Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-07

YOU viii save In damage to your con-
veyancee In overlooking your teams by
pulling over the rough roads, and the
advantages or the market, and you will
| find that the amounts you have invested
IA good roads will be the most satisfac-
tory and the safest you have ever made.
HOW TO RAISE THE MONEY.
The counties and towns which desire to
do so should be allowed TO issue bonds
redeemable in thirty years. The amount
should be determined by the revenue de-
rived from the road-tax on property and
the tolls collected from those who travel
over the roacs. and il might be well to
put small tax on ali vehicles from
those who live contiguous TO the improved
roads, or tolls should be required.
IL has been asserted by a competent
investigator that the average expendi-
turei for the past three years on the
county roads IN Virginia has exceeded
$4,000 per annum In money and over
$4,000 per annum in statutory labor.
do not believe this estimate II extraya-
CANT We have not less than 10000 per
sons who are required 20 give two days
labor to the county roads. We had In
1872 property valued for taxation at Sl99.-
5si,4f The Code OF Virginia. section
s1s. page 2sS. allows levy for the pur-
poses OF the county roads Of IL cents In
the hundred dollars worth OF property.
Place the value OF the labor at 75 cents.
which the statute fixes. and the tex on
the property at - cents. and you Will see
that the estimate Of $4,000 Is a low one.
This sum OF $4,000 then is the available
money We have for road purposes every
year. and II is sufficient 10 pay the inter
eat on the sum OF tl2.500.000 al 6 per cent:
divide II among the counties In proportion
afsff otrd md Nrh "A
enormous amount you will have for road
Improvement. Take any county. See by
examining the Auditors reports the value
OF your taxable property and calculate
what IL cents in the hundred dollars VIII
amount to Then take the census and see
the number Of persons between the ages
OF IS and 90 years: value their labor AT
- cents per day for two days every year.
and you can ascertain what your county
can rely on to borrow money for road
purposes These facts show the feasibility
Of permanent road improvement II we viii
utilize the resources We have by intelli-
gent management and we can improve
our roads without the help Of the State or
Federal governments
AN ENGINEER.
The state should employ n competent
engineer. who should locate the roads IN
tifff fDuIAitN WHICH Nf1iit ~ ihiiiVNF
them. or build new ones. and he should
supcriutend the construction Of these
roads. and see that the work Is done prop
crly; that the grade Is the best which the
surrounding circumstances will allow, and
that the work is performed 10 the best
interest Of the cousties.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
We have reason 10 be proud Of our pub
fs.a and Cnlltgpg When
pressed with debt and destitute Of many
comforts of life. and just emerging from
the desolatiOn OF a military district, the
people determined that the children Of the
commonwealth should be- educated at the
public expense. our Constitution provided
Tor a uniform system Of free schools by
the year 1876; but the Legislature at its
first session. in 1890, passed law in
augurating our present system, anucipat-
ing the time fixed by the Constitution.
With Increasing interest we have watched
its growth from It's inception 10 its pres
ent proportions. We have endeavored TO
foster and encourage public education. and
in every feasible manner to enlarge the
number and the efficiency OF our public
schools. The scho0-wOrk Will be shown
lv the tabulated statement below, Civ
ing the status Of the schools in 1893, as
compared with the year 1889. the last
year previous TO the present administra-
ton.
STATEMENT.
Increase in the number Of schools during
the present year, ls2.
Increase in the number of pupils en-
rolled during the present year, ll.523.
Increase in the number OF teachers en-
ployed during the present year, 500
Increase in the number Of schoOl-houses
during the present year. 20.
Increase I'm expenditures. $ls7,SS.sS.
Increase in the value OF school property,
S5j5. 47O26.
our higher institutions Of learning have
been doing their usual good work, ana
have been more numerously attended IMAM
at any period since the war. and have Kept
pace with the advance in educational pro-
gress.
THE VIRGINIA COLLEGE.
Because Of the recent reorganization OF
this institution l must say a word with
reference TO il. IL has not fulhlled the
expectation OF its friends 1t has been
beset with trouble from within and with
ont. The present Board OF Visitors did
not think the curriculum such as the
act of Congress and the Legislature or
Virginia contemplated, and thought II best
TO reoreanize the college and TO change
IFS course Of studies and its methods,
About two years ago this was done; IL
caused comment at the Time, Dut lhe
trouble has passed. and the result mas
been a splendid success. and has justified
the changes made. The college mas more
students than ever before, ana IL ~ pc
ueved there Is no institution in the South
where businessmen, farmers ana NE
chanics can secure such excellent instruc-
lion: where the hand and the mind are
educated together, and where the young
men of Virginia were prepared for ms
changed condition Of affairs, anu VIII
awaken new life and progress In the oiu
State. When this is accomplished. ana we
have educated mechanics and farmers
It win make the people prosper and the
country bloom like the rose. i predlct
for this institution great success, anu
trust that the new board may sustain the
work OF the retiring one, ana put an emu
TO dissensions which have marred It's pros
perity and checked it's progress.
STATE FEMALE NORMAL SCHOOL
AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Farmville Female School has been
doing excellent work; perhaps no lnsu'i-
ton for the amount expended results IN
more good to the people; It's graduates
readily secure positions, and us classes
are not sufficient 10 furnish the number
needed. They have proven 10 De most
desirable teachers, In consequence OF lhe
thoroughness Of their instruction; thelr
knowledge OF imparting Information ana
their skin In the management OF ehhdreh;
1t is the only State female college, anu
the LEGISLATURE should make sufloient
appropriation to enlarge and extend the
course OF instruction in this INSTITUTION
so as TO afford females such advantages
I'm the higher branches as they can ac-
ouire by attending colleges in the Norm
and West. You qualify them 10 teacn IN
the public schools. with the elementary
studies. and they have shown themselves
TO be most efficient. Then why not pre-
mare them for the advanced Schools LOT
instruction in the higher branches ana
moi confine them TO the elementary work
Let them have an opportunity, by extend.
ing their education. to I'LL positions or
still greater importance, and not iorce
them to seek schools beyond the State
for that instruction which should be
given TO them in our own institutions.
There are as many females TO be eau
Gated as males; they are bound to us by
the same tender ties OF love and. anecuoi,
and are az much benefited by education
as the males. If you desire 10 improve
the minds of our children. you must edu-
cate their mothers. who are their hrst
and best teachers. More than half OF the
teachers In the public schools are females.