The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-10
THE FREE TEXT BOOK SYSTEM

THE FREE TEXT BOOK SYSTEM
The Pioneer Press says that the de
partment of public instruction has
been looking into the free text book
question with view Of finding out
how the plan has worked where tried
and circulars have been sent to county
superintendent and answers received
so far, from about half of the number
These answers indicate, says Supt
Pendergast, that the plan, wherever
adopted, is more economical. The
attendance is increased and time is
saved. owing to the fact that pupils
are allie to begin work the first day
The books are sure to be alike, and
the poor families are relieved from ex.
pense without increasing the burdens
of heavier taxpayers. The returns al.
ready in indicate that about 1000 dis.
tricts have adopted the free text book
plan. The first cost appears to aver.
age about $1.32 per pupil. The esti.
mated cost the first year is So cents
The superintendent of Becker county
has had the plan in operation for eight
years and says that .the actual cost
per pupil has been from % to Is cents
per year. OF the counties heard from
60 per cent. report that the | lar
meets with general favor. In
two-thirds of the counties the
tax payers favor free text books, the
opposition coming principally from
those who have few taxes tc pay. AL
but three reports say that the results
of the plan in the districts where ii
has been adopted are to influence
neighboring districts to do likewise
The number of school districts is
now about 5000 The enrolment fol
four successive years is: 1890, $50, $50
1891, 290, 642; 1892, 300, 1893; 1893, 312,
521. The number of pupils entitled
to apportionment for the several years
is as follows: 1890, 221 1856; 1891, 227,
966; 1892, 233, 293; 1893, pa, 694. There
are about $4,000 pupils who enter the
schools but do not draw public money
pupils over twenty-one years of age
or less than five years, non-residents
paying tuition, and those who are not
present forty days in the year, are not
entitled to apportionment. The
greater part of the number not draw
ing state funds belong to the last
class. Supt. Pendergast has used the
school enrolment in comparison with
the census reports, to ascertain the
population Of the state. Using the
enrolment Of last June, and multi
plying by 4.63, he finds the population
of the state at that time to have beer
/ 100000.
We have $4,000 worth of dress
goods, trimmings, cloaks, shawls
blankets, fiannels, prints, ladies' and
childrens underwear, ladies' AND
childrens hosiery, mems over shirts,
mems underwear, chenille curtains
madra curtains, lace curtains, madrs
drapery, silk drapery, spring balance
warden shades. ETC., at reductions il
price that is actually butchery. TC
close out our entire stock. our stock
of shoes, including overshoes, go il
the sale. The opportunity this sale
offers will save you money. Do uno1
fail to call and be convinced that we
are in earnest, and mean what we say
This sale will continue until every
article in stock is turned to cash. We
hope you will call and examine oul
goods when you come to the city, anc
we unhesitatingly say you will save
money by purchasing of US. Shaw
Charleton & Co., st. Paul Store, 81:
S. Front St., Mankato. MINI.
Contractor Page has been notified
to continue sprinkling the streets un
til ordered to stop. The territory in
cludes Front street from Vine stt
Marshall and the cross streets from
Second to the west end of each, from
Cherry to Plum.
DIR. Jacoby has moved his office
to the rooms over Rruse Bros, No
3OS South Front street.
"A marriage license was granted
today to Wendelen Weber and Ter.
esia renbasch, both of LeRay.
Frank, the eight year old son oil
Frank Schroeder, Notwithstanding
of diphtheria.