Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-20

iSADfIllAtuAtAL VI Ahs AbdAShtSlti
Schools)
tenn Of the Commonwealth was establish
I'd 10 organize schools and begin the pub
lie instruction OF her children under the
new law. Her public authorities. although
she was then in the county Of Chester
field, and not incorporated as n city,
recognized the Importance Of the new sys-
TEN and OF teaching all the children OF
her citizens, and. as far as they could,
with no experience and small funds, in
eugurated school system that from the
first proved effective and capable, which
resulted, under many difficulties and dis
advantages. in becoming an excellent one,
and the foundation Of her present efficient
and comprehensive system. that speaks so
well for the present management Of her
schools. When first started the schools
were under the superintendency Of the
Hon. Beverley A. Hancock. who was the
Superintendent of the county of Chester
field. which then included the town OF
Manchester and. under his active and
energetic control. improved year by year,
he meeting with the hearty support Of the
various boards that were elected during
his incumbency Of the Office. The schools
continued to improve and TO grow with
the growth and increase Of the city and
her population. until largo and finely
equipped school-houses were erected for
both the white and cOlOred, and this
proved a great stimulus and incentive to
augment the interest Of the people In
the schools. and made them greater In
their influence for good and more efficient
in all departments than they had ever
been before. The schools then began their
admirable career OF usefulness and popu-
larity. as they were enlarged and i'm
- a demands ~ fhq uunfig
and 10 afford increased facilities for the
education from the plainest primary
branches TO a high-school curriculum.
SUPERINTENDENT MANY YEARS.
Mr.. David L. Pulliam has been Superin-
tendent Of the Schools for the past seven
years. He Is a scholarly man, and under
his supervision the schools Of Manchester
have steadily improved In the work of
raising the standard OF Manchester public
schools MIR Pulliam has been supported
in a large measure by the School Board,
whose members have the interest and
prosperity OF the schools deeply at heart,
and the two efficient principals of the
white and coorod schools, Mr. Alexander
IL. Fitzgerald and James II. Blackwell
(colOred. and a corps OF able and capa-
bic teachers, under their management
and direction. This work has been or
gained and accomplished In such an ad-
mirable manner that, though the city has
not been able all the time 10 bring the
schools w 10 the excellence that the
school authorities wished and suggested,
on account of the scarcity OF funds, the
schools IN all departments have been so
improved and fostered that they Will
compare most favorably with those Of
any other city OF the state. Recognizing
that the accommodations Of the present
school-houses. while fine and as good as
anywhere else, are not sufficient 10 give
admission 20 all of the children. the
School Beard have recently been in con-
ference with the City Council, and IT has
been decided by tie mutual and hearty
cooperation and assent Of the two bodies
that other houses shall be erected, and
Improvements made In the near future
that will accommodate all applicants
TO BUILDNA HIGH-SCAOOL.
IL "a proposed to build n handsome
hlgh-school building on the reservoir
lot, which belongs to the city at the
corner OF cambridge and Eleventh
streets. fronting 153 feet on cambridge
street and running back l65 feet, which,
IN al respects, is most admire bly, located