Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-14


7 have discussed as thoroughly as pos
sible al matters pertaining to the State
which il is my duty TO lay before the
legislature. In all probability this is
the last official communication TO be made
by me 10 the Legislature. II IS the last
communication for some time. al least
which will be made by Democratic Gov
ernor 10 the Legislature or this state
After about twenty-five years Of occu-
pancy Of the executive Offices OF the state
the party which has been in power turns
over the reins Of government TO the party
with which in all these years it has been
contesting. II is with no fears that l turn
over 10 the Republican party the affairs
Of the State. so far as the executive ONCE
is concerned. Whilst l am Democrat
and believe in the Democratic theory OF
government. I believe that there IS Just
a much love for the State and as much
Interest for its development in the one
party as in the other. The only difference
between US is the question Of methods.
The Democratic party in turning over
the Offices OF the State can do so with
pride and with the assurance that the
affairs Of the state have been conserved in
them. 1t is. I think. in good taste and
certainly not more than just that BRIEF
~ recapitulate what has been done lot
the State in that time. I do not mean 10
be offensive in my partsansnip ana nope
and believe that the great party Whlch
on the fourth Of March will control every
department Of the State government. will
leave behind il the same record left TO II
by the party now going out of power.
During the period I have mentioned the
educational system Of the State has been
conserved in a most magnificent manner.
The State has kept pace, and more than
done so. with our sister States Of the Mid
die West. The institutions have been
carefully guarded. the free schools Of the
State have been splendidly maintained,
and the educational system Of the State
has been made the equal Of any in the
Union.
The party which I have the honor TO
represent received. twenty-three years
ago. the University, an institution not in
any wise approXimating university IN
that time there has been expended upon
fl the sum of more than 100000, and IL
has grown from the small beginning 10
be one of the most magnificent insutu-
tions in this country, with over -FOUR
hundred students. with a splendid faculty
and with all the modern improvements
and apparatus.
The Normal School system was begun
with the old Marshall College with its
branches. one at Fairmont and the other
at West Liberty. with 1S students, and
not q. building erected by the State during
that period Three other normal schools
have been established magnificent build
ings have been erected with splendid
EQUIPMENTS: and upon this branch Of edu-
cation in this State there has been eX-
pended $4,000 These schools are hand
ed back 10 the hands from which they
were received with more than 200 stu
dents enrolled with 100 graduates and
1900 students upon its register.
We have established a magnificent Re
form School and one Colored Institution,
and we now turn them over with a credit
of $1,000 10 the administration.
As TO the public schools, in 1872 there
were 10. 500 months of school taught in the
State while in 1880 there were Sab
months taught. Then there were 1851
sub-districts whilst now there are 400.
At that time there were 4.640 trustees,
while we have now 1924 an increase Of
more than 1900: that then there were
26i5 teachers. now there are 6.45f, an in
crease Of g. 500: that then there were lIoO63
enumerated. now we have 29s274, an n
crease of 1920; that then the number Of
children enrolled was S5.I65. while the en-
rollment in 1896 is 2i5.655. an increase Of
lz9. 900: the daily average attendance in
1872 was 563l7. a.d in 1896 il is ll,QN an
increase of S4I54: that the number OF
school houses at that time was 22l6, while
the number now is 5,475, an increase Of
g 90: that then 1l6 school houses were
built in a year. now there are IL built in
a year. an increase Of SO; that then the
value of school lands was $9S 1851. now it
is S25i5S9. an increase of $257.2S3.S9; that
then the total value OF school houses was
81. O70. SO3.30 now it is s. 462196 an increase
Of 1881. 1872 20; that then the total value Of
school furniture was $53.3S4l9, now it is
S320. 2S3. an increase of $3.50 SeSSl; that then
the total value Of school apparatus was
S530529. now it is S74, 500, an increase Of 500
259.7l: that the total value of school prop
erty was s.. 22i 1854, now il Is S3.2211H. an
increase Of 5000 S05.65; that then the gen
eral State fund was S1346G6.5S. now it is
S4o5 650.9S. an increase Of $270.eS4+0; that
the irreducible or invested school fund
amounted 10 $2e5.300 now it is SS34 So. o.,
an increase of $500 3S2.O1, and not a dollar
Of this fund has been lost in all this time.
The school system was absolutely a new
one, and it has been perfected until it is
one Of the best in the United States.
During that time the general State fund,
amounting in the aggregate to s.. 092. 5S).5l,
has been disbursed. Within that time q
teachers fund of Su.122, 1855 has been col
lected and paid TO the teaching force of
the State. To this is 10 be added the
building fund. aggregaung S7.3S49OOS1
which has been disbursed in payment for
the erection of schools and other pur-
poses for which it was collected. To this
add the amount Appropriated by the Leg
islature for educational purposes during
this period. amounting 10 Sl.5S4OO2.S7, and
also the amount collected from all other
sources and expended FOR educational
work amounting to SlO69 S369S There
fore in these twenty-three years, the gi-
gantic sum of S2S. 22S.l 7SOS has been col
lected and disbursed in this State. and
this has brought the State to a splendid
. degree Of intelligence and has made the
system one Of the best in the country.
During that period the progress Of the
State in material welfare has been unpar-
alleled. In 1876 we produced 10000 barrels
of petroleum This has been increased to
S2l6500 barrels in 1896. Under the foster
ing care of the state during that period
the valuation Of the railroad property
has been increased from 100000 IN round
numbers. 10 S22.50O000 in 1886. and from a
mie.ge Of SS7 miles in 1870. it has increased
% % 1-- mills I'm $50,