The New York herald., 1873-07-18
FREE SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH.


Education Fund Yesterday-GeneraI
Grant Absent-Report OF the Agent in
Regard to the Condition OF the schools
I'm the Southern statcs-sI35,s4O Dis
tributed During tho Last Year.
The Trustees OF the Peabody Education Fund met
again at the Filth Avenue Hotel yesterday after
nosn. Hon. Robert G. winthrop, Hon. Hamilton
Fish, william M. Evarts, George W. Riggs and
others were present President Grant, who at
tended the first meeting was absent Hon. Robert
c. winthrop presided and George Peabody Russell
acted as secretary.
The first business In order was TO elect a sue
cessor to Bishop McIlvaine. Surgeon General
Barnes, OF Washington, was elected in place OF
deceased, and Governor Aiken, OF South Carolina,
was elected Second Vice Chairman.
The Rev. DR.. Sears. General Agent OF the Board.
submitted a lengthy report which gives an eX-
tended account OF the system OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH,
and particularly Of those States which have received
aid from the Peabody fund. The following is the
gist Of the report
The Superintendent Of Schools IN Virginia says
in mis- report "it VIII be that SIS 900 Of the
proceeds OF the Peabody education fund we're ap-
propriated to the Virginia schools during the past
scholastic year. The bulk OF this was given in aid
OF graded schools, and was highly influential in
promoting the formation OF this class OF schools
and In the prolongng OF their sessions-both OF
which were objects Of the first Importance"
The following the names OF the various schools
in Virginia and amounts appropriated Richmond,
$4,000; Petersburg, 81, 600; Lynchburg 1000; Nor
folk 500; Portsmouth, 81, 500 Winchester, 81 800
Staunton, S, 800; Wytheville, $1,000; Manchester
$1,000; Harrisonburg, $500; Hampton Colored
School $500; Richmond, $500, and a large number
OF other places with smaller amounts.
In North Carolina the condition both OF the pub
nc schools and OF education generally
is FAR FROM SATISFACTORY.
The amount received by the schools OF this State
IL xl26 Wilmington and Newbcrn head the list
with 1000 each, ana other places follow with 5000,
In South Carolina few schools are supported
through the year, and consequently the trustees
have not had opportunity Tor many appropriations
one thousand dsnars was paid to the Charleston
school iund
The schools in Georgia received $40, 200; Atlanta
$4,000, Augusta $4,000, Macon $1,000 Brunswick
1000 and other places smaller amounts.
In Florida many circumstances existed during
the past year unlavorabe to the progress OF edu-
cation. The amount received was $500. Jack
sonvie received $l,4oo,- st. Augustine $1,000,
bama there is a thorough system OF public instruc-
tioa for population OF one million OF people or
this million $4,000
CANNOT READ AND WRITE.
The Peabody fund gives Alabama $1,000. Mobile
receives $1,000. Montgomery and Selma. $1,000
each, and Huntsville and Opelika 5, 900 each,
In Mississippi the results are gratifying to the
friends OF popular education when the short period
OF time IL cOnSldered during Wnlch the system or
public schools has been in operation In that State
The amount received was a. 450; Jackson received
$500, summit 81, ,0Oo and four other places smaller
amounts
The amount OF donation for the schools in Louis
lana was 81, ,S90-$5,o4 for common schools 81, 600
for the Peabody Normal Seminary OF New Orleans
which numbers 100 MEMBERS who are graduates of
high schools, and Is open to pupils IRON all parts
of the State, and $3.50 to normal departments III
two other institutions.
Texas has received no money, owing to the pres
ent unsettled state OF school matters there.
81 have consulted the Trustee residing here" the
Regent replied, in answer to numerous requests
for money, "and he agrees with me that in the
PRESENT UNSETTLED CONDITION
Of school matters In Texas should not be jusi-
fed In making donations from our fund. We
Therefore, Ieel obliged to wait till we can do 1t
more in accordance with our rules and usagcs."
In Arkansas the condition OF school matters Is
unfavorablc The amount OF assistance was 50 300
Little Rock, $4,000; Van Buren,, $1,000; Fort
Smith, $1,000, and Others
Tennessee received s25, 800, as the state pros
trate and had abolished Its school system. IL was
this assistance which was the means of introduce
ing very good State law.
In West Virginia there were three superintend-
progressing iavoraply. The amount received was
$l5,5OO.
The total amount expended during the past year
for all the states was $l35,s40. Fifteen States
are ultimately To share In the benefits OF the fund
but ior the present Missouri Kentucky and Mary
land are omitted, at the request VI the founder.
The trustees propose to distribute the money, not
in proportion to population or any other liked
ratio, but To give 1t
WHERE 1T WILL ACCOMPLISH MOST
in promoting II system OF public free schools. The
states that receive less this year Will receive more
hereafter Texas, for instance, would not be bene-
nted 80 much by the distribution this time as ut
future time when the State Will be able to use IL to
better advantage. The expectations OF the Trus-
tees have been more than realized. Al first there
we're only two States that had school systems and
those were only nominal; now every State has q
system in law and the majority OF States have sys
TENS in vigorous operation, During the coming
year special attention will be given TO the school
system OF North Carolina, which Is about TO reor-
game its schools.
Alter approving the report the Board adjourned
till October, 1874.