davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
BosoUE COUNTY.

MERIDIAN, TEX, March 29--Editor
GAZETTE: write at your request for me
to recommend such changes In the school
law as | think needed.
am in favor OF abolishing the third
grade certificate, or doing away with
third-grade teachers, and have none but
trst aud second-grade teachers.
? am In favor of having county SUI
perintendent, for the reason that county
Judges do not have the time to attend TO
the school department as a superlntend-
ent can do.
Regulate the appointment of SD
prrintendent according to- the population
OF the county. All counties having $500
children of scholastic age should have a
superintendent. la counties having less
than 2500 throw two or three counties
togeth and appoint superintendent
for the district.
4. DO away with the county board of
examiners. Allow no teacher to teach a
public school unlesss he has certificate
from the summer normal school, unless
he or she has been prevented from attend.
ing the summer normal school on account
OF sickness In such cases let the county
Judge or superintendent appoint a board
of examiners to examine all such appli-
cants and give them certificate good
only for one year.
8. Let each county select and adopt
uniform series of text books for at least
three years.
6. lam opposed to transferring children
from one community to any other one.
Abolish IL entirely. Amend the law so
That bfter the children have been enrolled
or after the census has been taken, let
them go TO any school In the county
where they were enrolled without any
transferring.
Z Make 1t the duty OF the commission
ers' court 10 levy a school tax for the
whole county not to exceed 20 cents. By
that means we can have good schools ali
over the county. Il. Il CHuDREss,
County Judge, Bosque County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
ROAD AND SCHOOL LAWS.
OPINIONS OF THE COUNTY JUDGES
OF TEXAS.
Discussion OF the Legislation Needed 10
Perfect the Road aud school Laws
OF the state.

Below will be found the responses OF
some county judges Of the state to the
request OF THE GAZETTE for opinions on
needed legislation to perfect the road and
school laws Of Texas. 1t was originally
designed TO print all these replies In one
issue Of the paper, but this was found
impracticablc, and installments Of these
opinions will be printed one day in each
week until all are given TO the public.
Those judges who have not yet repli d
will confer favor on THE GAZETTE, and
do the state some service, by doing so at
their earliest convenience.
Following this publication OF the opin-
ions OF the county judges will be one Civ
ing the views of the district attorneys Of
the state on the jury law and It's needs
EDITOR GAZETTE.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
CANIERnN OOuNrY.

BEoWEsvnLE, TEX, March l9.-
Editor GAZETTE Ia compliance with
your recent request, made, as | suppose,
70 all the county judges OF the state
chnsriully submit my views upon the
operation OF the road and school law, as
they stand upon our statute books at the
present time. As | am confined to my
own ufiicial observation and experience.
however, doubt the general practical
value 81 what may say, because as the
Mexican population predominates in this
county by large majority, aud that
population, as rule, neither speaks or
reads the English language, any made
4nacy ~ the laws, on account vi such
ignorance Of the language, would have
no application 10 the state at large. Nor
could laws b passed to apply only TO
particular sections of the state
ROAD LAWS.
hnd that the statutes as TO roads are
utterly impractlcable because of the many
techuicSlities 20 be observed in their en-
torcement. As before stated, the majority
81 our country people can neither write
MOI read the English language, and many
OF the formal steps required by
our present law are invariably
omitted by the oyerseers, although
they are sometimes furnished with in
structions In the spanish language
Again the burden Is uneqGal In this that
the majority Of the people own no prop
erty A general tax aud the contract 81 s.
ten OF working the roads would, ] be-
lieve, be preferable az doubtless in most
counties the labor IA unreliable for pub
lie road OF that nature, aud as to the
SCHOOL LAWS,
e.. h.. q
and they will apply to all the Mexican
frontier counties, the community system
alone will be Of any benefit TO the people
General ignorance of the English lam
guage renders the district system utterly
Valuelcse. In fact my predecessor In Office
was unable To open the schools at all dur
ing the scholastic year 1854 to 1855, and
was obliged to await legislative enact.
ment eNempting this county. Under the
community system we have reasonably
efficient school work. | nm not able to
indorse that portion OF the law, however,
which makes the county Judge ex-nnlcio
superintendent OF the schools without
reasonable or adequate compensation
My county has population OF $4,000 in-
haOitants, and an area OF S,80S square
miles. Scattered over this immense ter
ritory are rs schools. and my
compensation hardly exceeds one
hundred aud Nifty dollars per
annpm, a sum scarcely sufficient to pay
travelling expenses over the county twice
year as required by law. What can the
public Justly expect OF me under such
circumstances2 We have In The county
and under the supervision OF the county
Judge about twcntysix hundred children
within the scholastic age. am OF the
opinion that couuty judges have ample
time visit the schools within their re-
spective counties, hut they should be bet.
ter compensated, otherwise there should
ne superintendent, paid ont of the
school fund, whose duty should be to
have local charge Of and together with
the county Judge have supervision over
all the schools. Il. &. FoRTo,
County Judge Cameron County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
SABINE couSry.

