The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-01

Columbus, Sll.40, the number of pupils per
teacher averaging respectively 50, 81, 40
and ~.
The total expenditure per pupil seems
highest IN Richmond county, with Chat
ham next, although Chatham county ap-
parently pays its teachers the highest sal
AIRY OF the four school systems named.
School Buildings-We find that the
county owns one building namely. the
Anderson Street school; that it is in al
most every respect a most satisfactory
modern school house, due regard having
been paid to every proper requirement. Its
only defect is a lack of ventilation, fresh
air being only provided through open win
doWs, dangerous method of supplying to
room full of children the large quanti-
~ needed for health. Whenever the out
side temperature is low enough to make
artificial heat necessary, modern practice
demands the forced admission of large
volumes of warm fresh air introduced at
the bottom of each room, the Vitated air
passing out at the top.
Such ventilation should have been pro-
Vided for in both the Henry and Ander-
son Street schools, and should gradually
be provided for in every school house in
the city
The Anderson Street school rooms are
properly arranged for light, but the Hen
ry Street school is slightly defective in
TINS respect, and is also provided with an
A-A0'NAeteNN hNdNAuS apparatus.
Proper light, pure air in sufficient guam
titles, and an even temperature are essen
tlal for the preservation of the oversight,
good health and vigorous mental work
An adequate amount of pure air can and
should be provided in every school build
ing In the city, by proper heating and VEN
t1laung appliances The present method
in all of the older buildings is prejudiciaI
to the health of the children, but with
this defect remedied, they will do fairly
well until the county can afford better
ones.
The sanitary appliances in several of the
schools are not as modern and we'll ar
ranged as they should be- but the evil is
not serious, though it should be corrected
as soon as possible.
While the pupils are drilled to leave the
buildings properly in case of fire or acct
dent, yet additional means of leaving al
most every building should be provided,
as in no case are the facilities adequate
II the main stairway were on fire. while
at the Barnard Street school the exit is
too dangerous for even ordinary use.
Additional Buildings.-We find that
while the rooms used for the lowest grades
in the white schools are too crowded, yet
the hindrance to education is slight. But
in the colored schools there is need of
room for nearly one thousand children in
these grades. Danger threatens any COM
munity where this is the case, and pro-
vision should be made for housing and
teaching these children. We are informed
that the country school houses are, with
a few possible exceptions, entirely made
quate for the purpose. AS soon as prac-
ticable they should be replaced by build
ings costing from $500 to $500 apiece,
which might be done at the rate of three
or four new buildings per anuum.
County Appropriatons.-The board of
county commissioners states that in its
judgment no more than $4,000 can be ex-
pended upon schools for the coming year
without an increase of taxation. The
board of education states that unless it
receives from this source 800, 900 1t will be
necessary to close some of the schools.
From the accounts furnished us by the
treasurer of the board of education, it ap-
pears that the necessary operating ex-
penses of the schools as at present exist
ing, are about $l15,000 per annum, of which
$4,000 will be paid by the state, leaving
$4,000 to be paid by the county. We are
confronted, however by a deficit of about
$37, 600 accounted for by the fact that about
$4,000 was expended upon the Anderson
street school, and that there existed a
still older deficit of about $4,000 In spite
of the urgent need for new school house,
it is questionable whether the board of ed
ucation should have contracted liabilities
for this purpose, for which no specific ap-
preparation had been made, and which
they knew were beyond their ability to
pay with the funds in sight.
With the county budget for schools in
creased $4,000 and operating expenses re
duced $4,000, more than half of this deficit
will be wiped out during the year.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
We find that in accordance with the re-
concentrations made by the committee of
the grand jury, March term, 1896, the COM
missioners have a book in which is re-
corded a description of all of the roads in
the county.
The superintendent of public works has
made a detailed report to our committee
upon each road in the county. which re-
port we have investigated sufficiently well
to satisfy ourselves that it is correct
The Beaulieu, Beaulieu and Montgomery,
Belmont, fremont, Brice, Telfair, Yer
non, White Bluff avenue, Dutch-Town,
Fair street, Argyle, Little Ogeechee, Inter
mediate Cross Meridian, Middle Ground
Montieth Montgomery. Montgomery Cross,
Caustons Bluff. and Pine Barren roads are
in good condition, considering their char
acter.
The Burkhalter, and Cheves road bitches
need cleaning out
On the Bee, Beaulieu and Montgomery,
Skidaway and Grove roads, bridges need
repair.
The Quaccoo road and Coffee Bluff
road causeway need work.
Dean Forest is regarded as a private
road, and is not worked.
The DeRenne, Stevenson, Bourquin and
Guerard roads have not been opened
The hands refuse TO work the shipyard
and Beaulieu, Whitmarsh and Whining
ton Island roads. The law prescribes what
persons shall be liable to road duty and
how the same shall be enforced. Steps are
being taken to have the public roads so
registered and recorded as to remove all
excuse for non-performance of road duty
Bay Street extension, Estill avenue, and
portions of the Ogeechee, Waters, Louis
vile, and Augusta roads have been paw
ed; the remote portions of these roads
which are not paved are in fair condition.
except the heavy sand Of Cherokee Hill
and bridges beyond Montieth on the Au-
gusta road.
There has been expended on roads and
bridges in the year 1894 S4J4.39; in 1895
S13, S16.43; in 1896, SOL .327.0S. OF the amount
expended IN 1896 5000 % was used on the
Augusta road and 81 $3.50 was used on
the Louisville road.
Since March lst there has been expend-
ed on Estill avenue Waters road -four
miles Of paving and for two bridges ON
Montgomery road, sl4,050S2 Of this year