The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-11-19
AUSTIN'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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Educational advantages invariably
determine the status of a city OF
country, and where great interest is
taken In education by the substantial
men of a city the moral standard of
that city is raised many points.
The success attending the efforts
of few, but energetic and de-
termined men, men with a
moral object in view, which
they considered their duty to accom-
plish-to push lAustin to the front
ranks as an educational centre, has
been remarkable, almost miraculous.
Five years ago the attention of the
citizens of Austin was called to the
fact that with a population of over
1000. there were only 500 pupils in
attendance at the public schools. This
state of affairs set few public spirit
ed men to thinking, among the fore.
most of whom was A. p. Woodbridge.
An inquiry was made into the
reasons for this state of affairs and it
was found that Austin, like all cities
in new state had her attention dI-
rected too much to making of money,
and consequently TOO little to educa-
t1onal improvement.
Steps were Immediately taken to
remedy this evil and the results to-day
show how successful those steps
were, and the whole secret is this
the right men were at the
helm. These men were warned
that it was useless to attempt such "a
thing as they contemplated.
Nothing daunted and in the face of
discouraging comments and croakers,
they worked indefatigably, and their
efforts were the more earnest, because
of the worthy object they wished to
accomplish.
There were no axes to grind. no pol
itical capital to be made, truly pub
lie spirit influenced and spurred them !
on.
See the result; five years ago barely |
over 500 pupils were enrolled in all
the schools. to-day, with the popula-
tion only doubled, there is four-fold
increase of the pupils enrolled; the
grand total is 2,104.
What noble and laudable work,
and how successfully accomplished
The report for the last school year
is out, and in order that the people of
Austin may see what goes with their
money, few statistics are given. 1
The following is statement Of re-
ceipts and disbursements, for the
scholastic year ending August 81,
1885:
RECEIPTS:
Received by Treasurer B. G. Lud-
Received by treasurer Walter Tips. 6Si7 Il
Total SS1 1888 90
DISBURSEMENTS:
Discussed BY Treasurer a5lSN hIdloys25ezl In: 90
fetal taI..i:....----. - >
Cash on hand -. -, - II
ss1 1888 90
Statement of resources and [liabili-
tiles for the current scholastic year
commencing September 1. 1855:
Resources, known and estimated. ..S4o,853 Il
Liabilities, estimated. 4 .526 "
In the statement of liabilities is in
cluded monies borrowed to pay teach'
ers and to build school houses. which
fall due this year, and which, consld-
ering the increased facilities for school
purposes added, shows very small
Indebtedness.
There are AZ teachers employed and
the rolls show a total of 1,476. white
and 628 colored children.
The per cent. of attendance is high
being 80, and the average rate of tut
tion per pupil is only 81 38.
Eight school rooms were added last
year and the total number of rooms
now being used is forty.
And the most creditable part of this
department is that politics have not
been allowed to creep into it in aay
form, and to that fact is due the pres
ent high standing of the schools.
| Austin has undoubtedly taken a
front rank as an educational center in
the south, and if the status of the di
rectors of schools is always kept as
high as at present, she will maintain
!, her position.