HEhPHILI. Tx, March 20, 1885,
Editor GAZETTE Yours Of Jan. 90, 1856,
in regard TO road aud school laws, was re.
ceiyed come time since. had deter
mined 20 remain silent, but after seeing
several opinions given by the different
county Judges, 1t seemed TO me that the
different opinions were suggested by the
localities. Sabine Is poor county. It's
chief source ~ wealth consists Of timber,
Tor which we now have no market for the
want Of transportation, aud the lands are
generally owned by citizens. To under
take 10 work the public roads with means
secured by taxation would be, | think,
almost unanimously opposed think IL
would be proper to allow the commits
sioners' court TO extend the time Of work
ing from hye 70 ten days II necessary.
SCHOOL LAWS.
The community system Of schools being
less expensive than the dis ret, is best
suited 20 this part Of the state. Let
one competent person In each
county be appointed TO examine APP
phcants for certificates, and let the
applicant pay one dollar for each
examination. Dispense with the removal
OF certificates, SO that each teacher may
be examined annually. Make IL the duty
Of trustees 70 attend and witness the
examination Of pupils al the opening and
closing OF the term, aud certify to the
correctness OF the report Of progress re-
turned by the teacher Relieve county
judges Of the duty Of visiting the schools,
and compel the teachers to pay county
judge Is cents Tor the approval of each
voucher, with or without administering
the oath Let each county having
population OF 5000 or more have the dis.
trict system and a county superintendent,
said superintendent 70 be paid out Of the
fund apportioned 10 said county, aud
those having less the community system
without the cO-superintendent. Uuder
the present system the public free school
iuDd apportioned 70 this county il dis.
irihuted at cost Of less than $500 an
nually NJ. YoUNGBLoUD,
County Judge, Sabine County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
COOKE COuNrY.

GAINESVILLE, TEX, March I.--EditoI
GAzKTrE; In compliance with your
request herewith submit my opinion as
TO the necessary changes in the road and
school laws OF this state.
think In the main we have a good
school law when once properly under
God, therefore | consider but few
changes actually necessary at present.
i. BY all means let US have a county
superintendent, at least In counties where
the scholastic population exceeds 2o0O,
Tor II Is utterly impossible for q county
Judge TO attend TO the other duties of his
Office and give the school affairs the at
tention they should have, and the educa-
ton OF our children is matter of too
much Importance TO be neglected.
? DO away with the board OF examiners
and make II the duty OF the county super.
intendent to examine teachers, allowing
him 81 for each examination.
y. DO away with the third grade cerliA-
Gates, say first grade to hold good for two
years second grade, where the applicant
ON examination on a scale OF 100, made
an average of IS per cent to mold good
for one year; anything below 10 per cent
only for six months.
4. Let each county adopt some uni
form series of text books.
THE ROAD LAWS.
/. think they should be amended so as
to either allow the commissioners court
TO levy tax sufficient 10 keep roads and
bridges in good repair, or allow oyerseers
to call out their hands whenever neces-
sary, and TO work their roads until they
are in good condition. But few roads can |
be kept in good condition with five days |
labor. Many overseers in this county |
have reported that the hands on their |
roads had worked their full time out long |
before their time as oyerseers had ex-
PRED, hence we had overseeIs with no
power to compel hands 10 work, no mat
ter what the condition of their roads
might be, leaving the overseers subject to
an Indictment for failure to keep their
roads In good condition; and again, in
several instances in this county where
new roads were to be opened, the five
lays would not open the roads
2. The tax now allowed by law to be
evled Is insufficient to keep the roads and
)rldges In good repair, but with sufi-
;lent amount, then require the commits
'loners of their respective districts to
'uperntend the working of all the roads
n their districts, allowing said commits
'ioners So per day for The time actually
Employed in said work
3. Amend Art. 1875 of the road law so
IS to require eight signers to petition
or change in place Of one, and require
'nyone desiring TO change any public
Dad to give the notice, as now eauired
" law, and also require hun to file his
petition with the commissioner of the
district at least twenty days before the
/ rm OF court at which such petition will
'e heard. Then make 1t the duty OF said
commissioner 10 go in person and ex.
mine such proposed change and report
o The commissioners court for final ac-
ion, allowing said commissioner reason
bile compensation for the time actually
Employed
Amend Art. 1860 SO as to apply only
o tirst-class roads. j r. HALL,
County Judge, Cook County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
z.PAlA,OuNrY.

