The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1873-01-31

py pursuing tnls pollcyi recommend that
the law passed at your last session be re-
enacted, with the additional provision that
no interest shall be demanded in case the
companies come forward within reasona-
bic time and settle the amount of their
original indebtedness.
EDUCATION
As | have not yet received the annual re.
port of the Superintendent of Public Edu-
cation, cannot give official information on
this subject. | have every reason to be-
leve, however, that the educational inter
ests Of the state are not being neglected
Our free shool system is the only sure loun-
dation on whic!. hopes Of future prosperity
can be based. a community cannot re.
main stationary it must either progress or
retrogade. Ii we desire real progress. it
must be based upon intelligence, aud the
masses must be educated. The educational
interest is paramount TO all others in the
state, and l trust it will receive at your
hands that consideration which its import-
ance demands.
The law for putting schools into opera
ton should be as plain and simple as posi-
sibe, All the revenue for school purposes
should, as far as possible, be applied to
employing teachers. The charitable nature
Of free schools does not contemplate costly
houses, expensive boards Of managers, and
elegant and elaborate outfits. These things
appertain to schools Of higher grade, acade-
mics, colleges and universities.
/ recommend that the present school law
be SO amended as to bring its benefits more
directly to the children of school age
throughout the state.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
During the past year great interest has
been awakened on the subject Of railroads.
a large number of projected roads have
been surveyed, aud quite an amount of work
has been done upon several of them, as will
appear from the following statement:
Memphis and Selma road, eighty miles
graded, and on sixty miles of it bridges
have been built and cross-ties delivered.
Mobile and Northwestern, thirty miles
graded, bridges constructed, and cross ties
distributed.
Vicksburg and Ship Island. twenty miles
graded, and cross ties delivered
Vicksburg and Memphis, eight miles
graded, 1900 feet of trestle work complete,
and ten thousand crossties delivered
Vicksburg and Nashville, twenty miles
ready for the iron, and no debt incurred.
Prentice and Bogue Phalia, grading all
completed, ready for the iron.
Natchez, jackson, and Columbus road,
10 miles graded and brid led; construction
train and one hundred and seventy tons of
irun delivered, and a large cash balance in
the treasury.
The companies in charge Of these enter
prses are dependent almost exclusively
upon private aid and county subscriptions
for means to carry them forward The peo-
pie generally are disposed to subscribe to
the extent Of their ability, and counties
have in some instances voted such liberal
aid as will lead TO embarrassment when
their obligations come to maturity.
The Ripley road was the only one entire.
" equipped during the year. The great
energy displayed by this company enabled
it to complete, before the first day of Sept.
1872, the number of miles necessary to en-.
tiHa IT. tn raceivn n snhsidv
nv sta RAILROAD SUBSIDY. Y
Eighty-one thousand nine hundred and
sixly.eight dollars and twenty cents in state
warrants was issued TO Colonel Faulkner
President of the Ripley Railroad, in &C
cordance with the terms of an act granting
aid to encourage internal improvements.
Under the advice of the Attorney Gen
eral the State Treasurer refused to receive
these warrants in payment of state dues
and they were about to be thrown upon tn,
{ market under a cloud Of threated repudia
ton, which would have rendered them com
: paratively worthless. Quite large quaint
ty Of the warrants had passed into th
hands Of poor men who had received then
for services in the construction of the rail
! road, and nearly all Of them were 10 tn
J hands Of parties who had received them il
good faith at the current rates Of Auditor
+ warrants.
\ In this contingency, upon promise mad
: by me, that would receive them in pay
E nent Of the debt due the state from ID
Q New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northef
I Railroad Company, Messrs. Murdock, Hun
j. phreys and Smith, Of Columbus, Miss
: made arrangements to- buy them, and in
S mediately wrote To- Colonel Faulkner t
y notify the holders that full current ratt
+ would be paid for all warrants Of this d
Q scrption. 1904 lc aoissas laI