New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
CONNECTICUT INTERESTS.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS OF THE STATE
FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY
LULL IN MANUFACTURING

Hartford. Conn, July 28 (speciaD.-The annual re-
port Of the State Board Of Education. which was
presented TO the Governor this week. is one OF the
most interesting documents that has e1nanated
from the educational office in the Capitol. con-
tains not only review Of the progress of education
as it pertains 10 the common schools of the State
fcr the last year. but review of the educational
work in the State for the last twenty-five years
During that period there has been expended for
schools S52145677 7s large part of the sum having
gene into public school buildings with which the
State is unusually well equipped OF this amount the
school fund Of the State, founded by the sale OF
the Western Reserve in Ohio, has contributed ever
S40O9c5 earnings from its investments. the State
has provided 100000 and over, and local or town
taxation S2500a0o0 Two-th birds Of the total amount
has come directly from the people by taxation.
While there is a large number Of splendid school
bUidings in the cities and larger towns OF the
State, there are still a great many old fashioned
schoolhouscs in the smaller villages. which come
near 10 being primitive square room box stove
affairs, with the least possible accommodations for
pupils and teacher The conditions are improving
greatly. however. and the tendency is toward bet
ter things, even in the poorer towns The expendi-
ture for running the schools OF the State for the
year 1899 S2 200 600, four-hfths of that
amount being in wages for the teachers which are
high level az in any State. The average
attendance in school in the 109 95l. There
4C85 teachers 372 Of them being men There
are seventy-seven kindergartens I'm the State as
against five ten years ago
An important feature Of educational life con-
necteJ with the schools is growth Of the school
library. The State began TO assist districts and
towns in This direction only fifteen years ago but
there are now libraries valued at $4,000 in the
schools Of the State. by far the greater part Of
them being in towns that have no public library
facilities. IN these towns the school library is
used by all the people of district as well as by
the pupils Of tie schools. under the usual restric-
ttons
The chief value Of the progress Of the school
qU!red training Of teachers and with this has
come also demand fOr more days Of schooling for
better school buildings and for the best equipment
possible Secretary Charles D. Hinie has for six
teen years been connected with the Board of Edu-
cation and IL is largely through his energetic and
inspiring work that the schools Of the State ha re
shown 50 fine advance and are what they are
good any others in the country. and in some
respects better.
The Pratt Whitney deal which had been on
the books TO be completed in the present week has
failed temporarily. because Of lack Of representa-
lion IF enough stock meeting Of the company
10 put ice matter through IL involves the transfer
ol me concern 10 me Niles -Bement-Pond Com
lany Tor Torganlzatlont and the prospects that
4 VIII 20 through at the next meeting on August
products all over the world has not been a money
making concern for some years, but various cir
blamed for this condition things. The new prom
ostion IS in effect scaling down of the stock to
be declared. Overca pitalzation and experiments
management have been the troubles with the con-
cerE
Manufacturing is just little quiet in the city
the present time, and number OF workmen
have been laid off in some Of the factories notably
q The automobile factory Of the Electric Vehicle
Company. This Is the result Of a reorga nizatIon
on he part OF that concern. ana the managers say
that the laying OF is only temporary and that
within five six weeks more men will be en-
p9yed than eyer ,t before @ e elecTH @ Vehicle has
distance riding without TechaTging but new bait