The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-12

syYIfl{sIlEEIlNO EDAlL1f2l1N
present crowded conditions. and / would
recommend an appropriation for such
enlargement as win enable the admls-
sion ef all entitled TO attendance. II
this Ia done. It will cali for m increase
OF the current expense fund 10 meet adj
ditional5 demands. Z! I. ri {, Y
"a review OF twenty parallel state In
stltutlons shows a per ca pItn expense OF
two hundred Fand fifty-three dollars.
while in OUR own the cost per pupil Is
one hundred and seventy dollars. The
report shows that the class rooms In
the deaf department are not well ven.l-
lated or lighted. and this Is n most SER
lons natter when we contemplate It's
eject upon the eyes OF children who
can oniy}gala Information through the
medium OF sight. The blind department
tis under good organization, well sup
piled Will text Wand reference books.
and the musical section has been very,
much improved blythe purchase OF new
instruments. II an orchestra Is re-or-
eanized tSwill nccessl.atc the employ
ment OF a; director, and some other adj
lditional expenses.
=. The manual trimming should not be
abridged for Swanto appliances. and
funds Should be provided for an extern
Sion OF this department. II
After thorough review. I can see no
tobjectiontto the dual organization. and
would recommend the continuation of
i 10 IN rtttNa oil ~ n
least for the present, believing that
opportunities for instruction as could be
secured under separate management
3 For matters In detail. I refer you to
believing THAT you will make liberal
provision for these unfortunate chill
dren. whose lives. are wrapped up IN ST.
.lence and darkness; to whom all ave-
nues OF instruction are closed unless
important institution OF our state.
"a PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. N,
iE The, work OF education in our state
has made such Advancement, our pub
lie schools have so increased In ell
cheney, that the general average OF in
telligence$ and culture Is greatly i'm
proved. 4 I think that the time has come
now for the experimenting OF our ad :
mirable system OF public schools by a
system of public libraries. These Will
afford the teachers and pupils OF our
schools greater facilities for, broad and
general knowledge and Will tend to ad-
vance the general intelligence and mo-
rallty OF the communities In which
they are located. x .s
"a Laws 10 encourage Of command the
establishment and maintenance OF free
public libraries In towns now exist in
tWenty-seven states OF the Union and
are pending IN some Others. Several
other states also have laws for the es-
tablishmentlo OF school. libraries In the
schoo! districts. 1t Is noticeable that
some states, notably Maine. having an
excellent library system. eXer. upon the
nation an; influence much greater than
their size and population would lead US
TO expect. The personal characte: OF q
people, their intelligence and morality,
are important factors IL the develop
ment of a states influence and power.
OursowA states rapid development
along all material lines. its fourIshing
financial condition, the imperative need
orSdcreloping It's people IN every way
for larger and nobler responsibilities
these make it flt and proper that we
should iinaugurate movement! for the
establishment of free public libraries
throughout the state. Our state Is en-
titled by It's natural advantages to as
sumo at no distant date. n place among
the leading commonweatths OF the ma
ton Its people are worthy of, and
should receive every advantage for
equinping them for making the best
useiof their opportunities.
|. recommend legislation along the
following lines: II
The creation of "A non-partlsar
commission OF five persons as 4 state
public llo:ary commission, to generally
encourage. direct and supervise the cs-
Establishment Of free public libraries in
all parts, OF the state These shall
serve, Without salary. but may expend a
sum not to exceed $500 n year for Sec
retars's work, travelling and incidental
expenses.
2. a law authorizing every legal d.
vision OF the state, as county. city and
school district. to levy taxes AID np-
.prop:late money for the establishment
and maintenance of free public II
brary within Its borders. either IN can-
nectlon with Its public schools or sepa-
rate from them.
3,iA law providing for the payment
OF subsidies from the state treasury for
the benefit Of each free puolic library in
tho El hia sttnt, c,,hc,dtap Is 1,a .,o,r,,1,s
ted IN their amount by the size of the
library. and the community In which II
Is located. but In no case to exceed 5000
per year for any one library.
BOYS REFORM SCHOOL.
The,reporls OF the board Of directors
and the superintendent Of this instltu-
ton, I have no doubt will be read with
interest by you, as they have been read
by me. The institution is certainly In
splendid condition. The board OF dl.ec.
tors report no deficit, and when the
bills receivable are all paid. there will
be nice balance in the treasury. This
school was opened In July. 1890, and up
to October /. 1898. five hundred. boys
have been admitted into the institution.
During the past gear. one hundred were
admitted and fiftS-ninc were dlscharg-
ed. The present number OF inmates Is
two hundred, OF whom twenty-nine are
colored. 80 -
4 I have not had an opportunity to visit
the school, but from the reports of the
board Of directors and the superIntend-
ent. and from other persons who are IA
milier With It's workings. I am fully
persuaded that II is well managed. and
Is In an eminently satisfactory condl-
tony The school Is carefully graded the
hc3lth Of the boys Is good. and the dis
clpilne and moral tone are Of n high
order, instruction is carefully given In
farming and the mechanic arts. Other