The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-29

OF Austin VIII be ca led upon to vote for or
against d proposition to lew an additional an
nUal tax of one mill and one-third of a mill on
the dollar, in aid of the public fee schools of
this city.
The present annual tax levied in this city, in
aid Of the public schools, is two mills on the
dollar. but I'll 5, by experience, has been de-
monstrated to afford au entirely insufficient
revenue TO maintain the schools of Austin in
that efficiency which should characterize them,
and in that efficiency which the intelligence
and progress of the city imperatively de
mandS.
The average annual tax voted in all of the
large cities of Texas (other than AuStin) and
the universal tax voted i'll the smaller cities,
f f0e as EreGham NaEasots Bel
and many others not now re-
membered, is one-laf of one per cent, and
this tax has been everywhere voted with such
unanimity and enthusiasm, as reflects most
these communities; and, in addition to this an
nual tax, very many of the cities of Texas are
issuing bonds and with the proceeds of their
sale erecting commodiouS and handsome
school buildings to meet the growing necesSi-
ties and reiinements of the age.
The additional one and One-third mills asked
to be voted by the taxpayers of Austin will,
with the tax of two mills, heretofore voted,
make the annual school tax levied but one-third
of one per cent-a sunless than that levied by
vote III any other city of Texas, so far as is
known to the members of this board, and be-
sides, this board does not propose to ask the
public to vote bonds for the erection and equip
done elsewhere.
With this introduction to this public address
TO the voters of Austin, and after a successful
administration OF The public schools of Austin,
Tor the past two years, the board here pre-
sentS statement of what it has done during
the past year, shows to the public what they
desire and must attempt to do, and adduceS
some good reasons why the aid they ask should
be granted.
/. The school trustees last year with about
$1,000 in money educated nearly 1925 pupils
eight and one half months of the year, or, say,
1000 children eight and one-half months at say
between % and 81 cents a child per month.
Had this number of children been educated at
private expense, n which the necessary and
proper average charge for tuition is, say, 50 a
child per month"; the cost to parents
the charge under the present system
and this burden would have fallen upon the
few, and frequently upon those least able to
bear if, and not be distributed among the
many as under the present mode.
2. The schools of Austin are now presided
over by Il superintendent and thirty-two teach
ers, and teacher of the German language,
the teachers being selected upon competitive
examinations, from among about 200 appl-
cantS; and, in addition to scholarship. normal
training, skill in imparting knowledge, expe-
rience, social and moral standing have been
especially regarded, SO that to-day the schools
OF Austin are an admitted and an emulated
example to other school communities in our
state.
ct is most probable the enrolment will
reach to nearly 2000 in the public schools this
year. CONCLUSION arrived at IRON the TACT that
time exceeds that of a corresponding date of
last year by Az, and if so, additional teachers
VIII be added to the force at present employed,
as it is the determined policy of the board to
prevent the injudiciOuS crOWding of children
in Schoolrooms and to insist upon good work
being done while the schools are in operation,
even il they canonly run for six months out of
the scholastic session of ten.)
3. IL is claimed for the public schools OF
Austin, that they have brought more perma-
nent population to Austin and contributed more
to the general prosperity and growth of this
city than any other single cause at work here.
4. 1t is claimed for the public schools of
Austin, that they are in perfect harmony with
the best private institutions of similar kind
in the city, and that the mutual and reciprocal
effects of the schools, public and private, upon
one another are beneficial in the highest de-
gree TO themselves and to the community at
large.
5. 1t is claimed for the graduates of the Aus
tin public schools that they take first rank
in the University of Texas.
But while the trustees can take this pleasant
retrospect OF what they have done, and are
conscious OF the public approval of the acts.
they are compelled in candor towards the pub
lie and in justice to themselves to say that it is
an impossible thing tor any body of men, no
matter how great their financial skill, their
economy and experience to provide adequate
for the large scholastic population
OF this city from the small means at the dis
pOSal OF the boarl.
The board has control of the following funds
for the scholastic year, 1884, and none other:
81 $50, about, from local special taxation;
$7250 from the State school fund; $751; 800 total,
out of which they must provide education for,
say. 1900 children. nine or ten months of the
year. And from this fund must be paid
not only teachers salaries, averaging, say, $1,000
ermonth or 5000 for ten months session.
but q superlntendent's salary, rents for school
buildings (for the trustees have control of but
two school buildings for the white children,
and pllt two small and inferior ones for the
;olored childEeD must be paid, furniture for
schools must be bought, school supplies pro-
Vided, repairs made. insurance and fuel, jani-
tors hire, and numerous other incidentals paid
Tor, which in the aggregate foot up about $1,000
ldditioltal, n0t an unreasonable estimate aSiany
lust and practical person will admit, who win
fairly consider the amount of work undertaken
md accomplished.
For the following reasons among others, the
school board therefore asks the fax-payers of
Austin to vote for the u mills on, the dollar in
addition to the 2 mills now paid in aid of Our
schools, which additional amount will give us,
say, $500 local tax and $3.50 state tax. Total
S26. $50.
These reasons are. First and foremost
Without this assistance the public schools of
Austin must retrograde and may finally need
% stop.
Second Without this assistance the public |
schools of Austin cannot possibly be efficient |
y run for a greater period than seven months |
Third-Without this assistance the present !
leOts OF the schools, aygregating not less than |
en- thousand dollars cannot be paid. The pfin- |
'lpal OF these debts are the following:
I. Geo: w. Sampson, for block III, on
which the East Austin school
houses are built, interest added; $500 Co
J. C.. T. NJ lett, for buildings erected
on said block, about ............ 400 90
). A. H.. Andrews & Co., Chicago,
school furniture, (of this item
more than 5000 is debt contract
ed before the present board had
eontrol OF the schoelsl ABOUT, -. 1900 90 |
! miscellaneous unpaid warrants of
,ersl per treasirer's report. 1884 90
!. Due A: Gardner 4 Co, retltting
and adapting n room in the West
Austin school building .......... 1893 90
iOtdl-.- ....---- -. SlO,lof W
Fourth Without generous and Just policy
OwarIls its public schools the citizens of Aus
in can, with no prop iety, ask or expert the |
LIBERAL appropriations which it is intended
hail be asked Of de Legislature in aid of the
University especially the appropriations I'm
he direction of completing the main buildings
t the university, of erecting museum OF nat
raj history, of establishing library and of |
recting and maintaining an astronomical OBJ
eryatOry at this place.
Fifth-With the assistance of this addi-
ional revenue (only S1.33 on the $1,000,
0ftalt In the aggregated, school honses
Y degrees can be built and paid
Dr., and be properly equipped with school
lfniture and apparatus, so that III their inside
ppOintmentS as well as exterior flush, thev
an become what they should be-the model
ehOols of Texas.
Sixth-W-ith the aud of this additional tax, the
ne full session OF ten months, and Austin,
18th her but Is OF one per cent. tax, at once be