CARRizo, TEX, March %, 1856. Editor
GAZETTE; My opinion as to the needed
changes on the school and road laws OF
the state OF Texas Is as follows: En-.
power each county commissioners court
to levy road and bridge tax sufficient,
say 10 or 20 cents on 500 each year, to
keep the roads and bridges in each
county in good repair with the right TO
set apart and appropriate said funds to
the several road precincts in the county
aud employ some one TO keep the road
and bridges In good repair. Require said
overseer or contractor to enter into bond
payable TO their respective counties in
case of failure to comply with their con-
tracts, aud also give them power to buy
the necessary tools TO work the roads
SCHOOL LAW.
In this county the old system works
well enough. ! disapprove of the dts
trict school system for this county, most
Of the people being too poor and unable
10 stand the extra tax
/, A. G NAVARRO,
County Judge ofzapata County
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
LLANo COUNTY.

LLANo, TEX, March q, s6.-Editor
GAZETTE: l hardly know where to begin
on our lame school law. 1t needs SO
much doctoring that 1t would be best to
destroy the thing altogether, and make a
new one have been trying to carry it
out az county judge of this county ever
since 1879, but | have found it an uphill
business toget much benefit to the chill.
dren under it's provisions.
favor first, thorough district system,
With good, comfortable school house in
he geogral heal center OF the same, to be
built and furnished by the state or coun.
y, ana to be used for nothing else than a
school-house.
Second, | favor the levying Of sufficient
taxes ON either state or counties to run
the schools for term of not less than
eight months in the year, to be divided
INTO two four month sessions, the times
OF teaching these terms to be determined
by majority vote OF the district.
.. | favor compulsory education,
and deny the old mossback doctrine that
1t would interfere with personal liberty,
and think the idea that man has the
light to let his offspring grow up in igno-
rance Is an insult to good common sense
L
think there ought to be one in each
county, to be In session for at least five
weeks, and that every teacher ought to
he compelled to attend for at least four
weeks each year and have his certificate
OF competency renewed each year or be
declared from teaching On this point
alone would like to write column or
more.
b. There ought, by all means, to be a
county superintendent of education in
each county, separate and distinct from
the Office OF county judge OF any other
Office. 1t shoulc be made his duty, In adj
ditIon To the duties now imposed upon
county Judges, To organize and preside
over the county normals, and upon the
recommendation of i've teachers attend
ant on said institute to issue teachers,
certificates, to examine and issue tempo
rary certificates To teachers who come
Into the state after the normal session.
and to spend at least three days out of
every week travelling among and examin-
ing the condition OF the schools. Make
II his duty TO be present at the commence
ment OF each school or as soon thereaf-
Ter as possible, and assist in grading and
classifying the same. With the office of
county superintendent feel certain that
the etlitiency of the school system would
be increased at least one-third.
These are only a few OF the changes
that | would like to see made In this
school law.
ROAD LAWS,
AS to the road law, have always IA
yored working our public roads and
building Bridges by taxation alone. Il
ieel sure that until this is done we will
nave almost impossible roads and few or
no bridges. The failure of the road law
enacted under the Republican rule to pro.
duce the desired results Is no reason why
other laws cannot be made under which
we will have better roads and bridges
ana cost the people less than this pres,
ent old.togy plan OF working them by
aole-eodied men between eighteen and
iorty-nye. The arguments against the
present system are so numerous that the
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

