Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-01

DECEMBER 1, J
diversion into our midst of a part of that
stream of immigration which has so rapidly
and wonderfully enriched other portions of the
Union. most cordially commend this depart
ment to your fostering care.
RAILROADS.
| The railroad commissioner reports an in
crease of the net income of the railroads OF the
State during the past year, and an improve
ment of their general condition. All of those
which were in the hands of receivers, except
the South Carolina road, have been sold, and
| the purchasing companies permanently organ
| iZed There is complaint of excessive freight
charges on some of the leading roads. The
Attorney General holding that he is not, as
such, counsel for the railroad commissioner,
and there being no fund provided for the en-
ployment of counsel, the commissioner has been
unable to test, by suit in the courts, alleged
violations of the law and of their charters by
| the roads. To secure reasonable charges, he
recommends board Of three commissioners
with power to regulate freight and passenger
tariffs and that it either be made the duty of
the Attorney General and solicitors to repre-
sent the board, or that an adequate fund be
commissioner has discharged the duties of in
spection required of him. He also states the
gratifying fact that in the last three years no
passenger has lost his life through the fault of
any railroad in the State. There is, he thinks
much room for improvement Of depotS at the
important stations along the roads, ard at the
city of Columbia, where it is recommended
that the Legislature require unic.. passenger
depot to be constructed. Many of the rail
roads of the State have passed under the con-
troll of the Richmond and Danville Combina
tion. The commissioner thinks that in some
respects such consultations of interest are
beneficial {; but in this case, the controlling
power being in another State, it is highly i'm
portant that the Legislature shall provide,
through board or otherwise, for regulation
of freight and passenger tariffs, which will
protect the local patrons of the roads in this
State.
EDUCATION.
The report of the Superintendent of Educa-
tion shows the condition of the public school
system, and the progress made during the last
year in providing educational facilities for the
masses. There were in attendance on the public
schools 81, ,339 white and Y, 1l9 colored pupils;
schools total of 133, 45S There were 3,057
making in operation, and 3, 249 teachers employ
ed. The average length of the session was three
and two-thirds months. Full reports Of the
school fund have not yet been received but it
is thought, from careful estimates, that it
will be about S42O, 900. The increased facili-
ties for education are shown in the fact that
the number Of schools established, during the
year, was greater by eighty-four than at the
time of the last report, and the number of
teachers was greater by seventy-eight. The
average length Of the session shows slight
increase over that of former years. The edu-
cational facilities of this State are not yet
complete but a comparison with other States
shows that, in this respect, South Carolina is
not behind most of her sister States of the
South.
The report of the State Superintendent
contains full statements Of the management
of the two large and successful institutes
held in this State during the last summer,
one for white and one for c0lored teachers.
The effect of these institutes upon public ed
ucation in South Carolina has been most graf
flying.
The report of this office further shows a
marked Improvement in the management of
the public school fund. In October, 1877, the
amount of claims outstanding against the
school fund of the several counties, was $780,,
$40 g. At that time orders on the school
fund rarely brought in the market more than
twenty-five cents on the dollar, and often
could not be sold at any price. Now they are
paid in full each year by the county treasurers,
while the past indebtedness in many Of the
counties has been entirely liquidated. Reports
from some of the counties have not yet been
received, but statement showing the exact
condition of the indebtedness will be submit
ted to you during the session. BY the end Of
another year the school fund Of all the coun-
ties except three or four, will be free of debt.
The Superintendent makes the following
recommendations for the consideration of the
General Assembly:
l. That an Act be passed prescribing the
manner in which the average attendance shall
be estimated, and regulating the mode of ap-
portioning tile school fund.
2. That an appropriation be made in aid
of normal Institutes from the same fund from
which the expenses were betrayed last year.
8. That authority be granted to the facul
ties of State Normal Institutes to issue certif-
Gates of qualification and diplomas to teachers
in public schools
These recommendations, coming from the
source they do, are entitled to, and no doubt
will receive your careful consideration.
The fund donated by the United States Gov
ernment for the establishment in the States of
agricultural and mechanical schools is, in this
State, appropriated under the direction the
trustees of the South Carolina University to
the maintenance of two schools. The one
at Orangeburg, in connection with the Clatlin
College, has been established for some years,
and is accomplishing a valuable work. 1t is
confined to the colored youth of the State, and
during the past year 800 pupils received not
only the benefit of the technical instruction
implied in the name of the school, but also the
advantages of a course III some OF the higher
branches of education. The school for the
white ynuth at Columbia has been more re- |
Gently established, and has not yet reached the
full measure of it's usefulness. 1t has opened
the scholastic year with SO students in atten-
dance, and, I trust, will soon obtain lead
ing position among the educational institu
tions of the State. The State Military Acad-
envy at Charleston has been suspended in its
operations since the late civil war. This has
been due to the fact that the building known
as the Citadel, in which it had it's seat, has
been. since the close of the war, in possession
of the United States authorities, and has been
used by them until recently as a military post.
1t is understood that the General Government
is now prepared to restore it to the custody of
the State. 1t is desirable that this property
he recovered and again devoted to the pur-
poses Of higher education, in the facilities for
which our needs are greater than the sources
of supply. 4 measure will probably be sub
mitted to you, at this session, to accomplish
this purpose :; and you will permit me to say
that, in my Judgment, it is now practicable to
reopen this school, and it should be done.
GENERAL LEGISLATION.
At your last session, commissions were crea-
ted to inquire and report to you at this session
upon such amendments as were advisable to
the railroad laws of the State, the election
laws, the militia laws, the tax laws, and also
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