River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-02-13
EDUCATIONAL.
MARTIN z. CADY, A. M,
County Superintendent Of Schools.


conveniences. The propriety, if not
the right, of making them public bur-
den may we'll be questioned; but when
that burden becomes a barrier to the
growth of intelligence among the PEG.
pie, there can be no doubt Of its injus-
tice.
In several towns of Pierce Co., half
of the land, as is we'll known, is railroad
land exempt from taxation. The re.
naming sections have all been occupied
by settlers dur'~~ the past ten or
twelve years. THESE settlers were in
the outset poor people. Men with
means do not 90 out upon the frontier
into the wilderness, aud expose them.
selves to priyation aud hardship, while
they are clearing up farms, and waiting
patiently for the conveniencies that
are to come after many years.
This is the lot of poor people, who
are searching for homes and have no
other means Of procuring them; young
men with their Wives and no dowry
save strong constitutions and willing
hearts; parents with their little ones,
poor in this worlds goods, but rich in
antieipatioas or domestic comfort aud
happiness. Such men as these are our
pioneers every where; such men as
these were the early settlers of this
county. How are their alticipations
bsing fulfilled. BY hard labor they
have made their oloarings, they have
procured the semblance Of a home; but
all this will hardly compensate for the
school privileges they left behind them,
when they journeyed from the East.
In the center Of each four sections they
have erected school house, but by law
only two of those sections contribute to
the maintenance OF school therein.
The other two are the property OF
rich corporation the children OF whose
members are enjoying the advantages
of the finest schools in the land; and
because they are rich and therefore
powerful, they have secured such legis-
lation as throws the whole burden Of
opening up and developing the region,
where their land lies, upon the hard
pressed settlers.
Under such condition Of things it
has been almost impossible for tie SET
tiers in many localities to maintain u
school at all; but by strenuous exertions
they have mostly succeeded in havings
school one hundred days, the requisite
length of time to entitle.them to a share
of the public money.
In some places, where we have been,
the school tax is between five and six
per cent. of the property valuation, aud
the school a mere apology at that.
One mlu, who has lived in one of the
eastern towns Of the county several
years, informed US that, when he FIRST
settled, his property was assessed at
eighty dollars, and his tax was niue
dollars
In order TO have the schools in reach
Of the children, they cannot be less nu-
merous, If the land is all settled, than
Que for each four sections; yet it is next
to impossible for the people living in
the midst Of the railroad lands, to sus.
tain as many schools as that and have
them approximate TO efficiency.
From our observation, while visiting
schools through the eastern part of this
county, we were convinced that all leg.
islation, that confers a grant upon any
railroad aud exempts it from taxation.
strikes a deadly blow at the most vital
interests Of the commonwealth.
Nothing will compensate for igno.
rance, and no apparent financial pres.
perity of the state eau be real aud sub.
stantia when il is built ct the expense
of the mental culture Of the citizens.
Such action is rather political extrava-
gance than political economy, and is
burning injustice upon Its victims.