The daily gazette., 1881-01-04

fces, the fees now by law taxable by
such officers to be by them taxed and
received as heretofore and paid to the
State Treasurer. Such law to take ef-
feet rs the terms Of the present in
cnmbents expire.
FREE SCHOOLS.
There ID no subject in which the
people have a greater interest than
that Of Free Schools. They have an
Interest as individuals, for therein is
laid the foundation, to some extent,
OF the future usefulness of their of
sprlng. And they have an interest as
citizsns Of the State, because it is
through their agency the rising gen.
GRAFTON is better qualified for the du-
ties and responsibilities incident to
eltixenship. Hence the Legislature,
more than half century ago, pro-
vided permanent fund TO supplement-
individual effort in supplying the
proper facilities for the acquisition of
the rudimentary branches of education.
But without the hearty oo operation Of
| parents and those who have an imme-
| dlate interest In the welfare of the
young, no system of public education
eau be made productive Of the bene-
hpial results of which it is capable.
The efficiency of any system Of inn
provement, moral, intellectual, or ma
t0rial, though established and aided
by government, depends, in a great de-
gree, upon private exertion. Public
donations many times have failed in
the accomplishment Of the end pro-
posed through the neglect or slothful-
ness OF those for whose beneAt they
were intended. Governments cannot
db the work Of natare. In the future,
therefore, We should mainly rely upon
tile liberality, care and interest aWak-
ened in the minds of the people, by
appeals TO that sentiment OF duty
which springs out of the relations Of
parent and child, the strongest and
endelest, perhaps which resides in the
human breast for richer and more sat
isfactory results, from this field Of pub
liz and private labor. l do not mean
by this to say that the State should
turn it's back upon this institution aud
do nothing more towards its support,
but that the people in every district
should rise to the level of their oppor
tunity aud utilize all the possible ad
vantaRes which Free Schools afford
Ii the fund already dedicated to the
support of this important aud cherish
cd institution is not equal 70 the de
mand upon the State in that behalf, it
Should be made 50 and if the people,
through any lack OF interest or through
any other cause, have failed to do their
duty in the matter, the roper remedy
should be speedily applied.
Owing TO the largely increased num-
Der Of school districts BY subdivision,
the amount Of money annually distrib.
uted 10 each district by the State has
been sorrespondingly lessened, aud the
resources therein for raising money for
school purposes have been senslbly di-
mlnished, to which have no doubt,
may be attributed, to certain extent,
thb fact, that the schools have been CLOS
cd so long la some of the rural districta
during the year. As q remedy for this
d. tficulty, i recommend the consolidation
| Of those dintricts in which the resources
and number of scholars are so limited
i as to render II inconvenient to support
schools therein for longer period than
/ they are, or the reconstruction Of such
districts upon the basis Of the original
! lines as far as 1t may be practicable.
| With these notifications / can see no
| go61 reason why the children Ia each
district should not have the advantages
Of a school during eight or nine months
| In every year. I therefore recommend
tha. a sufficient amount OF money be
levied and collected TO keep the schools
| in operation In each district for that
length OF time during each year-the
| collection OF the taxes TO be confined to
| the county collectors, IS they can do 1t
with less cost and confusion to taxables.
herewith transmit, for your consid.
| GRAFTON, the report Of the State Super
lutendent Of Free Schools which con.
talhs q great deal of valuable informA-
tion concerning, not only the present
coudltion of the schools, bu. the origin
and growth OF the system Of public ed
ucation in this State.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
AZ the necessary supply OF school
bo 1ks forms a material element Of the
cost of education, it Is highly proper
that they should be obtained with a.
little expense as possible to the purch.
aset. Since the introduction OF the
new system of books into our schools,
conslderable complaint on the part OF
parents aud guardians has been made
with reference to their price and quality.
The grievance Of which they complain
appear TO have Its existence In the large
profits realised by middls-men or re-
lailtrs in tho sale Of such beoks. In
order 10 avoid this difficulty, recon
mend that the Librarian be authorized
to purchase the books used In public
schools, directly OF the Publisher, and
deposit them with the School Commis-
sioneu OF each school district as they
are wanted, whose duty 1t shall be TO
distribute the same among the patrons
Of the school at their cost price aud for
ward the money 10 the Librarian.
FRRTILIZERs.
Al agriculture is the leading and most
prominent industrial interest In this
State, aud as chemical manures enter
very extensively into the growth and
production of almost every crop, the |
Value or quality of which can only be |
ascertained by actual experiment, or by |
q careful analysis maie by a reliable |
chemist, l recommend the passage OF a
law amendatory Of the existing law
upon the subjaet, making it the duty OF |
the state Chemist TO analyze, free OF |
charge, sample Of each fertilizer sent |
to him by any farmer or other person |