The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-01-22
The County Institute.

MKssRs. ELwRIL & BIrrENpRNDRR, Dea,
| Sirs Il noticed In your last issue an artl.
Gle written by a Catawissa correspondent,
In reference to the finances Of the County
Institute.
IL he had been present at the last session
of the Institute he would have noticed that
a committee Of two were appointed by the
Institute to audit the Superintendent's &C.
count for the year 1884 and 1886.
Receipts $570.75 expenditures $47i.9i,
balance on hand for said year S9S.s4.
o. II. BAKRLHss,
NJ. ELLA ANDREWS,
Auditors.
Balance on hand previous years $21.93.
The evening entertainments are not re-
quired by law rs a part of the Institute.
They are gotten up by myself for the en-.
tertainment and profit of the teachers and
the public. am personally responsible
for all of the expenses. If there is de-
fcit, l must pay it. The surplus mon
ey voluntarily give to the Institute.
In many of the counties of the state, the
hCCP thC ulOutJ
which they have legal right to do.
There is not single town in the county
which have regular course Of lectures.
1t matters not how much teachers may de-
sire to attend lectures, they cannot often
do so in this county.
The expenses of the teachers who attend
the Institute, so far as board, travelling,
etc, are concerned are the same whether
they attend evening lectures or not.
l have put forth all possible efforts to
give the teachers and the public as good
evening entertainments as possibly could.
Before DR.. Higbee's lecture Monday even-
ing Dec, 81, 1888, publicly stated that if
there was deficit was personally respon.
sible, and il there was any money left, ]
would give it to the Institute. The mex,
day number of the teachers said to me
that it was an imposition to let me be re-
sponsible for so much money without hav-
ing any assurance of any funds with which
to meet the expenses. 1t was suggested
that an enrolment fee of one dollar be
charged.
resolution to that effect was presented
to the Institute at the close of its session
and passed without dissenting vote.
was afraid that we were not yet ready for
an enrolment fee and so stated in my
talk on Monday evening. The Institu te
thought differently and quietly, although
reluctantly, acquiesced. In taking this ac-
ton Columbia county placed itself along
the side of the best Institutes of the state.
This year an opportunity was given to
the teachers to enroll, but they were not
asked to do so. The enrolment card not
only gave the teachers reserved seat for
the course of lectures for fifty cents less
than the popular prices, but an opportuni-
ty to select a desirable seat three hours be.
fore anyone who was not teacher. The
time the teachers were in attendance at
the Institute whether enrolled or not was
reported to the various secretaries.
AS only about dozen complimentary
tickets were issued, except to those who
rendered service, do not deem it necess.
ary to multiply words on that subject.
1t might not be uninteresting to give a
short sketch of the history of our Institute,
AS this article is already lengthy will only
say thal the receipts from the sale of tick.
cts at my first Institute were only $50. SO
this year $5e0.75. At that time the people
of Bloomsbury did not patronize lectures
as they now do. That winter three of the
most active attorneys in the town OF
Bloomsbury gave the citizens course OF
lectures. They canvassed the town and
worked it up as never knew any other
committee to do, and yet they did not NEE,
expenses.
have not realized single dollar on the
Institute or Institutes, but on the contrary
have expended quite good deal of my
money in preparing for them.
statement of the receipts and expendi.
lures of all the Institutes held by me car
be seen at my Office.
j. S. GRrMEs,
County Superintendent.