Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1879-07-11
THE BRENNAN FREE SCHOOLS

| DiShildlli punt HCC SSIlOOlS
have been source of pride to
every citizen of the city, and in
addition have given her a name
abroad for enterprise and thrift
that she never would have at
tanned without them. Brcnham
is universally referred to as one
of the model small cities of
Texas. All strangers coming
here are at once favorably i'm
pressed with our city; it has an
air of comfort and thrift about
it that is not generally seen in
the average Texas town, and in
addition to this new buildings
can be seen in course of con-
struction IN almost every por-
ton of the town. This result
has been brought about chiefly
by two agencies, good public
free schools and good newspa-
pers to let people know what
we are doing at home; and in
this CO lncction we may be par
doned for saying that the news
papers of a town or city are
about the only means of diffus-
ing information concerning it
abroad.
We think it will be universal
ly conceded that our public free
schools have played an all inn
portant part in making BRENNAN
what she to-day is; they have
been the means of adding large
ly to our population, bringing
the very best class of people.
The advantages accruing to
property owners and business
men are SC plain and palpable
that it is wholly unnecessary to
dilate upon them in this connec-
ton. This being taken for gram
ted, the question presents itself
to our tax payers: Shall the
public schools be continued
next year? The general in
tercst manifested by the pub
lie in the recent closing eX-
aminations at the school
buildings and in the final
exhibition at the opera
house would seem to indicate
that all the better classes of
our citizens are firmly and thor
oughly convinced of the utility
and practical success of the
system.
AT a meeting of the city coun-
Gil held on Monday evening an
ordnance was passed levying a
special tax of three-eighths of
one per cent. Tor the support
and maintenance of the public
free schools for the scholastic
year beginning September Ist
1879 and lasting ten months,
and also ordering an election
on Saturday, August 9TH at
which it will be determined by
the qualified voters whether or
not the said tax shall be levied.
The necessity for levying a
three-eighths per cent.tax arises
from the fact that the present
legislature in its wisdom has
cut down the appropriation
by the state one third less than
last year. The city council
wish it distinctly understood
that in levying the three-eighths
tax the total taxation is not in
creased. Heretofore there has
been levied and collected tax
of one-eight Of one per cent. for
the bond and sinking fund.
The cityis virtually out of debt,
having money sufficient on hand
to pay off the remaining out
standing bonds, hence the ne
cessity for levying bond and
sinking fund tax no longer ex-
lists. In place, however, oflevy-
ing tax for that purpose it is
simply abolished and added to
the school taxes leaving the to-
tai amount oftaxes to be paid
by our citizens exactly the same
as they were before the change.
If there are any enemies of
the schools still left in town
they may attempt to deceive
the uniformed by cry of in
creased taxation. This is not
so, we have stated the facts
just as they are and our state
ments will be fully verified by
the present city administration
as we'll as the board of school
trustees. Every man who has
the interests of BRENNAN at