The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-14
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT.
Well Done, Arkansas.

Ol OullH hAieA AALSliASChNO imam
a careful review of the work doing in
our common schools. 1t must be evil
dent to the most skeptical, after COM
pairing the statistics for 1887 with
those of 1888, that our progress is such
as to bring Arkansas in a few years
side by side with her more favored
sisters in the educational advantages
offered her children. While probably
not ne-twentieth of the white voters
of the state favor the Blair bill-and
of this small proportion we have to
find the first who understands it suf-
ficiently well to intelligently discuss
it-yet the great mass of citizens,
both white and black, are growing in
appreciation of the value of popular
education. A demand is made for
better methods of teaching and better
teachers, for more commodious quar-
tiers in short, for a more thorough
practical education for the children.
The increase in our school popula-
ton for the year ending June so, 1888,
was 1886; in 1884, 1881 ; in 1855,
1868, and in 1886, 1880. The in
CICdeC III Gil OllHlCuC Ill lOofJ fO,JOO ,
in 1885, 1,541, and in 1886, Hits.
The increase in revenue was, in 1884,
$223,416; in 1885, $156,345; in 1886,
$2o6,705.
We subjoin a statement Of revenue
received and the amount expended
during the year ending June 80, 1887.
This statement is taken from official
reports made to the Office of the SUI
perintendent of public instruction
from the county examiners and treas
urer's reports. The amount of revenue
raised and the amount expended are
supposed to be nearly correct.
Revenue raised for the support of
free schools during the year ending
June 80, 1887, as reported by county
treasurers Amount on hand June
80, 1886, 1921 ,694 amount raised from
2 mill tax, $250,178; poll tax, $780,
191 total amount from state, $685.
81 amount from district tax, $780,
1911; other sources, 52,061 ; total, S514,-
1852; total from county, $3S3,371 E;
total amount, county and state, $780,
623; on hand June 80, 1886, 1921 ,694
total, S1,319,317; total amount ex-
pended for teachers salaries, ETC., year
ending June 80, 1887, $685., 04S school
population as reported by examiners,
white, 278, 224 E; colored, 90, 543; total,
374, 767 number of children reported
in the schools, $4,000; leaving unac-
counted for, or as not attending school,
191, 1907.
This statement will give some idea
of the work doing in Arkansas. AS
the population and wealth of the
state increases, in few years, no doubt,
we will have enough taxable property
to run the schools seven or eight
months in the year. 1t will be seen
from the above, in comparison with
the report of other states. that Arkan-
sas expends more public money for
educational purposes to the amount of
taxable property than any other state
in the union.
There is scarcely county in the
state that has not built from two to
four school houses within the last two
years, ranging in value from $200 to
$4,000. The educational future of
the state is certainly frightening, and
it will not be long until Arkansas will
rank with Massachusetts, and Iowa.
We already lead them when the ques-
ton of taxable property is considered,
with the revenue raised. Fort Smith
Times.
Some inducements the State Offers.
1t may be we'll and quite truthfully
said:
That her climate and healthfulness
are not surpassed.
That she contains the largest area
of pine timber of any state in the
Union.
That nowhere in the United States
are the criminal laws more vigorously
enforced.
That the Mammoth spring in Full
ton county is the largest spring in the
world.
That the railroads in the state have
proved remunerative investments to
their promoters.
That within her borders are found
the only approachable hot springs
whose waters are of any utility in re-
lieving suffering humanity.
That she contains more miles of nav
igable water courses than any terri
tory Of the same area in the whole
world.
That each of her seventy five coun-
ties contains vast forests of the most
valuable timbers used in the manu.
features and arts.
That iron ore is to be found in every
county in the state outside of the
great eastern alluvium of the Missis-
sippi front.
That by the last census there was
found more very old people in Arkan-
sas than the same population can show
anywhere else in the world.
That the public free school system
of the afafa consida,.i,pe &ho lour<4h &c