The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-16
THE STATE CAPITOL
MatterslPicked UP in Our Tour of
the Departments.
Important and Interesting Infor-
nation for County Officials
and the People.
from Thursdays Daily.l

The governor yesterday received the
following telegram:
WALNUT SPRINGS, August S. 1888.
Gov. L. 5. Ross: -.
orr train, No. "a, was thrown from the track at
about 40 last night by distractions placed on the
rails three and half miles east of Ross station,
McI,ennan county. Engineer Moses was instantly
killed and Fireman COtrell injured, Out not serl-
O"7'' A. II. SWANSON.
On receipt of the above the governor
Immediately issued proclamation Offer
ing reward for each of the persons en-
gagged in placing distractions on the
track.
CONTROLLERS DEPARTMENT.
The rolls of Washington county were re-
ceived yesterday, and they show an in
crease in values of $211,495.
The deposits yesterday were S6,S46 to
general revenue and 1907 to the school
fund.
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
In reply to q letter from Gonzales
county, Superintendent Cooper yesterday
wrote as follows:
Dear Sir-Your letter of the 31st ult.
touches closely one of the greatest prob
lens in the development of our public
schools. In my special report (pages 8
and 10Y, a copy of which 1 take pleasure
in sending you, undertake to show that,
with our present means of in come, 1t Is
not POSSIBLE to maintain the schools from
the state funds more than four months on
the average. careful study of the ques-
ton has driven me to the conclusion that
we cannot increase the length of school
term without increased taxation. l point
out in my report the way which this might
be done by a state tax of about Is cents, in
stead of 1215, as the tax now stands.
There is a strong sentiment growing up
in favor of making the levy of small
school tax in each district. 1t is claimed the
people will take more interest in the
schools and will send their children more
regularly, if they pay local tax. All OF
the larger towns, and many of the smaller
ones, run theis schools in this way from
eight to ten months. Districts which levy
$3.50 on the $1,000 worth of property
run their schools six months or more, and
have good schools. They find that the
schools cost nine-tenths of the people
less than one half as much as subscrip-
ton schools, and that they are better than
subscription schools. Counties under the
community system cannot avail them
selves of this advantage. They should be
districted and vote local taxes.
You are in error in supposing that the
late Legislature appropriated 100000 &c
high schools. High schools are found
only in large towns where the people vote
special taxes on themselves, and these
high schools are supported in that way
The Legislature did vote $125,0O0 to the
State university. but the money came
from the general revenue and not from
the school fund.
The land held by wealthy corporation:
and non-residents for speculative pur-
poses could not be taxed more heavily thar
farm lands without an amendment to the
constitution. The fiscal officers of the
g government, both state and local, are
determined to reach in assessing persona
property, esp ecially money on deposit IL
banks and on hand, more completely thar
ever before. If they can succeed they
will add materially to our taxable values,
and in this way increase our funds.
would respectfully suggest that you
will find much valuable information on thu
subject you are investigating, if you will
write to the commissioner of education
Washington, d. G., for his last report
From this you can see how money il
raised in other states for the support O.
schools.
am glad to know that the people il
Gonzales county are taking hold of thi;
question, because this matter is oil
supreme importance to the people, and
when they take hold of it in earnest we
shall get what my heart is set on; that is
good schools for 100000 children in the
country, as well as 100000 in the towns
and cities. Very sincerely yours,
OSCAR II. COOPER,
State Supt. Pub. Inst.