Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-02
A STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.

STATEMENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Total consols, s5,2lO,793S2; total defcien
cies, s564,S55.98; State scrip (Agricultura
College, S191, $780, total funded debt, $5,967,
449.80. To be funded for ante. bellum princi
pal and interest, say sl96, 6,57O91; to be fund
ed for pest. belum principal and interest, say
S3O6,316; to he funded for fundable interest
say STAG, 6S9.O7; to be funded for bills of the
Bank of the State, say $22,1 ,145; total bonded
debt, S6 ,639,17O7S. After all the expenses
and appropriations Of the last fiscal year are
paid off there will remain, as surplus, to be
carried to the fiscal year 1SS0-S1 the amount
of $4,000.
1t appears from the comptroller's estimate
that levy of Al mills will raise sum sufh
cent to pay the current expenses OF the gov
ernment and the interest
If the Legislature continues the mode Of
collecting taxes at two periods OF the year
there vii be, of course, great uncertainty
as to the Amountin the treasury on the lat Of
July. 1t is important that the interest OF the
debt be met punctually, and in order to sus'
tain the credit of the State, !, therefore, re-
commend, if the present mode CT collecting
taxes is to continue, that you authorize the
Governor, Comptroller General and Treasu'
rer to borrow, on temporary loan, if there be
not sufficient funds in the treasury, so much
as may be necessary to pay the interest falling
due.
/ ask your attention to the remarks OF the
comptroller on the question of
TIE POLL TAX,
and suggest the Importance Of devising some
law by which the tax may be more generally
collected.
I will have occasion to speak of the forfeited
lands and phosphate mining, in bringing to
your attention the report of the commissioner
of agriculture. The questions, however, Of
taxation of phosphate mines, which were
brought 50 the attention of the Legislature
at its last session by the comptroller. general,
have n. all been settled, but remain for
your det sion.
The r,port of the superintendent of edu-
cation gives much valuable information as
to the condition of
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The school fund, the school attendance,
number of schools and the number of teachers
employed, were greater during the last year
than at any previous time in the history of
this State. In proportion to her wealth
South Carolina is making as liberal provision
for education as any other Southern State.
During the political canvass of 1876 it was
repeatedly charged that if the.Democratic
party obtained control of the government
educational facilities in general ,and especially
those Of she colored race, would be diminished.
The following tabular statement of the work
of the last four years furnishes the best an.
swer to those charges: Number of schools
1861, 24S3 1877 78, 1922; 187S-79, g.
901 1880, 2973. Increase in number of
schools since 1857, 400; teachers employ.
ed 1857, white 1925, colored 949-total
2,674 1577.7S, white 2,O91, colored 1926
total 3,l17; 1S7S.79, white 5000, colored
! 1,O76-toeal 1866; 1879.S0, whites, 2,04S,
colored 1,123-total 3,l7l. Increase in num-
ber of earhers since 1851, 497.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
1851, white 46.444, colored 55,952-to-
tai l02,396; 1877.7S, white 54,11S, colored
62,l2l-tntal 1929, increase 13, ,843; 1878
79, white 58,36S, colored 64,095-total 1922
1853, increase 6,224; 1879 80, white 6l,218.
colored 72,S53-total 1874 ,O72, increase II $685.
Total increase since 1876 II, 3l,678.
SCHOOL FUND.
1857, s1S9 $3.50; 1S77-78, $3l6, 1910; !;
1888, 1881 ,O49.9O; 1S79.SO (estimated,)
1851 ,4l550.
The year 18777S was the year in which
the constitutional amendment relative to the
school tax went into operation. Full re-
ports have not yet been received from all the
counties in regard to the school fund for
the last year, but the estimate given above is
derived from figures carefully compiled in
the office of the comptroller.general, and is
believed to be very nearly accurate.
The report of the president of Clahin Uni
versity, which is contained in the report of
the superintendent of education, shows that
that institution is in hourishing condition,
and is afording each year increased facilities
for the higher education of the colored race.
The average length of the school sessions for
last year was three and one half months, d
slight increase over the sessions of the three
preceding years. In Anderson county the
sessions lasted six months, and in nine other
counties the average length of the sessions
was from four to five months. The shortness
of the sessions in the remaining counties was
due in large measure to the fact that con.
siderable portion of the cuyent school fund
has been diverted by authority of the Legis,
lature to pay claims incurred before the Dem
ocratic party came into power. The whole
amount of these claims, which have been re-
ported to the superintendent of education, is
s2O9,94066.
The report of the superintendent of educa-
ton gives interesting information, showing
the many improvements in the public school
system which have been made in the last
four years. | would commend to your favor
able cons Iteration the recommendation in the
report for the further improvement and devel.
opment Of the public schools. The success of
the Normal Institute, held at Spartanburg
during the month of August. was very graft.
flying. The Clafin University has a we'll
organized normal department for colored
teachers, but the Normal Institute gave to
the whiGe teachers the first opportunity af-
forded them for special training, The meet
ing of this Institute forms an era in the history
of educational progress in this State. One
hundred and ninety.seven teachers attended,
and they showed commendable desire to
avail themselves of the great benefits of the
Institute. They voluntarily, and at their own
expense, gave month of their vacation season
to study and to do the work of selfimprove'
ment. he praseworthy spirit thus nantes
ted shou be encouraged by the Legislature
The full and able report of the distinguished
gentleman who was the principal of the In
sttute gives much interesting information as
10 tho ,rnrE anonrn nlishod and shnws the i'm.