Boothbay, $4,000; Bristol,
$S774; Waldoboro', S5527 Paris, $3.50; Bangor,
$21670; Brewer, $4O14; Dexter, $685. Hamp-
den, $3799; Oldtown, $5OSO; Orono, S3472; Bath,
S9S67; Richmond, $3078; Fairfield, $3.50 ;Skow-
hogan, $5056; Belfast, $6556; Winterport, $371S;
Calais, $7738; Eastport $5151; Machias, $S4O4 /;
Pembroke, $500; Berwick, S3041 Biddeford
S12,912; Buxton, $3232; Kennebunk, $3137; Kit
terry, $4137; Saco, $7066; York, $685.
Superintendent johnson, after giving an
opinion on the constitntionality of the mill tax
act, on account of doubts having been express
ed in regard to it, expresses the belief that
view of the legislation of the past two years af
fords much that is encouraging to the friends of
education. The school revenue has been in a
measure equalized, and increased more than
one-third. In 1871 the school income required
by law was about $625,000. In 1872 this sum
has been increased byalegislation to $S40,690.
This affords an average of So % yearly toeach
person in the State between four and twenty
one years, which is, however, much below the
average of the other Northern States, and also
below our proper rates, comparing the wealth
of Maine with other States. 7rL iu 5te4-.
The subject of county or district supervision in
some form will be presented for consideration
at the next annual educational convention in
August next, when the Superintendent hopes
the most acceptable school policy to be pursued
will be marked out. ........ .....I.
He concludes by stating what should be done by
educators by presenting seventeen suggestions
for consideration, and finally recommending
that every school district should have its "Cold
Water Temple" A hundred thousand chill
dren should be enrolled upon the pledge list
this summer, he says, and adds: "What a
mighty influence, supplementary to legisla-
tive enactment, would thus cross the thresholds
of our homes and abide as permanent temper
ance agencies by our fresides.