The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-06-16
The School Debt.

amounting, we believe, TO nearly $50, 900, is
not pleasant subject for contemplation, at
this time, but it is one which tax payers will
be. called upon to face, in some shape or
other, before long. Tie School Board on
Monday made n formal request of the County
Commissioners for n levy of IL cents on the
hundred dollars to meet the expenses of the
public schools for three terms of the ensuing
scholastic year, or 90 cents for four terms
They also require an additional levy of II
cents TO pay the interest upon their debt
The amount required for three terms is $780,
435; for four terms $50 sos, and for interest
81 ,Si5. These estimates are not based upon
of schools or the expense of conducting them
but upon the actual number of teachers and
schools now in the county.
The County Commissioners as custodians
of the public funds, upon being asked to as
sumo the payment of large debt, and at the
same time TO provide funds to continue the
public schools, very properly, we think, en-
quircd if there were not some items of cX-
pense which could be curaiIcd, rs for in
stance the consolidation of weak schools, &c
This information the School Board were un.
able to give, but made demand for larger
sum than was ever appropriated before, and
which, it is estimated, will only suffice, for
the actual running of the schools, without
leaving any surplus for payment upon the
debt, unless some saving may be effected
during the year.
There should be the most perfect harmony
between these two important bodies in our
local government. The County Commits
sioncrs are not unreasonable in their requests,
and the School Board should take every
pains to inform them upon points on which
they seek to be enlightened The School
Commissioners should not stand upon their
reserved rights rs part of II State system of
education, but inasmuch as the schools are
paid for by the people of Hartford county,
the School Board might, without any loss of
dignity, consult with the county board for
the general good, so far as that relates to the
payment of the school debt ana the provision
to he made for the ensuing scholastic year.
| Assuming the debt to be $50, 600, an annual
levy of 20 cents on the 800 for three years
would very nearly liquidate ii; provided one
| half of the amount thus raised would be paid
on the debt The other half, amounting to
$l2, 500, with the State appropriation would
only fall short about $4,000 of the School
Boards estimate for three terms This
amount of $4,000, il is claimed, could easily
be saved, simply by consolidating some Of
the schools, which might he done without
seriously interfering with the interests of the
public. We merely make the suggestion
The School Board have doubtless thought
long and earnestly upon the subject of pay,
ing the deb,, and We have no doubt, our sug
gcstion has been already considered by them
There is one method of paying the school,
debt which we hope they will leave out OIL
their calculations and not insist upon, and
that is by issuing county bonds Topay The
bounty bonds of 1860, amounting to 900
there was levied $751; 30 The people 9th,
county, we are satisfied, do not want another
funded debt and prefer to pay it in some
other manner.
THE COMING HARVEST The approach
ing harvest promises, at this time, to be one
of the largest ever gathered in Maryland
Wheat is now nearly beyond any danger o
farmers will have abundant reason to b,
thankful, and to remember the centennia
| Vpar with ppculinr ,,ancnro II ,,,t ,,,c,o
qucntly happens, however, that when goot
wheat crop is raised, n great deal of il j.
damaged by rain before it can be safely pu
in the granary. This is owing, doubtless, tt
the great acreage of wheat sown and the Gus
tom of permitting the crop TO remain in til,
field, after being cut, with but slight protcc
ton, until it can be threshcd.
The Baltimore San, in timely article OF
this subject, reminds farmers of the loss cx
pcrlcnced last season from heavy rains, sool
after the wheat was cut and urges them t.
guard against such contingency this time
by taking every precaution to secure tn,
crop, as soon as cut, from the damaging eff
fects of wet weather. The Sun adds:
If, then, learning lesson from the loss b,
rain last season, our farmers, after the reaper,
and binders have done their work, make
haste to secure the crop under cover, insiea(
of leaving it to the chances of the weather il
the open field, they will, at least have Tho
consciousness of getting the fullest returns
that their labor and the soil they cultivate
will justify, and they will also be free from
the sclfrcproach that always follows dis
astcr that might have been rcmedicd
In Pennsylvania the farmers do not consid
cr the harvest over until the crop is under
cover and they spare no time and forbcar nc
help in getting it there. From cally dawn
to dark they summon TO the harvest field not
only every available member of the family
but make rcqulslion upon the blacksmith
the whcclwright and all other outside fDrcf
they can obinin, and not until the crop is
safely housed and ready at any time TO be
fed 10 the tlrosl,ing machine, do they res,
from their lpbors
1t is rnmnrd that the opposition in New
York Ia the nomination of Governor Tildcn
by the Democratic National Convention las
been ncutrulM Il. in which event Uncle Sam.
nrPs chances will have been very much bet.
tered We do not hesitate TO say that if Gov.
crnor TiIdcn is nominated we can suppo,t
him with hearty good will
The House of Representatives., by Il
unanimous vote in the case Of Speaker Kerr
| gave official ultcrancc to n belief shared by
the whole country. So far they did well
Let them so farther and arrest and try ITar-
ney and the vile schcmers who backed him
up in his infamous attack upon the charac.
ter Of n pure and honorable man.