The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-21

ulBtricts- Jhe result OF the phrtlhi coh1oa
OF the public schools by the town and ~
the district aut thorities has often resulted
TO the disadvantage OF education. Inc
largest schools, the best teachers, the
best schOol-houses, are to be FOUND ana
the best education Is to be obtained IN
those portions OF the State that are work
ing under the town system. IL seems 10
be the decided opinion of those deeply
interested in education in Rhode islanu
that the town system secures the best re-
suits. A bill Is being prepared by dlrec-
tion OF the board OF ed ucation and Will De
presented at this session Advocating the
town preference TO the district system OF
school control. X is a subject that should
be met in a broad and liberal spirit. Inc
best education available should be provid-
ed fer the children In every portion OIL
Rhode Island. While in some sections
there may be preference. at present, Tor
the district system. IL the discussion OF
the proposed bill should develop decided
reasons favoring the town system OF
school control, II should have your favor
able action.
No more important educational ques-
tioD hes TO be met than the election OF
school teachers. Incompet ent teachers
cannot produce wel1-trafned and properly
educated children. The necessity OF ex-
amining applicants for the important
position OF instructors or the children OF
the community Is at once apparent. In
neig boring communities 1t has been
found advantageous TO require all
teachers 20 pass an examining board
created by the Slate, and obtain
from said board, as a condition OF their
becoming teachers In any OF the public
schools, certificate of their competency.
A bill TO accomplish this object, by vote
of the board of education, Is being pre-
pared and will be submitted to the Leg
jslature at the present session. The im-
portance OF the subject justifies careful
attention and trust it will have your
favorable action.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
During the past year the number of
free publ libraries has increased by one,
there being now as in the State. The
amount of aid awarded from the State
has been during the year S5,653.75, an
increase OF s153. 75 over the amount
awarded during the previous year. The
number OF patrons of the Libraries during
the past year was 53, 303, gain OF S7a
over the preceding year. There has been
gratifying increase IN the total number
OF volumes during the year OF 14,659,
making the aggregate mum ber of volumes
at the end of the year 247, 233. In circu-
lation there has been marked increase,
the gain for the year being 40,6lg max
ing total circulation for 1895 Of 421 163.
HIGHWAYS.
Seventeen towns have applied for sam
pie half miles Of road, in the fol-
lowing order: WarwicK, Johnston, Bar
rington, Bristol, Warren, East Provi-
deDce, Tiverton, Scitnate. Portsmouth,,
District OF Nsrragansett, East Greenwich,
Lincoln, North Kingstown, Smithfield,
Hopkinton, Middletown. Cranston. The
labor attending the organization OF the
department made il expedient TO Degin
the construction OF these sample half
miles Of highway during the autumn
of 1885. In the town of Bristol about GOO
feet Of roadway has been built as sam
pie, TO assist the commissioners in obtaining
contracts and In illustrating to contra
ctors and others the character of the ma
cadsmized road 20 be constructed. -u-.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The Rhode Island College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts has erected new dor
mitory in place OF the buiIding destroyed
by fire In 1894. The management OF this
institution urgently presents It's claim for
greater facilities TO conduct its work.
The college has unQuestiona bly, furnished
an example to the farming community of
the application OF more scientific meth
urfs In tffat very ifffp ffpeftaHt Industry that
ca 1not fail to be OF benefit 10 the State.
The work at the experiment station our
ing tie past summer has well illustrated
the value CT the experiments conducted at
the college la boratory. The commencement
exercises indicated on the part OF the facui-
ty careful, intelligent and faithful instruc-
tion.
srATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The appropriation for 1895 for the work
of the board of agriculture was s25, 900.
There has been expended during the
year s25, zo7. The work of the board has
been carried forward systematically. Five
hundred end seventy-seyen animals have
been examined and killed, i'm consequence
of their diseased condition. or this num-
ber there were 54 cows, SO hogs, oxen,
5 bulls, and 2 sheep. The mum Der of ami
mails killed In 1892 was 200; In 1891 26i ; and
in 1894. 407. Sixty-two gIancered horses
have been killed and buried. Nineteen
institutes have been held in different
parts OF the State. OF the amount APP
propriated, Sl2, 336 have been expended
today for animals Slang ghtered and buried.
1t ls of vital importa nee to the suppress
sion OF tuberculosis that the excellent
work accomplished by the board of
agriculture tn 1895 should be continued.
Similar effors are being maintained in
leig hhoring states. The character of the
s25, 900, which will be recommended by
the board, .or 1895.
IN CONCLUSION.
In loyO the real ana personal property
OF Rhode Island was valued at S504, 1852,
352. The per capita valuation was Sl459.
No other State east of the Mississippi
river con show an equal per capita valua-
tion.
New York Ia second, with Sl430.
Illinois is third, with si3l4. | do not be-
lieve that the people of the State viii de-
sire to stop all improvements in conse-
quence of the present necessity OF bor-
rowing money. They will unquestion-
ably maintain their educational institu-
tions. They will doubtedly maintain
reasonable expenditures for good roads.
for the improvement OF hsrbors and
other judicious enterprises. The necessi-
~ OF putting s4C0, 900 into new iail is
questionable. Enterprises requiring such
large amounts OF money, In the present
condition OF the states finances, cannot
be undertaken without direct vote OF
the people. After consideration of the
above subjects / earnestly recommend:
First. That Legislature, as promptly as
possible, obtain, by vote of the people,
authority to issue bonds TO the extent OF
100000, TO supply the necessary. funds TO
tneat 4 he Upneral N hl fOatfoua of Iha