llleent system Of frec-schools, In my
humble opinion, Is the only means 20 per.
petuate our liberty, and that our present
system is doing. and has done much good
none will deny, but that II has met intel
| lig' Mt expectation Of results none will
assert. Its dual nature Of community
aud district systems seems 10 me to be
cumbersome, but It's greatest defect Is
the want OF supervision. The county
| Judges are not the proper persons 70 do
this. Few Of the judges are practical ed
ucators, and those who have the super
vision Of our schools ought 70 be teach
crs whose plans have been INDICATED by
success in the schOol-iOom. II / should
invest my capital in machinery, / would
employ practical machinist to supervise
the work, aud deem IL more impers-
lively necessary in molding the plastic
minds Of the rising generation that this
glorious work should be under the con
troll Of experts, than that Of any pecu-
MARY enterprise should be, though the
millions OF the Rothschilds, the Wander
bits and Goulds may be combined there
In. Let our state be districted nearly as
possible, giving to each superintendent
district embracing from sixty to eighty
schools, and place over this an intelli-
gent, progressive educator, and in three
years our present system will satisfy the
most sanguine hopes Of its friends
|, The rulings of our educational board
should be done away with in a most per-
emptOry manner The most pernicious
ruling they have made--that Is, the one
that has retarded me most In trying 60
elevate the standard Of teaching in my
county--is that a certificate given in one
county is good In another. Each county
is its own proper Judge as 10 the quallf-
cation Of its teachers. Again, the system
should not aim at too much; that Is, its
course OF study should be restricted 10
such as will give the masses good,
common, practical education. | do not
thiuk taxation should be for any more
than this A normal school, partially sup.
ported by the state, In ea1h congressional 4,
district, will, II managed prop rly, be a |
powerful auxiliary In developing results |
tnat is,by furnishing a supply OF educated |
teachers Teachers institutes should be |
at least quarterly, and they !
should be allowed the same pay while at |
tending the institute as If teaching. I'M !
proved methods In teaching will amply |
repay for the loss OF time. A uniform
plan for building school-houses adopted
by the state would be advisable, as much
money is wasted in building temporary
box concerns which will not keep out
either the heat Of summer or the cold
u winter.
ROAD LAWS.
AS 10 our road law, If had the power
would make but one change, aud that is
70 give the overseer the right to call out
he hands for ten days during the year if
necessary. Not deeming thrse views of
much Importance, aud claiming very lit.
lie originality, am Tery truly yours,
e. z. KEARBY,
County Judge Raines COUNTY
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

County judges are too poorly paid 70 take
much interest IN schools.
ROAD LAWS
la regard TO the road law think poll
tax OF 80 cents per capita, and not more
than IS cents on the si0o should be lev
led, the county commissioners 10 be road
supervisors IN their respective precincts,
the roads 70 be let byccntract. would
favor the law laying out roads TO remain
as II Is, as we are now accustomed TO It.
Any radical change would create confu-
sion. X II. STORMS,
County Judge Kerr county.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
KERR oouNry.

KERRyuIE, Tx, March 4.-Editor
GAZETTE AT your request, would say
In regard TO the school law, that trustees
should be elected the LIST OF July, instead
OF August, for a term OF two years, there
by giving them two months TO select
teachers Then holding the Office for two
years would give more permanency 10 the
teachers. There should be law by which
parents and guardians should be required
70 send each child of able body and sound
mind, in scholastic age, at least three
months each year. I know there would
be opposition, but all are required to pay
school tax, whether they are benefited or
not, SO II one Is oppressive the other is
also. think local taxes should only be
levied to build school.houses. The great
est drawback 10 schools in Western
Texas is q lack OF interest Of patrons OF
schools. think that teachers should be
required to form Teachers associations
In every county, and penalty should be
att,ched so as 10 require them 10 do so.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
RAINEs oouNrY.

