The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-30

- STEM mas during The past year increased if
usefulness ard popular favor even more rap
idly than usual
Number q sehools-white .... s,isl sss;
Number OF schoois-Colored.. LOCI 1,ls
Total white and colored. 4.1s5 4.53s
Average number OF months taught $50 5,6s
Number of pupils enrolled-white lss545 137,e7s
Number OF pupils enrolled-col'd.. 549il 62.l7s
Total white and colored. ... l8a,48s 1886
Number OF pupils in average daily
attendance-White... .:.......... 74,05G sO,52l
Number OF pupils in average daily
sttendance-Colored. ............. 29671 S4.72s
Total white and colored. .. -. 1897 l5.z4*
Percentage OF school population
enrolled--White Observation-Disclosures. 4ss 49l
Percentage of school population en-
rolled-Colored. .............. FL 30.7
Percentage Of school population in
average daily attendance-Whlte sG5 1871
Percentage Of school population in
average daily attendance color'd HI Ill
Number Of teachers employed Males ALL s,els
Nnmberof teachers emplo'yed-Fe
maies..-........ ............ l,56l LOO
Total males and females - 4,2ss 4.62
Total cost of public education to
public funds In 1875. S944,16i SIS
Total cost OF public education to pub
lie funds in 1885,. $685. 81
COMPARISONS.
1t may De seen chat the gain in attendance
was 1870. Last year the gain over the year
previous was 10,Gll. So that in two years the
gain has been nearly 10000 pupils. We have
now almost 200, 900 children in the public
schools. which with those attending private
schools shows an educational progress which
augurs most fayorably for the future develop
tnent Of the State. Besides the gain III en-
roment there was also an Improvement Of 2
to 8 per cent in the regularity with which
the pupils attended school. The cost Of in
structions was 60 cents per month for each
enrolled against 20 cents last year-a fact
which does not necessarily imply a reduction
in the pay Of teachers, for the increased atten
dance in small schools would itself reduce the
average cost, because there is no increase Of
the total cost of such schools. The colored
pupils, though not yet equal, have gained
relatively on the whites in enrolment, and
also in average attendance. There were 1888
new school-houses built this year against 292
last year. About one third of the school
houses are now owned by the districts.
The receipts from the Peabody fund We're
sl9,S00 as against $3s,S72 in 1874. Receipts
from State funds, $5ls, 7Ol %; local taxation
1913, 1885; Peabody fund and private do
nations, a77, 1899.
SCHOOL PROPERTY
Number of log houses, 2,0S4; nun Der OF
frame houses, 1924; number Of brick houses,
1856; number of stone houses, 81: number
with good furniture, l,750; number owned
by districts. l 400; number built during the
year, 1893. Value of school property owned
by districts, 1851, 73O.57.
SCHOOL FUNDS NOT PAID OVER
The report says: "Last winter,as is gener-
ally known, the fact was brought to light that
every year considerable part OF the STATE
funds belonging to the public schools had
been used for the general purposes Of the gov
ernment' and that the deficiencies had by
that time amounted to something like $780,
900 Mow said to be less. Although no we II
informed person supposes that any one COM
United intentional wrong in the matter, vet
the people were deprived TO that extent OF
the means of education, and the effect on the
public mind was painful. The matter is men,
toned here with the hope that something
may be done to replace the misappicd funds
and to render impossible the continuance or
the future recurrence of such diversion of
funds sacredly devoted to education By the
constitution and laws of the State
Appended to DR.. Ruffner.s report are re-
ports from the Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical College and Hampton Normal
and Agricultural Institute.
CONCLUSION.
In concluding his report (of which this is
only Il brief summary Dr.Ruffner says:s.Al-
together the school system was never SO
prosperous, SO well managed. or 80 strong in
public favor as it is to-day. And what is
most pleasant to mention. my extensive ira
wells throughout the State during the last six
years have enabled me to observe growing
improvement in the financial condition of Oil
people as a whole, and consequent hopeful
ness of spirit, which, taken in connection
with the quiet tide Of immigration,a
the dawn OF an era OF great prosperityto or
dear old Commonwealth
WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Number Of patients-Male, 1913, female,
lG0. Total, 1928. Daily average. 357. The
percentage Of recoveries to admissions was
$500. There were 10 deaths. Four OF those
who died had resided in the asylum thirty
yeats and upward, and two others for more
than ten years. There were los applications
for admission rejected. One hundred and
eighteen made application for the first time
for admission into this asylum.
The medical superintendent says. $ On
looking into the history Of these cases l lind
that very large majority of them have been
permitted to remain at home till the durable
stage has passed, and they now swell the
list OF 7tcarables. Is not this great evil? Are
the citizens Of the State doing justice to
their families or to the State? The latter in
her muniflcence has provided these noble in.
situations for her afflicted children. and vet
they are held back--tIiey are concealed at
their homes and kept there to the utter mise
ry OF their households, and at last, when it
can be borne no longer, their friends apply
for admission, and find to their sorrow that
the step has been taken too late--the era-
bic stage has passed"
The Superintendent thinks that sou, ZOO
will be necessary to support the asylum this
year.
He says, In reviewing the want Of larger
accommodations, &C., that the number re-
jected at both asylums in 1S74-'75 was l39 !;
number ct these since admitted, 6-leaving
1873. Number rejected III 1s75-'76, in addi-
ton to those above, 10. Total In the two
years, 24s.
THAT is, during the last two years at least 243
insane persons have failed to find admission
into either asylum. AS you are aware, the
Legislature last winter passed an act appro-
priating $4,000 to tic enlargement Of the
Eastern and Western Asylutns to 100 add