The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-22
BOARD COW need
BY SCHOOL NJ \
The Order Reducing Graded
School Levy Rescindtd d.
HE FACTS AND. FIGURES

that 1t was a big mistake to reduce the
tax levy for graded schools. Secretary
Rosenthals facts and figures and the logic
and Dr.. R. H. Lewis did the work IN
about an hour and a half.
The committee Of the Raleigh Graded
Schools met with the Board OF County
Commissioners yesterday at L o'clock
to confer with that body concerning the
reduction in the tax rate for graded
schools in this township, and for the school
bonds.
The members OF the committee present
were: Mayor A. NJ. Powell, chairman; Mr..
G.. RosenthaL Secretary; Mr.. a. a.
Thompson, DR.. r. H. Lewis, Mr.. Z. l..
Harris and Mr.. ]. w. Bailey. Statements
were made by Mr.. ROsenthal, Mr.. Thomp-
son and DR. Lewis, showing that the present
tax levy, even under the new assessment OF
property, would be necessary to MAINTAIN
the schools and to make a
number, of much needed improvements,
such as the purchase Of fire
escapes for the Murphy, Wiley and Wash
ington schools. an engine for heating pur-
poses at the Wiley, furniture for the new
schools now building at Caralelgh and
Pilot Mills, additional teachers for these
schools, and instruction in manual train
ing and domestic science, which has long
been IN contemplation.
The committee was heard by the Board
CT Commissioners for about an hour and
a half, at the conclusion of which time
the board took the subject under advise
ment.
Mr.. Rosenthal, in his statement Of the
financial condition of the schools, turn
ished the following facts and figures:
The total amount Of the Wake county
school fund to June 80, 1903, including bal
ance on hand from 1902, was $42,144.32.
The apportionment to Raleigh township
was 81, 102. 10, and to other townships
$21. 593 40, leaving a balance OF SO, %.
Taking from this the balance on hand
June so, 1908, to be carried over, 1891. 21,
leaves sc, 066 .95, of which amount about
s., 812.75 has been paid for school houses,
furniture, repairs, rent OF houses and
purchase of land, leaving 81, 254 20 paid out
for salaries, teachers institutes, %janltor,
per diem of County Board OF Education.
The above includes receipts from all
sources, general tax, State appropriation
Of So, SOC. 20, fines and liquor license,
amounting to $7,663. 95. Raleigh township
received Zo.59 per cent OIL the puDllC
school fund last year.
The old valuation of property in Raj
eigh township was So 66, 90. At 20 cents
on the s1O0, the tax was s13, 52O.72. EST
mated from polls and other sources, at
so cents poll, 81 1928 rs. Total $15,2 o0.47
for the graded schools.
The new valuation of Raleigh property
is So 60, 362. At Is cents this would bring
only $12, 390.54 Together with tax from
polls, at is cents and other sources, the
total would be $13, $50. %, or $1,430.1S less
than last year.
The valuation of property in the coun-
ty IS S15,67S $50, which at IS cents would
yield $28, 220 so, plus poll tax $3S, 720. SO,
less sheriff's commission and insolvent
tax, about $50, 600, plus State appropria-
tons, fines, license and balance on hand
July 1st, 1908, s48, 951. At.
If Raleigh receives this year 1854 per
cent. Of the gross amount, she will get
So, 49,. 50, as against 81, 102.70 last year,
an excess of only t-,79l.12. Deducting
the deficiency in the graded school tax,
81, 420.1S leaves S370.94.
The total known expenses this year,
Mr.. Rosenthal said, would aggregate $685.
37S.78.
Mr.. Rosenthal also gave the enrolment
this year and last, as follows:
White schools, now 1921; last year. en-
tire, 1854; colored schools, now 1910; last
year, entire, 1,213.
He said new teachers were needed at
the Pilot and Caraleigh schools, and there
was a necessity for increased pay Of
assistant teachers. New furniture was
also needed for the Pilot and Caraleigh
schools, and fire escapes for three schools,
two each. An engine was needed now
| 9f Willow fnr bnot1pr prr,anCO1 o-1 -rDh
ably would be soon at Murphy. Four
schools needed painting, and additional
equipment had been needed for years. The
introduction of manual training and do
mestlc science into all the schools was
necessary. Salaries in Raleigh are lower
than IN many other places and the school
tax rate as low or lower.
Mr.. Thompson. IN the course Of his
remarks, stated that superintendent
Moses had received a letter from Superin-
tendent ]. A. Matheson, of the Durham
Public Schools, giving salaries of teach
ers there. The four principals receive
salaries IRON $3.50 to 81, 250 a year. The
81 teachers as follows: Primary, s4O-s60
per month for ten months; intermediate
$685.; High School, $3.50; Special,
S35-$1O5.
Mr.. Thompson made a very strong. but
brief speech, along the line of the press
ing needs of the schools, and the dan
ger Of crlppllng their usefulness by re-
duclng the tax levy.
Or. r. H. Lewis followed Mr.. Thomp-
son IN a powerful, con vincing talk. He
declared that the levy for graded schools
was the last thing III the world to cur
tai. The schools need every cent they
can get. Why compel them to pinch and
squeeze as they have had to do? WHY
not allow them a little more? Why did
they not cut the county school fund? AS
q matter of fact. the commissioners in
scfambllng around after something to ap-
lease the Wratch Of kicking taxpayers.
grabbed at the school fund as the first
thing they could lay their hands on.
Dr. Lewis said he did not consider that
any general complaint had come from
the public about the new assessment of
property. 1t was confined to about one
hundred of the largest taxpayers. But
, the board got excited. He believed the
property was assessed more justly this
II JI1n