South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-01-19


the labor Of keeping the builtiing clean
aud in order-the compensation OF these
employees TO be fixed by Law.
reRE scnoora.
The report OF the Superintendent OF
Free Schools so fully pre- sen.s tho con.
dition OF the public schools that little "a
necessary to be said BY me. The schools
] In the State have been gradually improv.
ing IN all respects; We have better teach.
ers. larger attendance Of pupils. and
more efficient management bv school
ofbcers. There arc still ,sosecss no doubt.
but time and experience will cure them.
Inc total expenditures for school pur.
poses were. In 1875 S93l. 778. 50, an I in
1878. $i.000.933.l6. In 1876 there we're
1887 children enrolled. >and ll7,845
attending schools. the average daily at.
tendance being 74.5sS in 1875, lsi, 200
children were enrolled, and 123, 5O4 in
attendance. the daily average attendance
being 1Oll There were :. 959 school
houses IN 1875. valnei With their furni.
ture Mt Sl.6O5.627.l5, and S.46I teachers
were employed in 1876, there were re-.
ported 3.l2I school houses, valued ut
Si,S6O.467.S3. and 3.693 teachers were
employed. These naked statistics af.
fort substantial grounds of qualification
that so much has already been accom-.
plished in our young State for the edu.
cation Of its youth.
Some action ought 70 be taken in re-
iation to the normal schools. The law
is still in force requiring the Board to
appoint teachers. but no appropriations
were made for the purpose. The Board
Is therefore necessarily embarrassed in
the discharge of it's duties. Either Tic
laws establishing these. schools ought 70
he repealed, and the school buildings
belonging to the State he disposed OF.
or provision bo made for maintainiu;,
them. They have effected much good
IN supplying teachers for the common
SCHOOLS, and am therefore not prepared
to recommend that they bc abolished
Perhaps tie best solution Of the cues.
ton is to reduce the number and to
make reasonable appropriations for
those that are retained.
coDiFirSG 1HE Laws.
Our statute laws are no. in good form :;
many oil them are crude. inconsist.nt
ana OIL uncertain construction. This
Tact has led To the wish to have them
! revised and codiGed. As the matter
has already been somewhat DELAYED. and
us the courts have been clearing them
up by construction, 4 further DELAY can
do no serious harm amendments To item
Will continue 10 be- I'M lie for sometime.
When tho body and substance of the
laws become settled. tie hand of the re-
wiser can be employed with advantage,
TO put them in proper shape.
In some OF the counties the courts are
not held within sixty days after tho lie
claration Of the result OF an election.
the period within switch officers must
| qualify. This is cause of e.rbarrass.
ment. The mention of the fact is SUN.
Gent to show Tie necessity of an amend.
ment to cure the defcc: in tho existing
law.
Ate: the passage, last winter. Of the
act in rclationin the inspection oftobac.
co, there seemed to be, doubt in the
minds Of some of Tue members. whether.
under It's provisions. the State was liable
Tor The rent OF the warehouses. There.
| ioro invite your attention to the subject.
there being no doubt in my mind bu,
tuat Tue STATE IL SO liable.
! The whole law on the Subject Of insur.
ance needs revision. Without specify.
! ing other points. tho fact that irresnon.
sible companies have been organized
and have had q short.lived existence az.
fords ample reasoIi' FOR the suggestion.
! The officers Of the Medical Society of
West Virginia will call your attention 70
The propriety OF establishing n State
Board Of Health. They are the repre.
sentatives Of profession in which all
/ persons have the deepest interest. and
ask for them respectful and earnest
consideration, on your part. OF any views
they may present.
Will send to you special commu.
nicatiou in relation TO the Centennial
Exhibition on the part OF the State.
In July last, Hon. Allen T. Caperton.
one Ct the Senators in Congress from
this State, died in Washington during
the session Of the Senate. Mr.. Gamer.
ton brought to Ills exalted Office ripe ex.
perence, high integrity, varied culture
and a digntied bearing that won for
him an honorable position in the Senate.
Hon. Samuel Price was appointed TO fill
the vacancy caused Ivy his death.
will soon surrender the Office now
hold-an office that has brought 10 me
Tar moro OF care, anxiety and response
bility than Of personal advantage. I
will not attempt TO pass judgment on
my official conduct; but may be allowed
TO express tho regret that i. has not
been in my power TO repay this generous
confidence OF ny fellow citizens by
larger measure Of usefulness. AS n
private citizen shall not cease 10 feel
the warmess interest in all that concerns
the good people of West Virginia.
JOHN y. JACOB.
Mr.. HARPER The New Schedule