The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-28
IMPORTANT ELECTION
Thirty Nine Counties to Vote
on a School Tax.
WE NEED BETTER SCHOOLS
No State Has Efficient Schools
Without Local Taxation.
HOME RULE FOR SCHOOLS
Each Township May by Popular Vote
Increase Its Levy of Tax For
School Purposes.


The following appeal issued at the
close of the State Fair concerns a
movement of the highest Importance
to the State, present and future:
L. North Cardinals educational sys-
tenn consists of the District Public
Schools, for both races; the City Pub
lie Schools, for both races; the Uni
versitv. for white men; The College
of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, for
white men; The Normal and Industrial
School, for white women; the Cullow-
hee High School, for white boys and
girls: the Institution for the Deaf of
the white race; the Institution for the
Blind of the white race; the Oxford
Orphan Asylum, for the white race;
The College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts, for the colored race, To-
Gated at Fayetteville, Salisbury, Win
ston, Goldsboro, Franklinton, Ply
mouth and Elizabeth City; the Insti-
tuition for the Deaf and Blind of the
colored race; and the Orphan Asylum
at Oxford, for the colored race.
All of these institutions are support
ed entirely or in part by the State.
2. The District Public Schools of the
State are supported by a tax of Is
cents on each 500 of property and
about $3.50 on each poll, the Constitu-
ton requiring that at least three
fourths of the entire poll tax shall
go to education. The school system
has additional income from fines, for
FIXTURES and penalties, and from Ii
quor license tax.
8. The average annual school term
resulting from this income in the Dis
trict Schools is only about 65 days.
4. To lengthen their school terms
and establish an efficient system of ed
ucation, with from eight to ten
months of school term, the following
towns or townships have voted a local
school tax upon property and polls
in addition to the above tax, which
was levied by the General Assembly
for the District Schools: Asfxsville,
Shelby, Statesville, Charlotte. Con-
cord, Salisbury, Greensboro, Winston,
Asheboro, Reidsville, Durham, Raleigh,
Goldsboro, Wilson, Clinton, and two
townships in Cherokee county.
Wilmington has been able to estaib-
lish a good system of public schools
without levying a special tax.
S. No State in the Union has an eff
fcient school system which has not
adopted the principle of local taxation
for public schools.
6. All the townships of the following
80 counties will vote at the November
election, and decide which of the town
ships will levy for school purpose a
special tax of 20 cents on 500 and 60
cents on each poll according to sec
tions 1864 and 1855 of the Code, as
amended by the Legislature of 1859
Alexander, Beaufort, Bladen, Burke,
Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Chero-
kee, Clay, Dare, Davidson, Duplin,
CASTOR, Graham, Guilfofd, Harnett,
Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Ma
con, Madison, Mitchell, Montgomery,
Orange, Pamhco, Fender, Polk, Ruth
erford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain,
Tyrrell, Washington, Watauga, Wayne,
Yadkin, Yancey.
6. The special tax voted in any town
ship in-the November election will be
expended in the township where it is
voted and levied.
The law simply allows local option
in public education.
The townships which vote the local
tax will increase the length of their
school terms 20 or 80 per cent.
A taxpayer whose property is as
sessed $1,000 will increase his tax
only $3.50.
Write to the State superintendent,
Hon. j. c. Scarborough, for full in
formation about local taxation or 9TH
er matters connected with our public
school system.
CHARLES d. M'IVER,
LOGAN d. HOWELL,
Directors of Education Exhibit at
State Fair of 1896.