ENoRY, TIKI April 5.-Edltor Ga.
1grrE In compliance with your request
| send You my opinion OF our free-school
system. | am 10th 10 criticise as impor-
tant a stay ,toour freedom as free school
system Is, for unless we can educate the
masses the gloom OF anarchy will over
shadow our nation, az the pail Of night
rests mon the face Of nature An INTEL
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

only wonder 70 me is that any sane
man ever indorsed II.
These views do not come from a spirit
Of opposition C the party in power, for
have been llfe-long Democrat.
JoHS G.. OATMAN,
County Judge, Llano County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
Money to Loan.

We will loan money In any sum desired
on iirst class real estate security, from
three TO five years. time We also buy
vendors lien notes.
SoMMERvuLR & CHASE,
sos Main street.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
TEEE PRT&SEs@.

Inc following partial list of prizes distributed at M 4
70 Whn additions will be made rapidly possible until the
pIete through arrangements being made - ~ Ds Wy
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18
TEEm DISTRIBurrc,nr

The distribution will be following gentlemen
mpaay
CAPT. N. 3. LLOYD President National Bank Fort worm
EVANS, President b. c. Evans Company Wholesale Aehap,
MAX ElSEh, Wholesale Stationery.
S. N. FRY, Boot hoe Dealer
HOWARD FULLY, Jeweler.
JOHN F. SWAYNE Tarran County
j. NJ. HaRTSFlELO, District Clerk, Tauant County
W. II. TAYLOR Taylor & Barr, Goods erchaa
j. n. BOYD County TarrantC County.
w. 5. PENDlETON Representative Of Tarrant County.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

you, as she has deceived every one vlse. \
~ could not be deceived IN such
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

iha.alN inrdlcinf that rihdifalo~ ,he po'surs n
segpais, Meme., 4at CgqasieH 9'seAse
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

The subscriber who draws ihla pae,
ave choice Of the buggy or $3.50 IN saes
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

e uist button being determined by conducted undo
people of the % ~ A" "Ho are well hur]
EVERY SUBSCRIBER to the WEEKLY GAZETTE for ono
GAZETTE for one will be a chance in tha
price OF the Weekly Gazette
oO year. ard IN THE PAPER ALONE subscriber
e amount paid therefore but, addition hui
every ma subscriber to either the editions mentioned for wy
titlng the holder chance -oi Vne yea, aNs
The Grand Semi-AnnuaI Distribution of Premiums c..
1886, Aggregating $1,000 in Value.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

Heart and Science
HALF Hours with Great Authors
Intellectual Life.
Poems of Passion.
Every Day Cook Book.
Social Problems.
The Kentucky Housewife.
Josephus' Complete Works.
Popular American Dictionary
Modern Thinkers. .......
Taine's English Literature
Junlus' Letters.
Confessions of an Opium Eater.
Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-08-09

Mr.. Gardner Morse and daughter are a
Saratoga.
Postmaster Englishs family are summer
ing in Watertown.
Clerk Benton of the Common Pleas court
spent yesterday in Litchfeld.
Attorney Hugh Daley and Lawyer S.
Spier spent Sunday at Stony Creek.
Miss Eliza Frankentheller, of New York,
is visiting at MIR. Max Thalheimer's on st.
John street.
Mrs. Chandler, wife of Professor Chand-
Ter, has greatly enjoyed the celebrated con-
certs lately given at the Crystal Palace,
London.
Mr.. g. Fred. Farnham has accepted the
management of the Hub Clothing House,
with which he has been located for the past
ten years.
Deputy Sheriff J. R. Warren and family,
of this city, and Deputy Sheriff Joseph Net
Teton and family, of Bradford, go to Lake
Waramaug for two weeks.
Mrs. Thomas Broadbent, of Humphrey
street, and two children return this week
from a two weeks visit to Mrs. James Platt
of Boston, formerly of New Haven.
Professor J. NJ. Lee is engrossing chart
er of the Douglas Fowler Woman's Relief
corps of South Norwalk. The work is being
handsomely executed in German text.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Talbot, of Provi-
dence, R. l., the latter formerly of this city,
sister of Miss Todd of the Young Mems
Institute, are spending the hot weather at
their summer residence in Machias, Me.