Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07

redeemable at the option Of the State on
any interest day after December list, A..
ID. 1895. The entire four per centnm
per annum bonded Indebtedness of the
State is, therefore, redeemable at the
option of the State, on the next interest
day. The high standard of the States
credit, in financial circles, has alrendy
brought forth applications from enterpris-
ing capitalists who are desirous of nego-
tiating for the extinguisliment of these
obligations at lower rate Of interest:
and while these bonds are redeemable ut
the option of the State, there is no au-
thority upon which the State Treasurer
can issue new bonds in liquidation of
this debt
recommend, therefore. that you inves-
tigate this subject and that you authorize
the execution and sale of bonds at lower
rate of interest, and the retirement Of
the one hundred and niuety-five thousand
dollars bonded indebtedness ut as early
date as practicable. The feasibility of
this scheme is manifested by the eager
ness with which investors sought to Sc
cure the State bonds when the last loan
was negotiated, matter which will be
subsequently commented upon.
DELAWARE STATE HOSPITAL. AT
FARNHURST. y,
By Chapter 1872 ,/Vol. 20, Laws of Della
ware, the General Assembly, at its last
session, authorized the sale of bonds 10
the amount of thirty-five thousand dol
lars by the State Treasurer, said bonds
to be known as delaware State Hospital
Improvement Bonds" and to bear interest
at the rate of three and a-half per centum
per annum, payable semi-annnally: the
sale of such bonds having for ts'object the
Mocurement of means for the erection
and equipment of additional buildings to
the Delaware State Hospital Mt Farm
hurst. Pursuant to this authority. the
State Treasurer advertised for sealed bids
for such bonds with most gratifying re-
suits. Bids were obtained, among others.
from capitalists in Boston, New York and
Philadelphia, beside home bidders. The
eagerness with which the representatives.
of financial houses from without the State
sought to obtain these bonds, and the
premiums offered for them, is a most graft
flying illustration of the faith that obtains
beyond our borders relative to the States
financial integrity.
1t is further gratifying, however, to
state that, notwithstanding sharp compe-
| tition, one of our State institutions was
the successful competitor. The Security
Trust and Safe Deposit Company. a cor
poration of the State of Delaware, being
the highest and best bidder, secured the
entire issue at price paid of thirty-six
thousand, five hundred and sixty-eight dol
lars, being a premium of one Thousand,
| five hundred and sixty-eight dollars.
Immediately after the sale of these
bonds, the State Board of Trustees of the
Delaware State Hospital at Farnhurst
made preparations for the erection and
equipment of suitable buildings There is
now nearing completion building one
hundred and eighty-six feet in length,
running at right angles with the old build
ing and connected with it by covered pas
| sageways twenty-five feet in length. The
building contains accommodations for
| ninety patients in cases of emergency, but
seventy-fve patients may be said to be
the comfortable limit of its capacity. 1t
is equipped with all modern appliances
including the rain or spray bath, which has
been adopted by the New York Commits
sioners of Lunacy, in place of bath tubs.
1t is lighted with electricity, thoroughly
heated and well ventilated. The building
has been plastered throughout with ada
mant, the floors are deadened, and it is
well supplied with means of escape in case
of fire. The contracts for the erection
and equipment of the building were given
to the lowest bidders. 1t is also pleasure
to inform you that the contracts in all
cases Except the construction of fire es-
capes) were secured by contractors who re.
side in our own State. The building will
doubtless be ready for occupancy about
the first of February next.
FREE SCHOOLS.
The importance of an efficient free
school system is incapable of excessive
emphasis. There is no subject that more
directly and to greater degree affects
the interests of the whole people. The
moral, physical and intellectual standard
of the inhabitants of community are,
| in great measure. indicative of the de-
gree of efficiency of the free school system
of that community. No expenditure of
public moneys can possibly be made
wherein SO great number of our citizens
are the direct beneficiaries as in the ap-
preparation of public moneys for free
education, and nothing can be done for
the rising generation that will hetter pre-.
pare them for much usefulness to the State
as good citizens, and render them capable
of greater possibilities in the private pur-
suits of life than is done by means of the
| litt StHuuIS. L pOllcI Oh
this State has been to foster this institri.
tion by preserving inviolate. for the main
| tenance of free education, portion of the
public fund derived from specific sources
and its aim has heen to awaken q greater
interest by imposing tho duty of manage.
ment of our free schools upon local dis
tricts, and charging them with the liability
| of local taxation.
But money set apart for the support of
the free school system, as in all other
cases, is productive of good results only
when there is judicious expenditure of
such funds. Money exacted from the peo-
pie in the name of taxation is justified only
by the public necessities. and the applicn-
tion of that money to the satisfaction of
the public needs should be the object Of
the law. consequently wherever the
| law, as it now exists. is incapable of
accomplishing that object, il should re-
ceive relief at your hands. 1t is matter
of common knowledge that in some parts
of our State our free schools are not kept
open to the extent that the aid received
from the State alone will justify. r.
\ therefore, recommend that the amount Of
| dividend received by school district he
made to depend upon the number of days
| the schools are. kept open, by making a
| per diem distribution of the school fund
according to the number of teachers EN-
ployed, thereby creating a greater incen-
!